rv water systems
When a rig comes out of storage or is being used extensively on a city-water connection, the tank and entire water system should be sanitized before use. Some of the bacterial buildup can cause serious illness; don't take chances!
Drain the water tank completely, then refill halfway with clean, fresh water.
Mix 1/4 cup of household bleach for every 15 gallons of tank capacity in a container with a gallon or two of clean water.
Pour this mixture into the water tank.
Top off the water tank with fresh water. Drive the rig around the block to mix the solution.
Pump water through each faucet so that all the lines are filled with the water/bleach.
The hot-water tank holds at least 6 gallons of water. Run the hot-water faucets until this much solution has passed to insure that the old water has been purged from the hot-water tank, and it is now filled with the water/bleach solution from the water tank.
Let the water stand for several hours.
Drain the entire water system, hot-water tank included.
To remove the bleach odor, mix 1/2 cup of baking soda with a gallon of water and pour into the freshwater tank.
Fill the tank completely and pump this solution through the water heater and the rest of the water lines. This solution can sit in the system for a few days. Driving the rig around the block will slosh water around and thoroughly clean the tank.