How to Clean and Maintain RV Water Systems

An RV road trip is one of the most incredible, life-affirming ways to make the most of the wonders the great land down under has to offer. Due to the often harsh nature of the Australian outback, you must check your vehicle and its internal systems thoroughly before setting off. None of those is more important than your water system. As a group of enthusiastic, like-minded individuals, the team at RV Parts Express loves nothing more than planning a trip, even if it’s for someone else. Here are our tips and advice on cleaning and maintaining your RV’s water system.

Assessing your water system

RV fresh water tanks probably get refilled before every excursion and maybe once you’re already on the road if it’s an extended trip. It’s not always possible to vouch for the complete cleanliness of any water you use, and it may end up sitting stagnant for longer than is healthy. Bacteria, mould, and mildew can all grow inside the tank and the water lines and are not things we want to ingest regularly. Aside from tasting awful, it’s not healthy to consume, and sanitising your RV's water system is the only way to eradicate them. 

It may already be apparent that your RV’s water system needs sanitising. Whether the water smells/tastes off, or you find pieces of debris or mould in the sink. It may be that your RV has spent an extended period in storage, and experience tells you the water system will need sanitising. There is never a wrong time to give your RV’s water tank and lines a fresh start, especially when camping season arrives and it’s time to get out and explore. 

When to sanitise your RV’s fresh water system

It is optimal to do a full cleanse roughly every six months if you wish to have a regular sanitisation schedule for your RV. Fortunately, sanitising your RV’s fresh water tank and lines is straightforward, and the requisite supplies are readily available. You will need:

• Dedicated Tank Cleaner - We recommend Tank Cleanse Pro
• Funnel 
• A clean, plentiful water source 

The steps to take for a perfect result

1: Turn off and disconnect the water heater and pump

Accidentally running the system without water is a great way to damage it, so for safety, make sure no power can flow by turning off and disconnecting both elements. 

2: Bypass the water flow to the heater and filter

Systems vary, but all should have bypass valves near each element of the water system. These allow the flow of water to be reduced or stopped altogether, and you need to locate the ones to the heater and the water filter/pump and turn them off.

3: Fully drain the system

Locate your RV’s ‘low’ drainage points and release them. This process will be facilitated by turning on all the taps. You should remove your water heater’s plug and let that drain fully. 

4: Close the low drainage points

If you don’t want your tank cleaner mixture to pour through and immediately down the drain, don’t forget to close the drainage points when the original tainted water is gone. 

5: Dilute your chosen tank cleaner according to the manufacturer’s instructions and add it to the water tank

This mixture may vary but it is generally safe to assume that a 1:200 ratio may be used for cups of tank cleaner to litres of water. Most RVs do not have water tanks that hold 200 litres of water, so check your vehicle’s manual to confirm the tank size and adjust your amounts accordingly. Mixing the entire amount before adding it to the system is hugely impractical. Use about 4 litres of water in a container to mix enough tank cleaner for the whole system and we will add the extra freshwater later. 

It should go without saying that tank cleaners can be nasty stuff. You do not want it on or around anything you value and would prefer not to damage, including your skin. As the ratio shows, it is an incredibly potent substance. If you use too much, it will sting your eyes to the point where the RV becomes uninhabitable and taint the flavour of your water for a long time to come. It does not require much tank cleaner to kill bacteria in your water system, and this is a textbook case of ‘less is more’.

6: Reconnect and turn on the water pump, then open the taps

The aim is only to get the mixture to every part of the system at this juncture, so do one tap at a time and turn it off as soon as you smell tank cleaner. Once you are satisfied that each line has the mixture right through it, turn the pump off again and leave everything as it is for 24 hours. Grab a well-earned beverage and relax. 

7: Fully drain and refill the system once again

Repeat the same process from a day earlier. Once the system is empty, refill it with fresh water. Run that water from each tap until you no longer smell tank cleaner. Once clear, turn off the tap and move to the next. When all the lines are tank cleaner-free, top up the tank one final time. Reconnect the water heater and reverse the bypass valves you turned earlier, and you’re done. 

Contact us

Please get in touch today with any questions or comments about RV water tanks or the other products we provide at RV Parts Express. Alternatively, take some time to browse our vast range of camping accessories, spare parts, and gadgets. There is no finer way to get the exploration juices flowing and excite yourself for the next RV trip.