Sanitizing a RV Water Tank

RV Water Tank TipsAll RVs have a fresh water tank that supplies clean water for everyday use in the RV. An RVs water tank and lines can become contaminated with bacteria. The best way to troubleshoot a water problem before it begins is by sanitizing the water tank and water lines it’s connected to.

The sanitization process should be done every six months. In order for the water tank to be thoroughly sanitized, you must wait the appropriate time before using the water again.

To begin, make sure you have all tools needed ahead of time. In general, you might need:

  • Water Filters (external and
  • Clorox Bleach
  • Funnel
  • Water filter wrench for internal water filter A bit of petroleum jelly

Follow the instructions below when sanitizing your RV water tank:

  • Drain the water tank to 1/2 of the capacity.
  • Pour the Clorox bleach into the tank.
  • Fill the tank to full or until the water beings to overflow.
  • Turn off the fresh water supply and turn on the water pump.
  • Turn on every faucet in the RV until you smell the Clorox, then turn off.
  • You can now turn on the fresh water supply and add a few gallons of fresh water to the tank. You’ll now need to wait 3-4 hours.
  • Drain the fresh water tank and then refill with fresh water.
  • Turn off the fresh water supply and turn on the water pump. After the lines have been flushed you shouldn’t smell any more bleach. Test this by turning all faucets on.
  • Replace the external water filter. Turn off the water supply first before doing this.
  • Replace the internal water filter with a fresh cartridge. You can put a little bit of petroleum jelly on the o-ring so that it’s easy to get the cartridge off the next time it needs to be changed.
  • The last step involves draining and refilling the hot water tank. You should consult the manufacturer or owner’s manual before attempting this step.

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