Sanitizing and Water Volume Question

[Scott'n'Wendy]

The instructions are correct and 3 gallons of "solution" will sanitize a filled tank volume of 45 gallons with a 3 hour contact time period. Essentially, 1/4 bleach for every 15 gallons of water (capacity) will yield a 50ppm concentration of chlorine solution. So, take your (assumed) total volume in gallons to be sanitized (fill hose, storage tank, plumbing lines, HW tank, etc.) and divide by 15. Take this result and multiply by 1/4 cup of 5% household bleach. This how many 1/4 cups of bleach you will need.

Mike

The instructions say pour in the solution then pump it through the lines without filling the tank though. Which makes you wonder why you need to care about tank volume. I believe you are right, but the instructions do not say that.

[NoPeeking]

The instructions say pour in the solution then pump it through the lines without filling the tank though. Which makes you wonder why you need to care about tank volume. I believe you are right, but the instructions do not say that.

I agree, the instructions are written with the same attention to detail most units are constructed with. If one were not intending to sanitize the entire fw tank, then it would make sense to just pump the 3 gallons of solution through the plumbing. (The higher cl concentration in the 3 gallon pre-mix would definitely reduce the required contact time.)

Mike

[Miklb58]

The instructions say pour in the solution then pump it through the lines without filling the tank though. Which makes you wonder why you need to care about tank volume. I believe you are right, but the instructions do not say that.

This was my point in the original post.

[TedS]

Does anybody know somebody whose close to anybody at GD to offer responses to improve service instructions such as this?

[Scott'n'Wendy]

Does anybody know somebody whose close to anybody at GD to offer responses to improve service instructions such as this?

Well various GDRV reps used to post here every now and then..but not any more...maybe they lurk?

[Country Campers]

Does anybody know somebody whose close to anybody at GD to offer responses to improve service instructions such as this?

Yes, the Moderator Team has very good connections with GD. We will have them look this over and clarify.

Brian

[Country Campers]

So before I send this off to GD I went back and read the original post with the picture of the process from the manual. In re-reading it is said to "prepare the solution, 1 gallon water to 1/4 cup of bleach" then it says to "prepare 1 gallon for every 15 gallons of holding tank capacity", then step 1 says " pour solution into gravity fill inlet". I would take that to mean mix as many 1 gallon solutions as you would need to fill your fresh tank capacity and then that would fill the tank via the gravity port. Then on to the other steps. I do not think this is worded wrong but maybe interpreted differently by each owner, could maybe be worded better.

Brian

[Hogdrv]

The Momentum owner’s manual is a little better than the op’s manual, tells you to fill the fresh water tank

[NoPeeking]

I do not think this is worded wrong but maybe interpreted differently by each owner, could maybe be worded better.

Brian

My thinking exactly, Brian. In an owner's manual I expect to be told step-by-step what to do for a "critical task", not given "implied" steps. Given the discussion, I think the added wording in the Momentum manual complete filling the tank with fresh water is helpful and something GD should be consistent with across all product line manuals.

Mike

[TedS]

So before I send this off to GD I went back and read the original post with the picture of the process from the manual. In re-reading it is said to "prepare the solution, 1 gallon water to 1/4 cup of bleach" then it says to "prepare 1 gallon for every 15 gallons of holding tank capacity", then step 1 says " pour solution into gravity fill inlet". I would take that to mean mix as many 1 gallon solutions as you would need to fill your fresh tank capacity and then that would fill the tank via the gravity port. Then on to the other steps. I do not think this is worded wrong but maybe interpreted differently by each owner, could maybe be worded better.

Brian

Following that logic would put 60 1/4 cups of bleach in a 60 gal tank instead of 4 1/4 cups per 15 gal tank capacity in a 60 gal tank. Probably clearer to put required amount of bleach for holding tank capacity in one gallon of water. Put that one gallon of solution in the tank, then fill the tank with water to fully dilute the solution to the required disinfecting concentration.

Putting all the bleach in the one gallon of water makes a convenient means to transport the bleach to the holding tank.

[Scott'n'Wendy]

When this gets all sorted out...I 'might' sanitize the tank for the first time..........

[TedS]

I just find it so easy to pour all the bleach I need into the empty water hose, connect the hose to the input port, set the Nautilus valves to fill the water tank or fill the tank through the gravity feed port, turn on the water and proceed to fill the water tank. Turn the water off, set the Nautilus valves to dry camp and pump the bleach solution to all the fixtures in turn. Top off the water tank. Done. No fiddling with a pail or suction hose.

[Scott'n'Wendy]

or fill the tank through the gravity feed port,

You have a gravity fill? That's what I miss most with the Reflection303..no gravity fill. Several places I've been to don't have a fitting on the end of the fill hose and then you have to use goofy things like the 'water bandit'...and it can be messy.

[TedS]

Scott'n'Wendy no gravity fill. Sometime wish I did for filling and venting the tank.

[ncitro]

I work out the mix I need for my tank, pour that bleach into a five gallon bucket, and then fill the bucket with water. Then I use the Nautilus panel to pump the water out of the bucket into the tank, and fill the tank the rest of the way with water. Then run all the fixtures until I smell bleach. This gets all the sides and top of the tank covered in bleach, as well as all the pipes. Diluting it in the bucket before pumping into the rig I figure saves some wear on the seals in the panel as well as the pump from working with concentrated bleach.