Introduce Yourself: New 179HR! Sanitizing the system question

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New 179HR! Sanitizing the system question

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Category: R-pod Discussion Forums
Forum Name: Introduce Yourself
Forum Discription: New Members - tell us about yourself and your r-pod
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=8710
Printed Date: 24 May 2025 at 1:16pm
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Topic: New 179HR! Sanitizing the system question

Posted By: JP74
Subject: New 179HR! Sanitizing the system question
Date Posted: 01 Sep 2016 at 8:26pm

Hello ALL! Pumped to be a R-POD owner!!

I have a quick question. Do you have to flush the fresh water drinking system with chloride for a new rpod? Seems like yes but figured I would ask. Also, do you have to bypass the hot water heater when doing so?? The instructions on the forest river website doesn't mention anything about the hot water heater when talking about flushing the system. Thanks all for any help!

Replies:

Posted By: Podster
Date Posted: 02 Sep 2016 at 6:07am

Yes, using chlorine to sanitize the fresh water system is considered critical routine maintenance.

I do not bypass the HWH.

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Cliff & Raelynn
Ranger 4.0/178
(1/2 ton 5,800lb tow capacity)

Posted By: Leo B
Date Posted: 02 Sep 2016 at 6:23am

+1

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Leo & Melissa Bachand
2017 Ford F150
2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk
Previously owned
2015 Rpod 179
2010 Rpod 171

Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 02 Sep 2016 at 8:31am

Add 1/2 cup of fresh bleach to the FW holding tank. Fill the tank. Turn on the pump, then open each tap in succession until you smell bleach. Top off the holding tank. Let sit for at least 6 hours.Drain the system, use the low points and the drain valve on the bottom of the FW holding tank. Refill the tank, then drain again. Refill one more time, then turn the pump on again, and run the water at the taps until you don't smell the bleach.

Remember this is just FW, so can be dumped where ever, and use a FW drinking water safe hose, always.

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Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 02 Sep 2016 at 10:57am

A caveat to dumping the water is that if it is a new trailer and the gray water tank is clean, then it can be just dumped. If, however, the gray water tank has been used, some states consider water from the kitchen sink as black water and restrict dumping to dump stations (or to the city sewage system or home septic system). At least the chlorine will help minimize the bacteria that will be present if the gray water tank has been used, but it would still need to be treated before it could be reused. http://www.ncdrought.org/documents/GraywaterFACTS-103007.pdf - North Carolina's law is specific that untreated gray water can only be used during drought conditions to water non-edible plants using a bucket or watering can on private land where the gray water originates. It cannot be collected and accumulated for later use unless treated, and then only for specific purposes.

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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: JP74
Date Posted: 03 Sep 2016 at 11:18pm

Thanks all!! I figured FW tank would need to be cleaned prior to use. I followed furpod's outline and went smooth. Ended up just going to the dump station, flushing and dumping there.

Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 05 Sep 2016 at 10:17am

Are you on city sewer or septic tank? If so, do you have a convenient clean-out fitting in your yard near where you park your R-Pod? If you do, then you can do what I do, which is to dump there when we get home from a trip. In our case, we are on city sewer and have two clean-out fittings. One is near the house, but the slope of the ground isn't so great. The other is better for slope, but a little further from the pod. I had purchased sufficient hose to reach either one. That, coupled with a little support to keep an even slope means that I can easily dump full tanks at home.Septic systems also work, but I would use an enzyme or bacteria based tank treatment such as https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003X3PQN2/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s02?ie=UTF8&psc=1 - Unique RV Digest-It or https://www.amazon.com/TankTechsRx-Treatment-treatments-probiotics-portable/dp/B01CD4BK4U/ref=pd_sim_263_64?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=51V406ZXS03AESXRYKR6 - TankTechsRx . These will be beneficial to a septic system instead of harmful like a formaldehyde-based treatment would be.

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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: JGMM_BC
Date Posted: 07 Sep 2016 at 1:42pm

This is good information. As we found out, it is important to open up all the taps and FW low point drain once you are disconnected from the water and let all the FW water drain out as you drive..

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Jean-Guy & Jennifer
2017 RP-180 "Lilly"
2010 Mitsubishi Outlander