hi all : Last time out with van I was brought home in a ambulance (long story) the van was retrieved by road
service and parked in back yard. Up until recent times I was not interested in van.
But times have changed. My problem is the van was parked with water tanks 1/2 full. I have drained some of the water out
and it does not look good. All sorts of stuff with different colors are coming out. Are the tanks retrievable ie: cleaned or
replacements needed. ?? Any ideas on best way to clean would be appreiciated.
Thanks for the answers received 2 tanks are involved both are 80 litre
AL
eived by road service
-- Edited by al on Monday 9th of June 2014 02:07:00 PM
Legendts said
12:31 PM Jun 9, 2014
Hi Al, sorry about your last return "trip" but glad you are looking at using the van again.
Your tanks, yes you can clean them and you can use chlorine granules (dissolved first) or an easier way is bleach. Dosage I am not sure but someone else here may be able to advise that if you let us know roughly the tank size. When (if) you do it that I would fill the tank/s adding the bleach midway, leave overnight then drain about a quarter of it out (not on the grass) and take it for a little drive to agitate the mixture then drain the lot out and flush the tank/s at least three times to remove any residue then fill them up again.
Be careful draining the bleach out as it is not environmentally friendly and wear protective eye protection etc.
There may be other better products to use and again someone else may better answer your question. Maybe even ask the local chemist as they should be up to speed on how to go about it safely.
Take care Al.
donnybabes said
12:32 PM Jun 9, 2014
Empty the tanks,refill with water and add bleach ( type how to clean water tanks in caravan and you will get info on ratio ) leave the mix in the tanks for 3-4 days.I took my van for a drive around the block to give the tank water a shakeup.Empty tanks,refill to flush out any after taste of bleach empty and refill for use.You use a fair bit of water but it does clean out any impurities in the tanks and pipes.
Yuglamron said
02:11 PM Jun 9, 2014
Personally I use Milton Fluid. Can get in most pharmacies.
It's used among other things to sterilise babies bottles and teats.
Safe for use with babies and is very good to clean water tanks with.
Same system, I use the whole bottle in my water tank and fill to around the two thirds level Drive around for a bit and empty out. Put maybe twenty litres in and drain. Then refill as normal.
It should not smell or taste after that process.
If it's safe for babies I reckon it's OK for an adult.
neilnruth said
02:31 PM Jun 9, 2014
You should be able to buy something like Milton at the supermarket where it should be cheaper. Taking the van for a drive to slosh it around is a great idea. It's like anything left with water in it - the dishwasher, the washing machine. All need a good rinse out. Vinegar could also be helpful.
TAJ said
08:24 PM Jun 9, 2014
HI was advised years ago to drain tanks dry ..close taps ..
never had any trouble with smell .. only used cleaning
stuff when we first got the van
suenray
Aus-Kiwi said
06:59 PM Jun 11, 2014
I have put some citric acid in tank on trip home 1/4 full then emptied filled up with two cups of liquid chlorine .. When I bought my MH.. Left it for a few weeks .. Then drained most out and topped up before going away...
Bevandy2 said
09:42 PM Jun 11, 2014
I don't think bleach is a good idea guys, not for drinking water, hey! Maybe in some towns water supply used under strict controls. Even so, Yuk! Gurgle. gulp!
Tanks should be emptied after a trip and refilled before the next one, we use that Bio Magic stuff that sanitises the tank, but you must read the directions to ensure you don't use too much, available from most camping places I think, also we use a BEST filter, (Bacteria Eliminating Silver Technology) silver kills the bugs, see this web site, www.bes****erfilters.com.au/store/
The Australian Caravan Club has access to many useful resources like this one, and after sanitising the tanks with either colloidal silver and hydrogen peroxide, or the Bio Magic stuff, using one of these filters every time you feed water into the van should ensure safe water in the tanks.
Contact Colin on that web site, he will be happy to advise you, and anyway, we always carry bottled drinking water, the van tanks are only used for tea and coffee, on the road, and washing up if not connected to a town water supply. Never been sick in 13 years. (apart from one night of rumolitis, but that was my son in laws fault in Katherine. Rah Rah Bundy!)
Hope that helps folks, believe me, as a kid I was an expert on tummy wogs and I know what I am talking about.
PS, almost forgot, make sure the hoses in your vans water system are all food safe, ie opaque, some vans, (ours) used clear plastic hoses to run the water system, a sure breeding ground for bacteria and algae and all kinds of nasty stuff, so first of all check your hoses, they turn black with gunk if clear plastic, not good!
Be cool, stay warm, and stay fit,
Bevan
ACC member.
Bevandy2 said
09:56 PM Jun 11, 2014
Why was that web site blanked out, I thought we were here to help each other??
Bevan
aussie_paul said
10:42 PM Jun 11, 2014
http://www.bes****erfilters.com.au/store/
http://www.bes****erfilters.com.au/store/
you have to replace the **** with ****
and paste to browser. Boy never come across that before!!!! it has to be "bes****erfilters" I try again. Not very good at this IT stuff...HELP, I give up..
Aussie Paul.
