does anyone summerize water system with vinegar?

Veg

Veg

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I'm curious... I've been able to avoid water smell issues for a few years, by commissioning every spring with a decent amount of bleach in the first tank, running all the faucets/showers so it goes to all the lines, then letting it sit for a few hours. I then empty it again and flush through a couple of tanks to get most of the bleach out. I bypass the water heater.

I was wondering if I could do without bleach... Has anyone used vinegar for cleaning/commissioning their water system?
 
The point of the bleach is to exterminate microbial life in your water system. ie: sterilize it.

Bleach works.

Vinegar might. ( or might not ).

--

Residual bleach ( if any ) is nothing but chlorinated water, something you should have a lifetime of familiarity with.

--edit--

I happen to like the following method:

http://www.boatered.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=99371
 
I use bleach 1/4 cup per 100 gallons when we are using the water maker. Otherwise, when hooked up to city water (where ever) I will add the same if we intend to put water in the tank as a back up for power outages etc..
 
using bleach on occasion is good to keep the water lines clean. After flushing out the bleach, a shot of white vinegar is good to kill the bleach smell/taste.
 
I use vinegar down each head, when we leave boat weekly. It will help to dissolve any hose residue. As far as fresh water side, I use hydrogen peroxide. It will kill bac. and save going thru the flushes of fresh water. Our tank is 150gl., but I rarely carry more than 75. I use 6oz. for 75gl.
 
Even though I have a filter on my rear water tank I don't use bleach because it can damage my watermaker's membranes. When filling the tanks I filter the water.
Bill
 
Billy we do NOT back flush with fresh. Just regular rinsing with the salt water. Besides we have a carbon filter between the tank and back flush circuit as should all water makers. I don't think you will find a distributor that will tell you not to use bleach (appropriately) in the product water.
 
Don't use vinegar unless you want to have your water smell like a salad.
 
After flushing the pink out in the spring, I bleach the system. I then flush that out. For the remainder of the season, I run everything from the fresh water tank and keep re-filling it. It seems to work pretty well. I shower at the marina showers so the tank lasts about a week.
 
Yeah David, that's what I always have done and it's worked, so I think I'll stick with it!
 
fwiw: The bleach is an antiseptic and the vinegar will disolve calcium build-up.

Have a good season!
 
Well, why not try a shot of ammonia? I hear that worked in other applications! ;)
 
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