Over time, bacteria and mold can grow in your van's fresh water tank. To be able to drink your tap water safely, you must clean your tank twice a year.
There are several ways to sanitize your van's water tank. Today, I am sharing with you what I've been doing for the last couple of years. It works pretty well. You only need two ingredients: bleach and water. It is simple, efficient and easy to do.
Photo by Martin Taz
Since it is impossible to open the tank and to scrub it manually, it must be filled with a cleaning product. You will have to let it do its job for a couple of hours and then rinse it. Follow these steps to get your fresh water tank clean and ready for the next vanlife season!
You need 1 ounce of bleach per 30 liters (8 gallons) of water. 1 ounce equals approximately 30 ml of liquid. You can now calculate the amount of bleach you will need depending on the volume of your tank.
The fresh water tank of my converted school bus has a 70 liter capacity (18.5 gallons). 18.5 gallons divided by 8 gallons and the result multiplied by 30 milliliters. So, I will need about 69 ml of bleach to sanitize it.
Then, you must dilute the bleach in 1 gallon of water (3.78L). You should not pour undiluted bleach into your tank because it can damage the plumbing gaskets and seals.
The tank must be completely empty before starting cleaning. You also need to turn off the water pump. The first step is to fill a third of the tank with water. If you have a water heater and a filter, you need to bypass them. Then, add the diluted bleach mixture.
In my skoolie, the only way to access the tank is through the pump hose. I have to disconnect the pump hose to be able to pour the bleach mixture with a funnel.
The next step is to fill the tank to the top and start the water pump. Once it's done, turn on the sink and shower faucets until you smell bleach. It has quite a strong smell.
Once your tank is filled with the cleaning product, you should let it sit for a few hours. Cleaning will take place during this time. Generally, a waiting time of 5 to 12 hours is enough. On the other hand, if your tank has not been cleaned for a very long time, you can let the product sanitize for 24 hours.
Photo by Martin Taz
While you wait, you can go for a ride with your van to stir the mixture. Driving is a good idea to help clean your water tank better.
The final step of cleaning is to drain and rinse your fresh water tank. Start by completely emptying the tank. Then, fill it to the max. Open the sink and shower faucets until it no longer smells like bleach. This step may take some time but don't give up, you're almost done! To finish cleaning, refill your water tank and rinse again. You can fill and empty the tank several times to make sure there is no longer bleach inside.
Photo by Martin Taz
You are now ready to leave for your next road trip! There should be no more bacteria and a bad smell in your van's fresh water tank and plumbing. You can drink and cook with your tap water safely.
It is recommended to clean your van's fresh water tank every six months to prevent bacteria and mold buildup. This way, you can drink the water from your campervan safely.
I have to store my converted school bus for winter. In this case, it is preferable to sanitize my water tank before storage and to clean it again at the beginning of the next camping season.
If you have any questions or suggestions regarding cleaning your campervan's fresh water tank, please leave a comment below or contact me.
Happy travels and see you on the road!
