How To Clean Your Rv Fresh Water Tank

Download Article

An RV h2o tank needs to exist cleaned at least once a yr in club to prevent bacteria from growing in the system. You tin can do this past pouring chlorine bleach and make clean water into the tank. While you are taking care of the tank, consider activating the RV's pump to sterilize its water lines as well. Past taking the time to sterilize the h2o tank, y'all volition have clean water available in your RV no matter where you lot travel.

1
Plow off the RV'south water pump. To avoid damaging the pump, shut it off before draining the h2o. It will exist in a chamber inside the RV. Await inside the storage bay above the fresh water tank. Flip the switch to finish the pump.
- No water will circulate in the RV, then brand sure you won't be needing it for most 5 hours.
- Running a pump while dry can cause it to overheat, so ever close the pump off first.
2
Drain the water heater. Get to the h2o heater, which is located outside the RV and well-nigh its back end. Plow it off first if information technology's active or you feel heat coming from it. Outset, flip the force per unit area relief valve switch at the top of the heater. Then, look for a nozzle nigh the bottom-left corner of the heater. Pull the plug out, then supervene upon it once the water has drained.^[1]
- The h2o heater is located inside a square box on the RV and is covered by a removable panel.
- The h2o heater can overheat and burn out, so make certain it is off before draining the water.
Advertisement
iii
Open the h2o lines beneath the RV. The hot and cold water are located at the lowest point underneath the RV. They look similar two capped pipes hanging downwardly from the RV'southward floor. They stand out a lot, so they're easy to spot. Twist the finish caps counterclockwise by hand to bleed the h2o from the lines.^[2]
- The lines are often colored red and bluish. Depending on your RV, they may both be colored white instead.
- You volition need to reach underneath the RV to access these pipes likewise as the fresh water tank line.
- To proceed the RV still, park on a level surface. You tin can place chocks on the cycle, but these usually are not necessary.
4

Bleed the fresh water tank. The h2o tank can usually be accessed underneath the RV, close to the water lines. You may see a brightly-colored spigot sticking out from a square, white box. Pull the plug out of the line. If the h2o doesn't begin draining, turn the spigot's knob clockwise to open up the line.^[3]
five
Disassemble any water filters hooked up to the water lines. Well-nigh water filters and purifiers are external, but check for an interior filter around the fresh water tank inside the RV. The filter will wait cylindrical, often colored white or blue. Twist the hose off by manus to remove the filter from the system.^[four]
- Consider changing the filter within the cylinder to avoid reintroducing bacteria into your clean tank.
- You can get a replacement filter online or wherever camping supplies are sold. Filters are made in a standard size.
half dozen
Close all of the drains. Before y'all begin cleaning out the water tank, check the drains again. The plug should be inserted in the h2o heater's bleed line. Too, replace the caps on the water lines and plug the fresh water line if you haven't already.
- If all the lines are airtight off, no more water should be leaking out. Watch for any signs of leaking as you clean the tank.

Advertizing

1
Mix chlorine bleach in water. Employ a portable water container or big bucket to mix eight fluid ounces (240 mL) chlorine bleach in 2 gallons (7.6 L) of water.. Make certain you choose chlorine bleach. Like in pond pools, the chlorine is what neutralizes bacteria in your tank.^[5]
- Avoid pouring chlorine directly into the tank. Undiluted chlorine will impairment your system and give y'all much bigger issues to solve.
2
Hook a water pump to your water tank. Add the bleach water to the tank through the same method you use to refill your tank with h2o. Hook ane terminate of the hose to the water tank spout, which is accessible either underneath or on the side of your RV. Place the other stop of the hose in the water.
- You can purchase a portable paw pump and hose at most home improvement stores.
iii

Pump the water into the tank. Plow on the hand pump to allow water into the tank. Keep the free stop of the hose positioned in the water. As long as it is submerged, it should keep to suck the h2o right into your RV tank.
4
Fill the tank with fresh h2o. Now fill the remainder of the tank to dilute the bleach. You can utilise the water container and hand pump once more to do this. Some RVs accept water gauges well-nigh the intake valve or on the dashboard that indicate when the water is full. H2o gushing dorsum out of the hose also indicates that the tank is total.
- If you know how much water your tank holds, yous can use the size of your bucket to judge how much water to add.
- An like shooting fish in a barrel way to make full the tank is past hooking the hose to a urban center water connection, such as at a campground or similar location.
v
Drive around on a bumpy route for an hour. If you can, spend some time driving the RV while the tank is filled with chlorinated water. The bumpier the road is, the more than the water will splash over the water tank's interior. Take all the time you need to drive around before you stop cleaning the tank.^[6]
- A good time to make clean the tank is when you are taking a short ride to a campground or some other location.
6
Get out the water in the tank for about 4 hours. To ensure the chlorine does its job, allow the h2o stay in the tank as long equally possible. Commonly, iv hours is enough time, although you should allow the tank soak overnight if possible.^[7]
- If you drive for 4 hours or longer, that should be enough to sterilize the tank.
7
Drain the chlorine water if you lot're only cleaning the tank. Go under the RV to pull the plug out of the water tank'south line. If the h2o doesn't flow right away, turn the spigot wheel clockwise to open it. And so, let the nasty chlorine water out, refill your tank with water that is much more drinkable, and actuate the pump and heater.^[8]
- If you wish to clean out the residual of the RV's h2o system, you do non need to drain the tank all the same. Pump water through the arrangement beginning.
- Be courteous when draining the water. You may non want to do it if people are nearby.
- The bleach is diluted, and so dumping information technology about a storm drain isn't a big deal. If you tin can, brand apply of any nearby dumping facilities.

