How to Sanitize Your RV's Freshwater System？

Maintaining the inside freshwater system in your RV can drastically affect one’s health and even the condition of vehicles. You would wish to obtain a clean water supply that is safe for drinking. This article describes how to clean the water supply system of your RV, safety considerations for using the vehicle on roads and off-road conditions, as well as ways to make your journey enjoyable.

Explanation On How Freshwater System Operates

Firstly, in a motorhome, there exists the fresh water system with a water tank, water pump, and pipes to supply water to sinks. This makes it possible to understand the system workings even to a child. Here is the most elementary one: clean water is supplied into the tank, is then taken out, and used inside the mobile home for washing hands, taking showers, and finally for the lavatory pan. As time goes by, certain deposits accumulate inside the tank, such as bacteria, algae, sediment, and other substances, so it is essential to conduct regular sanitation of the system.

Importance Of Sanitising RV's Freshwater System

People are prone to forgetting to sanitize their RV’s fresh water supply systems, but the risks involved are quite serious. It is all too frequent that low-quality water in RVs leads to minor stomach infections and other threats to life and health. Particularly, microorganisms multiply in the water supply, which may affect piping and may call for restoration. Presumably, sanitizing any system is aimed more at keeping the water clean and usable, but also helps the RV endure over a long period of time, reducing breakages.

How to Prepare for Sanitization

Before you get started, a list should be made of the things that you will need to have on hand, including:

• Unscented household bleach or a specialized RV sanitizing solution
• An empty bucket of clean water
• A hose for the garden
• A measuring cup
• Safety gloves and a mask

How to Sanitize the Freshwater System of Your RV - A Step-by-Step Process

Step Number 1: Drain the Freshwater System

Begin the process by turning off the water supply and draining the freshwater tank. Allow all faucets and the toilet to open to ensure that all the water is drained out of the system.

Step Number 2: Clean the Freshwater Tank

Flush the freshwater tank with warm water. Add the recommended amount of bleach or sanitizing solution according to the manufacturer's directions. The most common ratio is 1/4 cup of bleach per 15 gallons of water.

Step 3: Circulate the Sanitizing Solution

Turn the water pump on and then open each faucet in order to let the sanitizing solution flow into each plumbing. Allow the solution to run to all extremities, including the shower and toilet. When all faucets are running the sanitizing solution, turn off the faucets.

Step 4: Allow Contact Time

Allow the sanitizing solution to sit in the system for at least 2 hours. The contact time will give the solution enough time to kill the bacteria or contaminants present in the system.

Flushing the System

Step 5: Flush the Freshwater Tank

After the contact time has passed, restart the water pump and flush the system with clean water. Turn on each faucet until the water is running clear and free of any bleach smell. This will ensure no residual bleach remains in the system.

Step 6: Check and Test

After flushing the system, inspect for leaks and then check that all the faucets are operating properly. Refill the tank with new water, and perform a taste test to see if the water does not have any remaining chemical taste.

Recommendations for Regular Maintenance

The best way to maintain your RV's freshwater system in good condition is to establish a sanitizing schedule. The recommended frequency is every six months, or right before the first trip of the season. Another very good idea is to invest in some quality filters that can remove impurities from the water and protect the freshwater system.

Conclusion

Sanitizing the fresh water system is an important part of your RV's maintenance. Follow these steps to ensure that your water supply doesn't get contaminated, so you can prevent health concerns from cropping up along with saving your RV from possible damage. Check the freshwater regularly for maintenance to have concern-free adventures on the road.