Cleaning Your Camper's Water Tank: A Step-By-Step Guide

Keeping your camper's water tank clean is an important part of your RV maintenance routine. It ensures you always have clean, fresh-tasting water for drinking, cooking, and bathing.

To clean your water tank, you will need to turn off the water heater, drain the water tank, create a bleach mixture (1/4 cup of bleach for every 15-16 gallons of water in your tank), fill the tank with the bleach mixture, let the mixture sit for several hours, and then drain and flush the tank with fresh water.

Locate the drain valve and attach a hose

To locate the drain valve, refer to your owner's manual. The drain valve is typically found towards the underside of the vehicle, often near the city water connection point. Once you've located the thin, spigot-style drain valve, attach a garden hose. Make sure to route the hose end a good distance away to a patch of loose soil safe for catching any wastewater runoff.

To open the drain, first, check that the valve handle is in line with the pipe flow direction. Then, turn the handle counter-clockwise until fully open. The water may start flowing freely right away or require a light squeeze on the hose to begin evacuating from the tank. Maintain pressure as needed until no more liquid comes out.

For tanks with multiple drains, make sure each is cracked open during the process. This includes exterior, sometimes color-coded pipes leading from hot water lines and other sub-system drain points. Being thorough at this early stage helps ensure a deep clean for your entire freshwater system.

Turn the valve handle counterclockwise to drain the tank

To drain your camper's water tank, you'll need to locate the tank's drain valve. This is usually found underneath the camper, below or near the freshwater holding tank. If you're having trouble finding it, refer to your camper's manual for guidance. Once you've located the valve, follow these steps:

Turning the Valve Handle Counterclockwise:

Turn the valve handle counterclockwise to open the valve and initiate the drainage process. The valve is typically located at the bottom of the tank, so opening it will allow the water to flow out smoothly due to gravity. Before you begin, ensure you are in an appropriate location for drainage. Avoid places where the drained water might create a mess or cause disruption to others, such as an RV park with a slope that could lead to water pooling in a neighbour's site.

Preparing for Drainage:

Before you start, it's essential to secure your camper. Park it on level ground, engage the parking brakes, and place a physical barrier, such as a wheel chock, behind the rear tires to prevent any accidental movement. Ensure there is sufficient space underneath the camper for you to work comfortably and place a container to collect the drained water.

Draining the Tank:

Now, turn the valve handle counterclockwise to open the drain valve fully. The water will begin to flow out, so be cautious of the speed and volume of water exiting the tank. You may need to adjust your collection container or use a hose to direct the water flow as needed. Keep the valve open until the tank is empty.

Final Steps:

Once the tank is empty, you can close the drain valve by turning the valve handle clockwise until it is tightly closed. Ensure that the area underneath the camper is clean and dry, and then you can return your camper to its regular position and disengage the parking brakes. Remember to sanitise your water tank regularly to prevent the growth of bacteria, algae, and mildew, which can cause unpleasant odours and potential health risks.

Prepare a bleach solution using 1/4 cup of bleach per 15-20 gallons of water

To prepare a bleach solution for disinfecting your camper water tank, you'll need to determine the volume of your tank. This information should be available in your owner's manual or printed on a label inside the tank. Once you know the volume of your tank, you can calculate the amount of bleach needed. The general rule is to use 1/4 cup of bleach for every 15-20 gallons of water, so for a 30-gallon tank, you would need 3/4 cup of bleach. It's important to note that you should never add undiluted bleach directly to your water tank. Instead, mix the calculated amount of bleach with water in a separate container, such as a one-gallon plastic jug. This diluted solution can then be added to your water tank using a funnel.

Pour the bleach solution into the freshwater fill port

Pouring the bleach solution into the freshwater fill port is a crucial step in disinfecting your water tank. Here's a detailed guide on how to do it:

Before pouring the bleach solution, it's important to turn off your water heater and water pump. This is to ensure that you don't damage the tank by draining it while the heater is on. Let the water cool down by running the hot water for a minute or two. Additionally, opening all the faucets in your RV will help in completely draining the water system.

Now, it's time to prepare the bleach solution. You'll need to calculate the amount of bleach required based on the size of your freshwater tank. A general guideline is to use 1/4 cup of bleach for every 16 gallons of water. For example, if your tank capacity is 20 gallons, you'll need roughly 2.5 ounces of bleach. It's important to dilute the bleach in at least one gallon of water; never pour undiluted bleach directly into your tank as it can damage your RV's plumbing system.

Once you've prepared the bleach solution, locate the freshwater fill port on your RV. This is usually found on the side of your RV. If your RV has an overfill vent on the freshwater inlet, you may not be able to use a funnel to pour in the bleach solution. In such cases, there are a few alternative methods you can use:

• Pour the bleach solution into your water hose, then connect it to a water source to get the bleach into the tank.
• Use a commercially made or homemade funnel. You can cut a disposable water bottle, insert the spout into the freshwater inlet, and pour the bleach solution into the cut-out part of the bottle.
• Use a plant watering can with a small spout that fits into the freshwater inlet.
• Pour the bleach solution into a 10-inch water filter housing without a filter, then connect it to a water source.

After pouring in the bleach solution, the next step is to fill up your freshwater tank with clean water. Connect your water hose to a freshwater source and completely fill your tank so that the bleach dilution mixes throughout. Once the tank is full, replace the cap on the freshwater inlet.

Now, you can circulate the bleach solution throughout your plumbing lines. Turn on your water pump and open all the faucets and showerheads. Let the bleached water run through every part of your freshwater system for 2-3 minutes.

Remember, it's important to follow the correct procedure and take the necessary precautions when disinfecting your water tank with bleach. Always refer to your RV manufacturer's instructions and seek professional assistance if you have any doubts or concerns.

Run the water pump and open each faucet to flush the system

Once you have added the sanitizing solution to your tank, it's time to run the water pump and open each faucet to flush the system.

Turn on your water pump and run every faucet in the RV one at a time until you smell bleach, turning each faucet off before moving on to the next. This is how you know that the sanitizing solution has made its way through all the pipes to the various freshwater fixtures.

Because these fumes can smell quite powerful, it is recommended to open some windows and turn on your vents before you turn on your faucets.

Frequently asked questions