1
Make full the fresh water tank with chlorine water. If your tank does not already take chlorine water in it, mix 8 fluid ounces (240 mL) of chlorine bleach with 4 gallons (fifteen Fifty) gallons of water. Pump it into the tank, then add more fresh water until the tank is total.^[9]
- Every bit a rule of thumb, add approximately 6 fluid ounces (180 mL) of bleach per every xv gallons (57 50) of water your tank can hold.
2

Actuate the RV'southward h2o pump. Turn the water pump back on to begin circulating the chlorine water. Get out it on for now and so the water cleans out all parts of the arrangement.^[10]
iii
Turn on the RV's h2o faucets until you aroma chlorine. Go inside the RV and use each faucet 1 at a time. After the water runs for i or 2 minutes, you will probably odour that harsh odor chlorine has. When this happens, turn off the faucet, and then echo this with any other faucets you have.^[11]
- Permit both hot and cold water run, since they are supplied by divide lines.
- Forgetting a faucet is piece of cake, but attempt to get all of them. This includes the shower besides as whatever sinks.
four
Allow the water pump through the arrangement overnight. If you have the time, permit the water circulate through the RV's system. This will clear out the lines, tanks, and water heater. If you can't look that long, at to the lowest degree let the system soak for well-nigh 4 hours.^[12]
- If you clean the system once a year or more, 4 hours is usually plenty soaking fourth dimension. Ideally, leave the water in the arrangement for at to the lowest degree 12 hours.
5
Drain the h2o past opening the h2o lines. You volition demand to become nether the RV to open the lines. First, pull the plug out of the fresh h2o tank'southward line, turning the spigot every bit needed to start the water menses. Also, open up the hot and common cold water pipes hanging down from the RV.^[13]
- You tin can turn off the pump and h2o heater. All the same, since y'all volition refill the tank immediately, these elements won't have a take chances to overheat if you leave them on.
- The water is diluted, then you can let information technology go into a storm drain. Y'all can also drain information technology at a dumping facility or onto nearby grass.
6
Refill the tank with fresh water. Plug up the water lines again before you add new water. And so, fill the fresh water tank by hooking it up to a city water connection or by pumping water through a hose. Wait until the unabridged tank is filled.^[14]
- If your RV has a water gauge, use that to monitor the tank's fullness. Otherwise, judge or wait for h2o to flow back out of the hose.
seven
Run water through the faucets until you cannot odor bleach. Activate the faucets 1 at a time within the RV, checking each for signs of chlorine. At offset, you will probably olfactory property it again. Let the water run through each faucet for a few minutes.^[15]
- Yous exercise not want to drink chlorine water, then brand absolutely sure the water is make clean before using it.
viii
Echo draining and refilling the tank if you still observe chlorine. Sometimes the chlorine aroma doesn't get away. If this happens, you can get rid of it by repeatedly flushing out your tank. Drain the tank and refill it over again, checking all the faucets for the chlorine smell.^[sixteen]
- You may demand to do this a couple of times before the water is safe.
ix
Flush the h2o lines with blistering soda if the chlorine smell is strong. Mix four fluid ounces (120 mL) of baking soda with 1 gallon (3.viii L) of water. Pump this into the fresh water tank, then fill the tank completely with clean water. After letting it menstruation through the RV's system, drain the water once more to eliminate the unpleasant chlorine odors lingering in your water line.^[17]
- Remember to drain the water again and refill the tank with clean water later on doing this.

Inquire a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to go a bulletin when this question is answered.

Submit

The tank should be cleaned whenever you store the RV for a while, such as through winter.
Always clean the tank if a stale smell comes from your faucets.
You should clean out the entire water system every bit well as the tank, even lines you don't use for drinking water.

Chlorine bleach isn't safe to drink, and then make certain it is out of the RV's organization before y'all use the water.
Pay attention to where you drain your water so you don't detract from someone else'southward camping experience.

Things Y'all'll Demand

Hand pump
Hose
Water
Chlorine bleach

About This Commodity

Article Summary X

Cleaning your RV'southward fresh h2o tank can take a picayune while, but fortunately y'all'll just need to do it about once a yr. First, you'll need to bleed the h2o from your heater, water lines, and fresh water tank. Then, replace the caps and plug the heater's drain to make sure all your drains are airtight. Mix 8 fluid ounces of chlorine bleach and 2 gallons of water in a large bucket and pump it into the water tank. After that, fill up the tank with fresh water to dilute the bleach, exit it for 4 hours, then pump fresh water through it overnight. Finally, drain the arrangement and refill it with fresh water until y'all can't odor chlorine anymore. For more than tips, including how to hook up a pump to your water tank, read on!

Did this summary help you lot?

Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 53,893 times.