Should You Sanitize RV Hot Water Heater? (Answered)

RV hot water heaters are unsung heroes when it comes to maximizing water output inside the RV.

This is assuming everything is working and has been optimized for long-term results. This is where RV owners have to be diligent about how they are using the RV hot water heater and getting it to work as required.

One detail to think about is, should you sanitize the RV hot water heater?

Yes, it’s recommended to sanitize the RV hot water heater. This should be done semi-annually to help keep the water clean.

To do this the right way, it’s recommended to follow a specific set of steps. This will help clean the RV hot water heater and ensure it works as intended.

The best approach is to disconnect the RV hot water heater, drain it using a hose, and then pour a mixture of chlorine + water in. This is going to make it easier to cleanse the hot water tank in the RV before draining it again.

This is a must as you are looking to sanitize a hot water heater in the RV.

Look into these details for those who want to make sure they are sanitizing the hot water heater with a purpose.

Tips On How To Sanitize RV Hot Water Heater

1. Disconnect The RV Hot Water Heater

Before it’s time to start cleaning the RV hot water heater, it’s recommended to disconnect the fixture.

The reason for doing this is to make sure everything has been powered off. You do not want the RV hot water to start as soon as the cleaning mixture is in there.

It’s best to make sure everything is disconnected.

This includes turning off the gas supply.

Look into these finer details when you are thinking about what can be done to control the gas supply and getting it to work as intended. If you don’t see those results, you are going to see subpar returns on the value you’re receiving.

It’s essential to think about the RV hot water as being fully disconnected from everything else before you begin to work on using the sanitizing mixture.

2. Drain The Water Heater Using A Hose

Now, you will want to remove water from the RV water heater.

It’s essential to do this using a drain hose.

You are going to connect the drain hose to the valve and it is going to help siphon the water out of the hot water heater in the RV.

It’s essential to make sure the hose is secure before working on siphoning the water out. You want to make sure it is secure and then begin to drain the water. This is going to take a few minutes but you will want to ensure there is nothing in the hot water tank before you add anything to it.

3. Pour Chlorine + Water Into The Tank

You are now going to begin to work on the sanitizing mixture for the RV hot water tank.

This is going to comprise of chlorine and water.

You can use cold or hot water for this purpose. It does not matter.

In general, you are going to want to use chlorine bleach because it will offer a potent blend. This is a great way to get rid of bad odors in the RV hot water tank and ensure it’s fully sanitized once you are done.

You can maintain a 50:50 ratio for the mixture as that is going to produce good results for the tank.

4. Wait 2-3 Hours And Drain The Tank Again

You are now going to take the time to wait.

It is important to wait for the mixture to do its job. This is one of the most important things a person can do as you don’t want a situation where the wait is not long enough.

This is when you are going to see subpar results.

It’s essential to think about this as you are waiting 2-3 hours to let the mixture settle. Once you do this, you are going to drain the tank to get rid of the mixture.

After this, you are going to fill the tank with water.

At this point, it should be back to how it needs to be.

Final Thoughts

Should you sanitize the RV hot water heater?

You should sanitize the RV hot water tank and this should be done semi-annually for maximum results. To do this the right way, it’s best to use a mixture of chlorine bleach and water to cleanse the system and get rid of bad odors.

There are specific steps that need to be followed when sanitizing the RV water tank but it can be done with a bit of care.

Continue to work on the RV hot water tank and enjoy the results that you get from it.