After a long storage!

[Artemus Gordon]

Friend of mine just bought a five year old Montana from a private party. *It's been stored and has very few miles. *They had it check out, before they bought it. *Unfortunately it's never been winterized, *because it was stored inside a garage. *Redding is known for heat, *but not extreme cold. *I noticed the water tank was full of water. *I suggested more than a simple one time flush. *My gut reaching is large doses of bleach ran through entire system. *Perhaps more than once! *I need help on what smarter "RV's than me" would suggest. *Please post any suggestions. *Thank you!

[HOOK]

Bleach should get it done.

[steelpony5555]

That's how I got my trailer, it's an 06 and had been stored in a barn and been a good while since it was used if any. He'll need lots of water cause if you heavy duty Clorox the tank and lines it will take a whole lot of water to get the smell out, hmmmm how did I find that out lol lol lol... I even put some white vinegar in a tank full to help clean up the Clorox smell. I don't take a whole lot more to get it stunk up lol lol ...... Tell him to get some silicone on the rubber slide seals too, heat does a number on them. Roof caulking was pretty brittle too, Eternabond tape took care of that........other then that ours has been fine and no other problems popped up from sitting long term. Oh and of course tires......

[DQDick]

Everything Dave said and most especially tires. The may look good, but they are most assuredly not.

[Artemus Gordon]

Forgot slide rubber, good catch. Vinegar idea is great ! New tires in contract when purchased, roof was addressed. I have slide rubber spray. Will address that tomorrow. Thanks my friends!

[grayghost03]

Just don't over due the chlorine, more is not better, you need enough to have a 2ppm residual after about 20 minute of contact, to much and the chlorine will start to convert to hypochlorous acid, if not consumed by bacteria and fungus, and hypochlorous acid can be hard on the plastics in the system, start with 1/2 cup to 50 gallons and let it move around. Remember bleach(chlorine), is a disinfectant and not a cleaner. It will kill most bacteria and virus, but won't get rid of organic crap that has built on the tank walls, kill it yes, remove it no. Just don't over do it. Don't ask how I know this stuff..... its my profession.

[Rondo]

Besides the Clorox and the vinegar, I would also make up a solution of baking soda and water(a good strong half gallon of it) and add it to the tank and then fill the tank at least half to 3/4's, then drive it around for a few miles to get it sloshing around. Also before heading out, run the lines full of the soda water solution into all the lines (hot and cold) and I'd also check the water heater to see if they left water in it also. That could be really nasty too! If there is water in the water heater check the rod to see if there is anything left of it too. I think I'd do the Clorox treatment to the black and gray tanks too. If there is or was anything in those tanks they may be full of crud and mold also!

[jcurtis934]

There are also a host of products used by breweries and home-brewers for cleaning and sanitizing. PBW, powdered brewers wash, is a cleaning product for use in tanks, etc that we drink from after cleaning. Star-san is the sanitizer for use after pbw and a water rinse. Try some of the homebrewing shops or websites, such as Northern Brewer and others. John