adding bleach to the feshwater system.

N

norman

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I've been reading with interest some of the threads that suggest adding a little bleach to the fresh water will clean and "shock" the system.

I've also seen where bleach does not mix well with aluminum. In fact, there is such a warning on most bleach containers.

That begs the question, if one's fresh water tanks are aluminum...is there a bleach "substitute" to freshen and clean the tanks and remove any odors?

Thanks,

Norm
 
Arm & Hammer baking soda. (It will NOT kill germs and bacteria, though)
 
Thanks guys,
I'll try the baking soda in the boats freshwater system and the vodka in my freshwater system.
 
My solution has been to take a big swig of bleach from the bottle and then follow with a chaser of two big cups of water from the galley sink faucet. My friends don't drink much water from the boat faucets for some reason . . . .
 
Aquafresh is available at marine stores and kills bugs when used accoring to the instructions. If your boat has a Vacuflush head, bleach will damage its seals and result in the need for costly repairs. After your water system is clean, regular use of the water obtained from a sanitary source will keep things fresh. Use up your tankful every week even if you have to just let a tap run.
 
I never, repeat NEVER, use the boat's water for anything but washing.
 
We use pool shock. just a very small amount in the water and fill her up with fresh water flush and fill fill again. a gallon of pool shock will last for years and it really eliminates odors. Best I have used and lasts.
 
I mix baking soda and water and keep the mixture nearby whenever I work with wet cell batteries. (it neutralizes acid)

The soda never really dissolves, so after it sits a few minutes, I have to stir it. Because of that, I wouldn't recommend adding it to a water tank.
 
The filling and flushing of the water system keeps the baking soda suspended in the water solution. Also the sloshing of the boat when you use it. After you boat has sat unused for a few days, the baking soda may settle to the bottom but can be easily resuspended into the water.........
 
I don't know Liz... In the time it takes to fill one battery and open the next, I've got a thick layer of goo in the bottom of the bowl - it settles in minutes. Even in big waves, by the time you get to the dock and start flushing it out, I think most of it would already be sitting firmly at the bottom of the tank.

I like your vodka idea better. (never tried it though - every time I reach for vodka, I have a totally different goal in mind)
 
Certainly you wouldn't use as much baking soda for the water tank. Besides, it needs to be flushed several times afterward.

Added benefit: When you get severe indegestion from Vienna sausages & EZ cheese, a few sips from the water in the tank will settle your tummy! :)
 
It depends on the amount of bleach. Shore supplied water often has chlorine (household bleach) or chloramine in it anyway. There is a safe quantity to use, based on your water tanks capacity. The EPA advises that you can make safe drinking water by adding 1/8 teaspoon (or 8 drops) of regular, unscented, liquid household bleach for each gallon of water, stir it well and let it stand for 30 minutes before you use it. That much -- it seems to me -- ought to do no damage to your plumbing system. But that's just me!

Robert
 
quote:
Originally posted by sugilbert

I never, repeat NEVER, use the boat's water for anything but washing.

Click to expand...


Why?

As long as you are filling the tank from a clean source of potable water, using a drinking water safe hose, there is no reason not to drink water from your boat's fresh water tank.

As noted above, city water already has chlorine in it. You can add a very little more if it makes you feel better. If you can smell or taste it, you're adding too much. If you're filling your boat's fresh water tank from a well or other non-chlorinated source, you should consider adding chlorine as outlined above.
 
We drink our tank water and it is used to make our ice with no problems. The key is good hygiene practices. BTW, baking soda may make it smell nice but it does not kill bugs. The only safe way to use the tank water is to thoroughly disinfect the tank and lines at the start of the season with a product designed for this task (Aquafresh or something similar) and to use the water up quickly so it does not sit more than a week (2-3 days in warm climates?). Of course you need to start with a reliable source of water.
 
quote:
Originally posted by sugilbert

I never, repeat NEVER, use the boat's water for anything but washing.

Click to expand...


Why? We use our fresh water system a lot. The water is fresh, clean and as good as any bottled water. The secret is to use it often. My tank gets refilled every week, and in the fall I drain it, and I never put antifreeze in the tank.
 
We also drink our fresh water. What I do is if the boat is sitting for more than a few days is drain both the hot and cold sides and add fresh water back to the fresh water tank. Haven't had a problem in the 2 years we've had this boat and no one has ever gotten sick from the water or complained about the taste/smell.

Off season, I do had some bleach to my fresh water tank as I have a fresh water head and the water in the head will evaporate after a while in heated storage.
 
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