Sanitizing Fresh Water Tank
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Category: R-pod Discussion Forums
Forum Name: Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks
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URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=4540
Printed Date: 18 Jun 2025 at 10:31pm
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Topic: Sanitizing Fresh Water Tank
Posted By: cody91
Subject: Sanitizing Fresh Water Tank
Date Posted: 27 Mar 2014 at 9:55pm
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When sanitizing the fresh water tank on the RPOD, what's the best way to get bleach into the tank? Do you just pour it into the tank with a funnel or is there a better way?
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Replies:
Posted By: hogone
Date Posted: 28 Mar 2014 at 6:46am
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i pull the drain plug, run some water through just in case there may be some sediment present, replace plug, run several gallons of water in, poor in bleach(in the filler location), and fill tank. I forgot the amount of bleach; maybe 1/2-2/3 of a cup i think. hope this makes sense. hogone ------------- Jon & Pam 2013 RP177 2023 F150 2017 HD Streetglide CHEESEHEAD |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 28 Mar 2014 at 8:03am
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To prevent splashing any on the pod it may be easier to pre-mix the bleach in a gallon jug with water, and then use a funnel to get it into the tank. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual 
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Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 28 Mar 2014 at 9:22am
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We use a funnel, and we premix with a gallon of water. Here is a link to some pretty good info.. http://www.sanidumps.com/sanitizervfreshwatersystem.php - RV water stuff.. ------------- |
Posted By: cody91
Date Posted: 28 Mar 2014 at 12:13pm
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Thanks Guys! Cody |
Posted By: Hairy Podders
Date Posted: 28 Mar 2014 at 12:48pm
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How often do you sanitize? every trip? Every Spring? ------------- Darryl, Julie & Lindsey Cooper & Libby- Devoted Canines 2014 RP178 2006 Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon |
Posted By: wingnut2312
Date Posted: 28 Mar 2014 at 1:33pm
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Every spring ------------- 2014 rpod 182G Ford Expedition |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 28 Mar 2014 at 2:08pm
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We do it in the spring, but if I think there might be some funk going on, I will hit it again during the summer. It takes overnight, but my actual input time is about 5 minutes. I can live with that to prevent the heebeegeebees.. (but I only felt that need one summer)
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Posted By: Goose
Date Posted: 28 Mar 2014 at 7:54pm
You know when you have used waaaaay tooooo much, the POD will smell like bleach for a week and the other have lets you know that you used too much every time she enters the POD.  Goose
First hand knowledge of some things that you never want to repeat. ------------- Mother Goose's Caboose..2011 RP171..07 Grand Cherokee 
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Posted By: dsmiths
Date Posted: 28 Mar 2014 at 10:08pm
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good link furpod, that's what I have been doing and hope to do again soon so we can start the season. ------------- Dane and Donna Smith 2011 RP-172 2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer 4X4 lift kit prodigy wireless brake controller |
Posted By: Keith-N-Dar
Date Posted: 29 Mar 2014 at 7:15am
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If you are filling your tank from city water that is already treated with chlorine you may not need to add anything else. If you are using untreated water sanitizing is necessary. In either case it doesn't hurt anything to run a some bleach through the lines as part of the spring ritual.
------------- Keith-N-Dar Boris & Betty (Boston Terriers) 2011 R-Pod 177 2010 Ford F-150 |
Posted By: Tars Tarkas
Date Posted: 29 Mar 2014 at 8:46am
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Always dilute the bleach in a gallon of water. Bleach is nasty stuff. Obviously it's going to be diluted when it's in the tank and diluting it first is a pretty significant safety issue. It takes surprisingly little; a half cup or a cup, going from memory, left in the system overnight. Draining the system after a rinse or two and letting it dry out is probably the best way to get rid of the bleach smell. I've heard of people using a vinegar solution, but have not tried it. TT ------------- 2010 176 FJ Cruiser |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 29 Mar 2014 at 5:17pm
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Something else to chew on - RV antifreeze is in the alcohol family so the entire system should already be sanitized by winterization (excluding the fresh water tank and the PEX running to the water pump).
------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual
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Posted By: COSPod
Date Posted: 29 Mar 2014 at 5:47pm
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has anyone sanitized with something like this: http://www.ecologiccleansers.com/one-step.php I use this for home brewing, and while more expensive, would mean I don't have to worry about bleach smell/taste problems if (when) I screw up and use too much. Just wondering if there are any reasons to not use something like this (other than the added cost).
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Posted By: wingnut2312
Date Posted: 29 Mar 2014 at 7:14pm
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1 1/4 cup bleach to 30 gallons. Run it through and then flush the hell out of it. We flushed twice and never smelled anything. I don't know if I left it overnight or just a few hours. Either way, that ratio works without any residual smell. ------------- 2014 rpod 182G Ford Expedition |
Posted By: Old Dingo&Mrs.Dingo
Date Posted: 29 Mar 2014 at 7:39pm
FYI City water is 5 ppm, to properly sanitize a water tank you need at least 50ppm for 15 minutes. You can also sanitize with Iodine at 12.5 ppm. Sorry to pontificate, I did this sort of stuff for 26 years, hard to forget.  ------------- Old Dingo and/or Mrs. Dingo 181G 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee |
Posted By: hogone
Date Posted: 31 Mar 2014 at 1:27pm
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still a slight chance of below freezing temps here, but likely only for brief periods. should I de-winterize??????????????????? i think tonight is the night! ------------- Jon & Pam 2013 RP177 2023 F150 2017 HD Streetglide CHEESEHEAD |
Posted By: Boomertype
Date Posted: 31 Mar 2014 at 2:07pm
Depends on if you want to gamble on possible damage or possible freeze. Roll the dice. . .
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Posted By: hogone
Date Posted: 31 Mar 2014 at 3:50pm
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I think I will. If it comes down to the nitty gritty, I will drain hot water tank and the low water point drains, and crank the heat up inside!!!!!!!!!! I feel pretty safe in doing so. and if it really got bad, re-winterize. only tanks a few minutes. ------------- Jon & Pam 2013 RP177 2023 F150 2017 HD Streetglide CHEESEHEAD |
Posted By: hammockmadness
Date Posted: 14 Jul 2015 at 8:18am
| Since you only need 1/4 cup of bleach per 15 gal., I use a funnel to put it in the hose to sanitize it too. Starting with an empty hose, already placed in the tank fill opening, elevate the faucet end of the hose and add the bleach. Hook up the hose to the faucet and fill your tank normally. |