campervan water-tank

How to Sanitize Camper Water Tank

Traveling across the country in a camper can be a lot of fun till you see murky water coming out of the faucet.

The moment you see the water supply change color, you’ll realize that you need to know how to sanitize camper water tank walls.

So, let’s take a look at a step-by-step guide.

6 Easy Steps to Sanitize Your Camper Water Tank

Preparation – What You Will Need

The first thing you’ll need on your sanitization journey is bleach. Since it’s actually a disinfectant, it can kill harmful bacteria and other microorganisms on a surface.

However, you can’t just pour the concentrated bleach into a water tank. First, you need to make a diluted solution in a bucket.

Another item that can prove its usefulness is a siphon hose. A siphon hose does the opposite job of a standard hose. Standard hoses help you fill containers, while siphon hoses drain them.

After you’re done cleaning out the tank, you need to refill it with water. To do this, you’ll need potable water. Both filtered and mineral water will do the job.

Painter’s tape is optional, but you can use it as a marker. After all, you don’t want anyone using the faucets while you’re still cleaning.

Moving on, let’s take a look at the steps in detail:

Step 1 – Turn off the Water Heater and Water Pump

Before you attempt to clean a system, you have to make sure it’s not active. So, first off, you’ll need to turn off your water heater. If you leave the heater running while you clean the tank, it could end up damaged.

The next step is turning off the water pump. Once you start the cleaning process, you need to have control over the water flow. This ensures that bleach doesn’t end up anywhere it’s not supposed to. For this reason, you need to stop all water flow in and out of the tank.

If you have a water filter installed, this may be the time to remove it. Bleach can destroy water filters just by passing through them. You can also try diverting the water away from the filter if you’re unable to remove it.

Step 2 – Drain the System

The next step to sanitize your camper water tank is draining the. Now, depending on the condition of the water inside, you may not need to drain the whole thing.

If the water in the camper tank has been there for a while, it’s probably best to drain it all. Stagnant water can grow all sorts of bacteria and microorganisms.

However, if you’re sure the water is safe, you don’t have to drain it all. You can drain the tank until only about a quarter of it is full. This water level will be the starting point of the cleaning process.

Step 3 – Prepare Bleach Mixture and Add It to Your Water Tank

Bleach isn’t just any cleaner. It’s a powerful chemical that can cause a lot of harm if you don’t know how to use it properly.

So, instead of just dumping bleach into your water tank, you’ll need to make a diluted bleach solution.

The good news is that it’s simple. All you need is water, bleach, and a bucket.  The bucket will give you much more control over the bleach concentration before adding it to the tank.

As a general rule, you need about one gallon of water per quarter cup of bleach. This may seem like a lot of water, but remember, bleach is very potent. 

This solution should be strong enough to clean a 10-gallon camper tank. Depending on how big your tank is, you’ll want to scale the volume up or down.

Once you have the correct amount of bleach in the bucket, you can pour it into the tank. You may want to wear gloves for this part, though. Bleach is an irritant. If it gets on your skin, it can be quite uncomfortable.

Step 4 – Fill the Tank With Water and Pump It Through the System

After you’ve added the bleach, it’s time to flush it out. To start this process, fill your tank.

The only way to make sure the whole tank is clean is for the bleach to touch all its surfaces. Filling the tank ensures that the bleach gets to all the nooks and crannies.

You’ll want to leave the bleach solution in the tank for a few hours to give the bleach a chance to work. Then, use this solution to clean the pipes.

This step is simple enough. Start by letting the water run through your pipes. Turn on your water pump and give it a couple of minutes to circulate the water around your camper.

The next step is to turn on your faucets one by one. You’ll want to keep each faucet running until you can smell bleach. It’s a faint scent but definitely there.

This is when the painter’s tape would come in handy. It can help you mark all the clean faucets.

Step 5 – Let the Water Sit For 12 Hours

Once you’ve cleaned out all your faucets, you’ll have to make sure that your tank is as clean as it can be by soaking it for a bit.

You can add a little extra bleach in this step. However, it’s not necessary. The water sits in the tank for such a long time that the small amount of bleach should be able to handle the clean-up.

After refilling the tank, let the water sit in there for about 12 hours. This is the most time-consuming part of the clean-up.

Still, you don’t have to do much. Just make sure you don’t use the water in the tank during this period.

Step 6 – Drain the Tank and Flush the System

The final step in the process is draining and flushing the system. It’s a lot similar to the rinse and repeat method. 

You start by draining the entire tank. Then you fill it with clean water and drain it again. It’s recommended that you do this process about three or four times. This way, you’ll know for a fact that all the bleach is gone from the water system.

Remember to let the water flow through your faucets. You still need to flush out the bleach remnants from step four.

How Long Does It Take To Sanitize Your Fresh Water Tank?

The amount of time you need to sanitize your tank will depend on its size. The larger the tank, the more time it’ll take to clean.

However, you need to let the water sit for 12 hours in the tank. So, even if you have a small tank, it’s probably going to be an all-day job. Try to start as early as you can in the morning to finish the whole thing in one day. 

The Importance of Regular Sanitizing Camper Water Tank

Camper water tanks are the perfect environment for many bacteria, viruses, and cysts. The space is dark, moist, and relatively cool.

Many of those microorganisms won’t even affect the taste or turbidity, but they’ll definitely impact your well-being. Not cleaning out your tank regularly is a risk you probably don’t want to take.

How Often Should You Sanitize Your Camper Water Tank?

You don’t need to clean out your tank every day. However, it’s good practice to clean your tank twice a month. You also have to keep in mind that the longer you wait to clean your tank, the longer it’s going to take to clean.

Signs That You Should Sanitize Your Camper Water Tank

The easiest way to check if your tank needs cleaning is to look inside it. If you can see any build-up around the sides of the tank, you’re long due for a cleanup.

You can also go by odor. If there’s a stuffy scent coming off your water, it’s time for a rinse. Just know that odor testing isn’t always accurate.

How to Sanitize Camper Water Tank Without Bleach

If you’d prefer not to use bleach, there are a couple of other alternatives. You can try using vinegar or acetic acid. Both chemicals can clean a tank, but they’ll take much longer.

FAQS

Q: Can any kind of bleach be used for RV water tank sanitizing?

A: Yes, any bleach should do the trick. As long as the cleaner isn’t expired, you can use it.

Q: How long can you keep fresh water in your RV tank?

A: On average, water can stay fresh in a tank for about two weeks. This will change a little depending on the weather.

Q: How do you know if RV dump station water is potable?

At every dump station, each water tank has a spigot. This is the area where you connect your tank.

A spigot usually has a color marker. Green and blue means the water is potable, while red means it isn’t.

Q: How much time does bleach need to stay in your RV water tank to sanitize it?

A: As a general rule, it’s good to leave the bleach in the tank for about 12 hours to make sure that it gets to work on all the surfaces.

Overall the cleaning process can take up to 14 or 15 hours, depending on the size of the camper.

Wrap Up

Cleaning a water tank can be a tedious process. Still, when your water starts to smell, you want to know how to sanitize camper water tank walls and bottoms.

The steps are straightforward to follow. The only issue is that it’s time-consuming. It can take you anywhere from 14 to 15 hours.

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