Need help sanitizing
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Forum Name: Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks
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URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=11207
Printed Date: 30 May 2024 at 5:57pm
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Topic: Need help sanitizing
Posted By: henryv
Subject: Need help sanitizing
Date Posted: 06 Mar 2018 at 6:46pm
I'm sanitizing my camper. I put bleach in the water and letting it sit overnight. Tomorrow I will let it drain out. I want to go for a trip but I want the tanks empty and clean. Can somebody advise me. When you hook up to the city water and fill it from the house, do you need to use a filter? Where does the water from the sink and bathroom go, to the black tank? Do you have the water pump switch on anytime you use water? How do I flush out the black tank? It's a 2016 171 and I think this is the first time. Also how do I know the hot water tank is full before I turn it on, how do I turn it on, I know there is a switch outside. 
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Replies:
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 06 Mar 2018 at 7:28pm
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Water from the bathroom and kitchen sinks go to the Gray water tank. The toilet goes to the Black water tank. A pressure limiter (check Walmart's RV equipment or online for one) is needed to make sure you don't overpressure and blow out one of your water lines if you are using city water. The limiter will limit the pressure to about 50 psi, which is safe for RV water lines. At the same time, you can pick up a filter, either single pack with flexible fitting or double pack. For water to flow from the fresh water tank, you do need to use the pump to provide pressure. If you are connected to city water, you don't need to use the pump. How do you know the hot water tank is full? Simple, turn on a hot water tap. If it is sputtering air or air and water, the tank is not full. If you have a good flow without air, then the tank is full. This is provided that you changed the bypass valve(s) to not bypass the tank. One way to make absolutely sure is to open cover on the outside and then open the valve on the hot water heater. If there is water flow and no air sputtering out, then it is full. As for turning it on, for electric, use the switch outside. For propane, the switch is inside. It should be on the same panel as the switch for the water pump. Flushing black water tank: hook hose to connection on outside. When you turn the hose on, the water will spray inside the tank to help flush things out. Remember that it is a flush so you don't want to keep adding water without the drain being open or you risk filling it so much that you get a stinky brown fountain from the roof vent. That would not be a good thing. ------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
Posted By: Leo B
Date Posted: 06 Mar 2018 at 7:34pm
 "Flushing black water tank: hook hose to connection on outside. When you turn the hose on, the water will spray inside the tank to help flush things out. Remember that it is a flush so you don't want to keep adding water without the drain being open or you risk filling it so much that you get a stinky brown fountain from the roof vent. That would not be a good thing. "------------- Leo & Melissa Bachand 2017 Ford F150 2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk Previously owned 2015 Rpod 179 2010 Rpod 171 |
Posted By: henryv
Date Posted: 06 Mar 2018 at 7:44pm
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So there are 3 tanks? black, gray and fresh? how much does each hold? ------------- |
Posted By: Leo B
Date Posted: 06 Mar 2018 at 7:54pm
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Fresh- 36 Black- 30 Gray- 30 ------------- Leo & Melissa Bachand 2017 Ford F150 2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk Previously owned 2015 Rpod 179 2010 Rpod 171 |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 06 Mar 2018 at 8:16pm
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Fresh: 30 gallons in tank plus 6 gallons for hot water heater or 36 gallons total Black and Gray: 30 gallons each There is a little more in the lines, but there is no measurement posted for those. ------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
Posted By: henryv
Date Posted: 06 Mar 2018 at 8:46pm
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What is meant by "city water"? water from the house spicket? There are two places for water, explain how to use each. I know the top one fills the tank, and the lower one is city water whatever that is... ------------- |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 06 Mar 2018 at 8:58pm
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You got it right. The big opening is to fill the tank. The one to which you can attach a hose from a spigot is the city water connection (even if it is from a well pump for naming purposes). Please use a drinking water safe hose to fill the tank or connect to city water. That is not your typical green garden hose which might contain chemicals that are not safe to drink. ------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
Posted By: SC for Huskers
Date Posted: 06 Mar 2018 at 10:41pm
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The other day I flushed the antifreeze out and when done, hit the switch on water pump. Nothing happened. Is there a level safety switch, or do I have a problem? Thanks in advance.  ------------- Happy Traveling, Tom 2017 172pod 2011 F150 STX |
Posted By: henryv
Date Posted: 07 Mar 2018 at 5:25am
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So does the city water go into the tank, or bypass it? ------------- |
Posted By: henryv
Date Posted: 07 Mar 2018 at 5:33am
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when filling the tank does the hot water heater automatically fill up? is the bypass valve the valve between the hot and cold, and should it run parallel or perpendicular to the line when in use? ------------- |
Posted By: GlueGuy
Date Posted: 07 Mar 2018 at 8:36am
Similarly, if you are connected to city water, you also want to purge the air from the system before you start the water heater. You don't need to run the pump when you're connected to city water. ------------- bp 2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River 2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 07 Mar 2018 at 8:51am
Okay. There is not quite enough information to do more than guess at this. It sounds like either the intake filter screen on the water pump is clogged or the winterizing valve is set to the wrong position and it is just pulling air through the hose that is for adding antifreeze. Look for a valve in the pump line that has a stub hose and check to see if it is set properly. If you turn on a faucet and are just getting air, then the valve is the most likely culprit. ------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 07 Mar 2018 at 9:10am
No, it does not automatically fill up as the water tank level is below the level of the water heater and water does not flow uphill. The pump or city water pressure is needed to fill the hot water tank. If you have the three valve setup (mine has this), the top and bottom valves need to be parallel to the lines and the one in the line between needs to be perpendicular to the line. If the top and bottom ones are perpendicular and the one between is parallel, then that is the bypass setting. I can't help with the one or two valve setup settings as I don't have the valves to look at. ------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
Posted By: SC for Huskers
Date Posted: 11 Mar 2018 at 11:44am
Don't know what I was thinking. You are right, water can't run up hill and I laughed at myself for asking a Not Dumb question ! OK, This is what Ive got going on. City water off, fresh water tank 1/3 full according to LEDs, turn pump on, light on pump comes on, NO running pump. Ah Ha, get down with volt meter, (not a lot of room in a Pod 172 for 245lbs of mass) have two red wires going in and out of end of pump. Looks like it may be a switch. Pull them off, turn pump on, check for voltage between red wires, ah ha, we have 12vdc. Jumper the two red wires, ah ha, we have running pump, run for 60 seconds to get rid of antifreeze, turn off. What is the switch, and can I take it off to fix or replace?  Thanks ------------- Happy Traveling, Tom 2017 172pod 2011 F150 STX |