| Every owner of an RV should keep the fresh | | | | water stops draining as it may be damaged. |
| water system sanitized. At a minimum, you | | | | Close all of the drains. You have now drained |
| should sanitize the system every spring when | | | | most of the water from the RV's system. |
| you take the RV out of storage and any time | | | | |
| you notice an odor. It's really quite simple | | | | Take a quarter cup of household bleach for |
| to do. You can start by draining the water | | | | every fifteen gallons of water that your |
| heater. Go to the outside compartment where | | | | fresh water tank holds. Mix the bleach, with |
| the water heater is located. | | | | water, into a one-gallon container and pour |
| | | | it into the fresh water holding tank. Fill |
| The drain plug, or petcock is located in the | | | | the fresh water tank almost completely full |
| corner. Remove the plug and open the pressure | | | | of water. Turn the water pump on, open all |
| relief valve on top of the water heater to | | | | hot and cold faucets and run the water until |
| assist in draining. CAUTION: NEVER drain the | | | | you smell the bleach at each faucet. Close |
| water heater when it's hot or under pressure. | | | | the faucets. If it's possible drive the RV or |
| | | | pull the trailer so the water can move around |
| You then need to locate the low point water | | | | to assist in cleaning the entire tank. |
| line drains. It may take a while to find | | | | |
| them, but they are there. There will be one | | | | Let it sit for at least 12 hours. Drain the |
| for the hot and one for the cold water lines. | | | | entire system again and re-fill the fresh |
| This is the lowest point in the water system. | | | | water tank with potable water. Open all of |
| Open these and let the water drain out. Next, | | | | the faucets and run the water until you no |
| find the drain for the fresh water holding | | | | longer smell any bleach. It may be necessary |
| tank and drain all of the water from it. At | | | | to repeat this process again to eliminate all |
| this point you can turn the water pump on for | | | | signs of bleach from the water system. Once |
| a moment to force any remaining water out. Do | | | | this is done it is safe to use your water |
| not let the pump continue to run once the | | | | system. |