ace51
Newbie RV’er
Posts: 3
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Post by ace51 on Mar 20, 2023 14:26:44 GMT -5
I have used a solution of bleach and water to sanitize fresh water tanks in previous trailers. I purchased a new 2023 Venture Touring edition 302VRB that only has one water inlet. The inlet accepts a standard hose and there is a valve to direct water to city water or the fresh water tank. There is also a small back-flow device in the trailer inlet that cannot be removed.
I had a short hose, attached a funnel to it then screwed the hose onto the trailer connector. When I poured my bleach solution in the funnel, the solution did not go into the tank; it could not pass the back-flow device (which will be broken if removed). I tried other hose/funnel combinations with no luck.
I called the dealer and was told by the service manager when the de-winterize a trailer; they just hook up city water and flush the system. They do not sanitize the tank in any fashion.
The manual will also mention to siphon from a solution tank using the siphon pump that you use when adding antifreeze; however, this is worthless since no water will go to the fresh tank, just the lines.
Does anyone know how I can sanitize the tank by using the standard threaded inlet? The problem is the back-flow device has more pressure than a small bucket of water pressing against the backflow device.
Thank you.
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Post by navylcdr on Mar 20, 2023 21:49:58 GMT -5
Well, if it was me, I would just fill the hose with bleach, connect it to a spigot, and push it into the freshwater tank with water pressure from the spigot.
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Post by WrkrBee on Mar 20, 2023 22:33:08 GMT -5
Page 55 and 56 of the 2023 "Owner's Manual" covers this, but is useless if you don't have the gravity fill indicated. Looks like you can force a sterilizing solution into the freshwater tank through the siphon line by opening V1 and V2, and using some type of pressurized vessel connected to the siphon hose. The tank should be vented so no pressure would build.
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Post by earlelaine on Mar 21, 2023 9:14:15 GMT -5
I agree with navylcdr.
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Post by spiderbobr on Mar 21, 2023 10:19:28 GMT -5
I just use a flexible funnel to add the bleach to the water tank. While putting bleach into the hose and doing it that way, has no detrimental effect, but just as a side note, I use a 5 gal bucket with proper amount of bleach, and put the whole hose in there for 15 minutes. When I hook up the hose to fill the water tank it gets cleaned out really well. the water hose gets missed a lot for sanitizing so this accomplishes both at the same time.
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Post by WrkrBee on Mar 22, 2023 7:19:05 GMT -5
I just use a flexible funnel to add the bleach to the water tank. While putting bleach into the hose and doing it that way, has no detrimental effect, but just as a side note, I use a 5 gal bucket with proper amount of bleach, and put the whole hose in there for 15 minutes. When I hook up the hose to fill the water tank it gets cleaned out really well. the water hose gets missed a lot for sanitizing so this accomplishes both at the same time. Per Ace51, he has no gravity feed port to the freshwater tank. Looking for a work around since Venture put profit over common sense. |
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Post by spiderbobr on Mar 22, 2023 10:40:25 GMT -5
I just use a flexible funnel to add the bleach to the water tank. While putting bleach into the hose and doing it that way, has no detrimental effect, but just as a side note, I use a 5 gal bucket with proper amount of bleach, and put the whole hose in there for 15 minutes. When I hook up the hose to fill the water tank it gets cleaned out really well. the water hose gets missed a lot for sanitizing so this accomplishes both at the same time. Per Ace51, he has no gravity feed port to the freshwater tank. Looking for a work around since Venture put profit over common sense. Wow, I just read the question again, that is insane! And they did this for "why" just to save money? As already stated, I too, can only see putting bleach in the hose and forcing it into the tank that way. I should really pay better attention to what is wrote. |
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Post by jsalbre on Mar 23, 2023 10:06:47 GMT -5
I struggled with this for a while too, but I finally found a work-around.
