R-pod Owners Forum : cleaning the fresh water tank http://www.rpod-owners.com/ This is an XML content feed of; R-pod Owners Forum : I need HELP!!! : cleaning the fresh water tank Copyright (c) 2006-2009 Web Wiz Forums - All Rights Reserved. Wed, 20 May 2026 18:54:30 +0000 Sun, 10 Aug 2025 15:00:04 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Web Wiz Forums 9.64 360 www.rpod-owners.com/RSS_post_feed.asp?TID=16209 R-pod Owners Forum http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_images/web_wiz_forums.png http://www.rpod-owners.com/ cleaning the fresh water tank : Originally posted by StephenHI... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=16209&PID=154809#154809 Author: jato
Subject: 16209
Posted: 10 Aug 2025 at 3:00pm

Originally posted by StephenH

I agree with the air for purging lines. My experience is similar although we don't get that cold. The only RV antifreeze is for sink/shower traps and toilet bowl to keep the seals moist. With the GW, we don't have sink/shower traps as there are one-way valves that let water flow and then flatten to seal back flow of stinky air out. I only need RV antifreeze for the toilet bowl now. A gallon will last for years.



Same here!  After using compressed air I use a total of 16 oz. RV antifreeze for the toilet and 3 traps; a gallon lasts for 8 years of winterizing!
]]> Sun, 10 Aug 2025 15:00:04 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=16209&PID=154809#154809 cleaning the fresh water tank : https://www.simplyrecipes.co... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=16209&PID=154769#154769 Author: poohbill
Subject: 16209
Posted: 31 Jul 2025 at 12:15pm

https://www.simplyrecipes.com/stop-mixing-baking-soda-and-vinegar-scientist-8750981Folks have been mixing vinegar (acid) with baking soda (base) for years, sometimes with lemon juice (acid) for odor. It is a folk remedy that is not recommended.

Airing the lines after bleach disinfecting is best practice. My clothes washing machine has a tub cleaning cycle with bleach (no soap) that leaves the tub with an odor. I leave the door open for a day and it disappears. Same with my trailer.

I have no idea how to help if the water supply itself has an odor.

Bill
]]> Thu, 31 Jul 2025 12:15:33 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=16209&PID=154769#154769 cleaning the fresh water tank : I agree with the air for purging... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=16209&PID=154768#154768 Author: StephenH
Subject: 16209
Posted: 31 Jul 2025 at 11:21am

I agree with the air for purging lines. My experience is similar although we don't get that cold. The only RV antifreeze is for sink/shower traps and toilet bowl to keep the seals moist. With the GW, we don't have sink/shower traps as there are one-way valves that let water flow and then flatten to seal back flow of stinky air out. I only need RV antifreeze for the toilet bowl now. A gallon will last for years.

http://www.amazon.com/Waterless-Sealing-Prevent-Sanitary-Replacement/dp/B0BCH3YSPP


Edited by StephenH - 31 Jul 2025 at 11:23am]]> Thu, 31 Jul 2025 11:21:55 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=16209&PID=154768#154768 cleaning the fresh water tank : Let me know how that works out.... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=16209&PID=154767#154767 Author: jato
Subject: 16209
Posted: 31 Jul 2025 at 7:09am

Let me know how that works out.  It took several tries to get a good 'solution' so that the water didn't end up smelling like bleach or RV antifreeze upon drinking.  Nipped the antifreeze problem after the first winterization in 2011 by simply blowing the system out with compressed air.  A quick and easy solution for that.  I go with 80 psi and always leave one line open while going through the other hot, cold, and toilet outlets; takes under 2 minutes to go through all lines twice.  After using this process for two years and then removing both low point drains afterwards to make sure all water was out I was surprised that only 1 or 2 drops of water would be remaining in the low point drains so after that I haven't removed those for the past 13 years after blowing out.  Northern Michigan and yes, we get cold winters.  No cracks, leaks, or issues with this process.]]> Thu, 31 Jul 2025 07:09:37 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=16209&PID=154767#154767 cleaning the fresh water tank : BTW, jato, I love the vinegar,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=16209&PID=154766#154766 Author: BobTheZee
Subject: 16209
Posted: 30 Jul 2025 at 6:19pm

BTW, jato, I love the vinegar, baking soda, and lemon juice idea. Just working on sanitizing a tank now and gonna try that tomorrow.]]> Wed, 30 Jul 2025 18:19:38 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=16209&PID=154766#154766 cleaning the fresh water tank : Manual for Shurflo 4008 RV Revolution... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=16209&PID=154765#154765 Author: BobTheZee
Subject: 16209
Posted: 30 Jul 2025 at 6:16pm

Manual for Shurflo 4008 RV Revolution Bypass Pump says to sanitize with 2 oz. bleach per 15 gal. tank size; fill tank and rock rv back and forth to coat top of tank; let sit for 4 hours of contact time. Or double the amount of bleach to reduce contact time to 1 hour.]]> Wed, 30 Jul 2025 18:16:54 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=16209&PID=154765#154765 cleaning the fresh water tank : StephenH - good advice on sanitizing... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=16209&PID=154592#154592 Author: jato
Subject: 16209
Posted: 05 Jun 2025 at 2:14pm

StephenH - good advice on sanitizing tank first before using your concoction to rid the tank of the bleach taste.  We use a mixture of 1 cup white vinegar, 1/2 cup baking soda, and 1/2 cup lemon juice in 5 gallons of water in the FW tank.  Let sit for 5 minutes and then run your cold water lines until tank is empty.  This has worked for us to rid that bleach taste in the water.  Yes, we use the FW tank for drinking.

Edited by jato - 05 Jun 2025 at 2:14pm]]> Thu, 05 Jun 2025 14:14:01 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=16209&PID=154592#154592 cleaning the fresh water tank : Hello Swanson,Welcome to the forum.... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=16209&PID=154590#154590 Author: StephenH
Subject: 16209
Posted: 05 Jun 2025 at 2:00pm

Hello Swanson,

Welcome to the forum. Since I have no idea of your tank's condition, I can't say for certain.

Have you sanitized the tank after dewinterizing? If not, then for a 30 gallon tank, you will need plain (no cleaning additives) bleach. Recommendations vary but 3/4 cup for a 30 gallon tank should be fine. Fill the tank part way, add the bleach diluted with water, and finish filling the tank. Run the faucets (don't forget outside shower/spray port) until you smell bleach. Shut the faucets off and top off the tank. Then let it sit for at least 8 hours.

Then drain the tank and use the low point drains to drain the bleach-water out of the system. Close the valves and fill the tank with fresh water. Flush all the lines with the fresh water. You may need to drain and repeat. Then the tank and lines will be sanitized. Once this is done, if there is still a taste of chlorine, you could use either vinegar or (my preference) baking soda to help remove any residual taste. It doesn't take much.


]]> Thu, 05 Jun 2025 14:00:48 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=16209&PID=154590#154590 cleaning the fresh water tank : how much vinegar do I use to add... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=16209&PID=154588#154588 Author: swanson
Subject: 16209
Posted: 05 Jun 2025 at 12:01pm

how much vinegar do I use to add to the fresh water tank to make the water taste good again]]> Thu, 05 Jun 2025 12:01:01 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=16209&PID=154588#154588