Having fresh, drinkable water at your fingertips is great not only for consumption, but for showering, dishwashing, or just rinsing your hands.

 

Unfortunately, lack of water system maintenance leads to algae, mold and bacteria problems making the water undrinkable and in general, unusable.

 

The steps below should restore the water system to a useable state. If you haven't serviced the water system in years, please following the 'Cleaning an Ignored System' first.

 

Cleaning an Ignored System

 

1. Turn off the water heater (VERY IMPORTANT).

2. Completely drain the water system including the water heater. The water system can be drained by just turning on all of the faucets until the tank is dry. Draining the water heater requires a bucket and pulling the drain on the water heater.

3. Turn off the water pump when no water is coming out of the faucets.

4. Fill the water tank 1/2 full and then add 1 cup of bleach for every 5 gallons of water tank capacity. Finish filling the tank.

5. Turn on the water pump.

6. Let water run from every faucet (hot and cold), shower head, and toilet (if its fresh water fed like the Vac-U-Flush) until water appears.

7. Let it stand for 3 hours.

8. Drain the system as described in step 2 above.

9. Turn off the water pump when no water is coming out of the faucets.

10. Remove and clean the main water system strainer (usually next to the water pump), and any other removable strainers at the faucets.

11. Continue with step 5 below

 

Annual Water System Service

 

1. Turn off the water heater (VERY IMPORTANT)

2. Completely drain the water system including the water heater. The water system can be drained by just turning on all of the faucets until the tank is dry. Draining the water heater requires a bucket and pulling the drain on the water heater.

3. Turn off the water pump when no water is coming out of the faucet

4. Remove and clean the main water system strainer (usually next to the water pump).

5. Add 1 cup bleach in 5 gallons of water and pour into the holding tank.

6. Turn on the water pump.

7. Run all of the faucets, showers, and toilets (if Vac-U-Flush) until water appears.

8. Let stand for 3 hours

9. Do the following steps twice:

   1. Drain the system completely by running all of the faucets, showers, and toilets (including the water heater).

   2. Turn off the water pump when no water is coming out of the faucet

   3. Fill the water system with just fresh water.

   4. Turn on the water pump.

   5. Run all of the faucets, showers and toilets until water appears. Run a hot water faucet until water appears.

10. Turn on the water heater.

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