Under the hose connection there's a vents for the fresh water tank. If you stick a finger into the little mesh debris filter it pulls out easily. I then run the end of a flexible funnel down into that vent a few inches and pour my solution in that way. Make sure you do it *before* adding water to the tank otherwise you may discover that there's already water up that vent line a bit. Also, run a second container (I use a gallon jug for both my bleach/water mix and the clean water in this step) of water down the vent line to wash any remaining bleach down, or a lot of it may come back up if you slightly overfill the tank.
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Post by WrkrBee on Mar 23, 2023 17:56:37 GMT -5
I struggled with this for a while too, but I finally found a work-around. Under the hose connection there's a vents for the fresh water tank. If you stick a finger into the little mesh debris filter it pulls out easily. I then run the end of a flexible funnel down into that vent a few inches and pour my solution in that way. Make sure you do it *before* adding water to the tank otherwise you may discover that there's already water up that vent line a bit. Also, run a second container (I use a gallon jug for both my bleach/water mix and the clean water in this step) of water down the vent line to wash any remaining bleach down, or a lot of it may come back up if you slightly overfill the tank. Thanks, I like that. I figured the tank was vented, but didn't know where or what size opening. Good to know that it is filtered. A picture of the vent area may help. I still think the gravity fill port elimination was uncalled for and short sighted. Update: My freshwater vent does not have a removable screen. But, I do have the freshwater tank gravity fill port. |
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Post by navylcdr on Mar 23, 2023 23:24:19 GMT -5
I'm still trying to figure out how hard is it to pour 1/4 cup bleach into the end of a hose, connect the hose to a water spigot, and push the bleach into the tank while filling it. Maybe I am oversimplifying things.
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Post by jsalbre on Mar 24, 2023 8:30:12 GMT -5
I'm still trying to figure out how hard is it to pour 1/4 cup bleach into the end of a hose, connect the hose to a water spigot, and push the bleach into the tank while filling it. Maybe I am oversimplifying things. At my house where I fill the hose has to run up and over a 6’ tall fence that’s 3’ from the spigot and then down a steep hill, making getting a gallon of water/bleach mix into it from either end difficult without it pouring back out. I find it far simpler to pour into a larger opening that isn’t moving vs holding a hose up and trying to pour into that, especially since my bleach, funnel, and everything else are stored in a compartment 6” from the hose connection on the trailer. |
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Post by earlelaine on Mar 24, 2023 11:00:10 GMT -5
It doesn't matter if the hose goes strait up 50 feet as long as you curl it at the end and just power 1/2 cup of bleach into the hose, attach to inlet and turn on the water. The water will push the air and bleach into the fresh water tank.
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Post by jsalbre on Mar 24, 2023 16:51:38 GMT -5
It doesn't matter if the hose goes strait up 50 feet as long as you curl it at the end and just power 1/2 cup of bleach into the hose, attach to inlet and turn on the water. The water will push the air and bleach into the fresh water tank. I make it a point not to pour undiluted bleach into something that isn't designed for it. Also, if you guys like pouring stuff into hoses keep at it. I find it far easier to pour into a funnel on the side of the trailer. Judging from the multitude of people asking for solutions to the same issue I'm confident that I'm not the only one. |
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Post by navylcdr on Mar 29, 2023 18:46:55 GMT -5
I make it a point not to pour undiluted bleach into something that isn't designed for it. Also, if you guys like pouring stuff into hoses keep at it. I find it far easier to pour into a funnel on the side of the trailer. Judging from the multitude of people asking for solutions to the same issue I'm confident that I'm not the only one. The undiluted bleach is going to be in the hose for less than 2 minutes. |
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Post by jsalbre on Apr 14, 2023 22:39:27 GMT -5
I make it a point not to pour undiluted bleach into something that isn't designed for it. Also, if you guys like pouring stuff into hoses keep at it. I find it far easier to pour into a funnel on the side of the trailer. Judging from the multitude of people asking for solutions to the same issue I'm confident that I'm not the only one. The undiluted bleach is going to be in the hose for less than 2 minutes. This is true, and it’s unlikely to hurt it unless you leave it there for a long time. I still find my method to be less effort. |
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