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SECTION 7
PLUMBING SYSTEMS
holding tanks at an appropriate facility or
according to local public codes.
S
ANITIZING THE
P
LUMBING
S
YSTEM
Failure to sanitize the potable water
system could result in death or serious
illness.
Potable water systems require periodic
maintenance to deliver a consistent flow of
fresh water. For your personal safety, the
plumbing system should be sanitized when
your RV is new, at the beginning and end of
each season and when the water system
becomes contaminated (or approximately
every three months of use).
Chlorine is poisonous. Always recap the
household bleach bottle and clean utensils
and containers after use.
How to sanitize with a water pump (if so
equipped)
1. Level the RV and drain the fresh water
system.
2. Close the drain valves.
3. Prepare a chlorine solution using 1/4 cup
of household bleach (sodium hypochlorite
solution) to one gallon (3.785 liters) of
water in a container. Prepare one gallon of
solution for every 15 gallons of tank
capacity. This will result in a residual
chlorine concentration of 50 ppm in the
water system.
If a 100-ppm concentration is required as
discussed in step 9, use
½
cup of
household bleach with one gallon of water
to prepare the chlorine solution. One
gallon of the solution should be used for
each 15 gallons of tank capacity.
4. At the gravity fill connection, place a hose
into the container with the chlorine
solution.
5. Turn the water pump ON.
6. After the recommended amount of
solution is in the tank, turn OFF the water
pump.
7. Continue filling the fresh water tank with
clean (potable) water until it is full.
8. Open the hot water line on all the faucets
until water begins to flow continuously and
a chlorine smell is noticeable.
9. Close the hot water lines and repeat with
the cold water lines on the faucets.
10. Let the solution remain in the system for at
least four hours when disinfecting with 50-
PPM residual chlorine.
If a shorter time period is desired, then a
100-PPM chlorine concentration should be
permitted to sit in the system for at least
one hour.
11. After the required period, drain the
chlorine solution from the fresh water
system.
Some solution may remain in the water
heater and will be flushed in the following
steps:
12. Fill the fresh water system completely full
using clean (potable) water.
13. Then, drain the fresh water system (see
Draining the fresh water system
).
If a chlorine taste lingers in the water, flush
the water system with a solution consisting of
one-quart vinegar to five gallons of clean
water. Re-flush as necessary.
W
INTERIZING
T
HE
P
LUMBING
S
YSTEM
Automotive antifreeze (ethylene glycol) and
windshield washer antifreeze (methanol)
are poisonous. Never use these products
in your fresh water system. These products
are harmful and may be fatal if swallowed.
Preparing your RV for colder weather or
storage is very important for most states and
Canada. Failure to prepare your RV may
cause water supply lines and the water heater
to freeze. No commodity or product should be
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