In my short YouTube video, I share the essential steps for DIY Airstream potable water system maintenance, specifically focusing on how to sanitize an Airstream fresh water tank in a 27-foot Globetrotter travel trailer.
This simple RV plumbing task ensures your water supply is clean and safe for your next RV camping trip.
This step-by-step video offers the same easy-to-follow approach used in a similar Airstream plumbing video about fixing a leaky faucet.
Watch and learn about the right amount of bleach for a 39-gallon water storage tank and to keep your RV life hygienic and enjoyable on the road.
Here’s what we cover:
- ✅ How to sanitize RV fresh water tank with bleach step by step
- ✅ Airstream water tank bleach treatment
- ✅ Why you need to sanitize your Airstream fresh water tank regularly
- ✅ Exactly how much bleach to use based on your tank capacity
- ✅ How to dilute the bleach safely before adding it to the tank
- ✅ The right way to fill the tank and distribute chlorinated water
- ✅ How to use your onboard water pump and faucets to flush bleach out of the RV fresh water tank
- ✅ The smell test to confirm chlorine is present before you stop, and gone after rinsing
- ✅ How to properly drain and refill for clean, ready-to-use water
- ✅ Airstream fresh water tank sanitizing mistakes to avoid
I also showed the mistakes I made along the way, like forgetting to bring a funnel, forgetting to close the fresh water drain valve, overfilling the fresh water tank, and almost forgetting to turn off the water pump. If you’re doing this for the first time, watching me mess up might save you a headache.
After this sanitization process, your water system is fresh, clean, and ready for drinking, cooking, and camp life. If you’re prepping your Airstream or RV for a boondocking trip or off-grid adventure, a sanitized fresh-water tank is essential.
⏱ Total time: ~30 minutes of work, not counting the four+ hours allowing the bleach solution to soak.
💰 Total cost: Under $1 for bleach.
Frequently asked questions
Can I run the diluted bleach water through my tankless water heater?
I opted to run it through, but flushed it twice to be safe. Some suggest bypassing the tankless heater. From private Airstream Groups: “With the small amount of chlorine used, it should be fine to run through the tankless.” “I always run everything through the tankless.” “I always turn off water going into the hot water tank as bleach is not good for the tank.” “Bacteria can grow in your water heater. I would not bypass it.”
How much bleach do you use to sanitize an Airstream fresh water tank?
Use 1/4 cup of unscented household bleach (like Clorox) for every 15 gallons of fresh water tank capacity. Dilute the bleach in a gallon of water before adding it to the tank to ensure even distribution.
How long does it take to sanitize an RV fresh water tank?
If you don’t count 4+ hours for no-effort sterilization, the actual work takes about 30 minutes. That includes diluting and adding bleach, filling the tank, running water through all faucets, draining, and refilling with clean water until the chlorine smell is gone.
How do you know when all the bleach is out of your RV water system?
Run each faucet until you can no longer smell chlorine in the water. That’s your confirmation the system has been flushed. Always do the smell test rather than relying on a set timer or number of gallons.
How does Airstream recommend we sanitize our fresh water tanks in the owner’s manual?
Multiply gallons of tank capacity by 0.13 to get the ounces of bleach needed. Mix the bleach into a container of water, then pour the solution into the fresh water tank and fill with potable water. Open all faucets allowing water to run until the distinct odor of chlorine is detected. Allow 4 hours of contact time to disinfect, then drain the tank.
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