-- Edited by aussie_paul on Wednesday 11th of June 2014 10:43:02 PM
-- Edited by aussie_paul on Wednesday 11th of June 2014 10:43:29 PM
-- Edited by aussie_paul on Wednesday 11th of June 2014 10:44:54 PM
-- Edited by aussie_paul on Wednesday 11th of June 2014 10:46:36 PM
-- Edited by aussie_paul on Wednesday 11th of June 2014 10:48:09 PM
-- Edited by aussie_paul on Wednesday 11th of June 2014 10:48:51 PM
-- Edited by aussie_paul on Wednesday 11th of June 2014 10:58:05 PM
Bevandy2 said
10:35 PM Jun 12, 2014
OK, we have a small problem here, see if the URL works, a free download of a booklet that explains how to ensure safe drinking water when travelling,
Have a close look at the 4 letters that were replaced by asterisks - see what they spell - the system has determined them as a 'rude' word and has automatically converted them to avoid showing the 'rude' word in the text. This happens in heaps of Forums all over the world, it is part of the underlying Forum programming, and only the Forum owner/administrator can over-ride the 'automatic correction'.
To see it correctly, you have to copy the link to your browser address line, then BEFORE pressing Enter, change the 4 characters to what they should read, then the correct website should come up !
Regards, Brian
Joe50 said
11:25 PM Jun 13, 2014
If you haven't twigged yet, the URL begins with the words best water joined together.
hi all : Last time out with van I was brought home in a ambulance (long story) the van was retrieved by road
service and parked in back yard. Up until recent times I was not interested in van.
But times have changed. My problem is the van was parked with water tanks 1/2 full. I have drained some of the water out
and it does not look good. All sorts of stuff with different colors are coming out. Are the tanks retrievable ie: cleaned or
replacements needed. ?? Any ideas on best way to clean would be appreiciated.
Thanks for the answers received 2 tanks are involved both are 80 litre
AL
eived by road service
-- Edited by al on Monday 9th of June 2014 02:07:00 PM
Your tanks, yes you can clean them and you can use chlorine granules (dissolved first) or an easier way is bleach. Dosage I am not sure but someone else here may be able to advise that if you let us know roughly the tank size. When (if) you do it that I would fill the tank/s adding the bleach midway, leave overnight then drain about a quarter of it out (not on the grass) and take it for a little drive to agitate the mixture then drain the lot out and flush the tank/s at least three times to remove any residue then fill them up again.
Be careful draining the bleach out as it is not environmentally friendly and wear protective eye protection etc.
There may be other better products to use and again someone else may better answer your question. Maybe even ask the local chemist as they should be up to speed on how to go about it safely.
Take care Al.
Empty the tanks,refill with water and add bleach ( type how to clean water tanks in caravan and you will get info on ratio ) leave the mix in the tanks for 3-4 days.I took my van for a drive around the block to give the tank water a shakeup.Empty tanks,refill to flush out any after taste of bleach empty and refill for use.You use a fair bit of water but it does clean out any impurities in the tanks and pipes.
Personally I use Milton Fluid. Can get in most pharmacies.
It's used among other things to sterilise babies bottles and teats.
Safe for use with babies and is very good to clean water tanks with.
Same system, I use the whole bottle in my water tank and fill to around the two thirds level Drive around for a bit and empty out. Put maybe twenty litres in and drain. Then refill as normal.
It should not smell or taste after that process.
If it's safe for babies I reckon it's OK for an adult.
HI was advised years ago to drain tanks dry ..close taps ..
never had any trouble with smell .. only used cleaning
stuff when we first got the van
suenray
Tanks should be emptied after a trip and refilled before the next one, we use that Bio Magic stuff that sanitises the tank, but you must read the directions to ensure you don't use too much, available from most camping places I think, also we use a BEST filter, (Bacteria Eliminating Silver Technology) silver kills the bugs, see this web site, www.bes****erfilters.com.au/store/
The Australian Caravan Club has access to many useful resources like this one, and after sanitising the tanks with either colloidal silver and hydrogen peroxide, or the Bio Magic stuff, using one of these filters every time you feed water into the van should ensure safe water in the tanks.
Contact Colin on that web site, he will be happy to advise you, and anyway, we always carry bottled drinking water, the van tanks are only used for tea and coffee, on the road, and washing up if not connected to a town water supply. Never been sick in 13 years. (apart from one night of rumolitis, but that was my son in laws fault in Katherine. Rah Rah Bundy!)
Hope that helps folks, believe me, as a kid I was an expert on tummy wogs and I know what I am talking about.
PS, almost forgot, make sure the hoses in your vans water system are all food safe, ie opaque, some vans, (ours) used clear plastic hoses to run the water system, a sure breeding ground for bacteria and algae and all kinds of nasty stuff, so first of all check your hoses, they turn black with gunk if clear plastic, not good!
Be cool, stay warm, and stay fit,
Bevan
ACC member.
Bevan
http://www.bes****erfilters.com.au/store/
http://www.bes****erfilters.com.au/store/
you have to replace the **** with ****
and paste to browser. Boy never come across that before!!!! it has to be "bes****erfilters" I try again. Not very good at this IT stuff...HELP, I give up..
Aussie Paul.
-- Edited by aussie_paul on Wednesday 11th of June 2014 10:43:02 PM
-- Edited by aussie_paul on Wednesday 11th of June 2014 10:43:29 PM
-- Edited by aussie_paul on Wednesday 11th of June 2014 10:44:54 PM
-- Edited by aussie_paul on Wednesday 11th of June 2014 10:46:36 PM
-- Edited by aussie_paul on Wednesday 11th of June 2014 10:48:09 PM
-- Edited by aussie_paul on Wednesday 11th of June 2014 10:48:51 PM
-- Edited by aussie_paul on Wednesday 11th of June 2014 10:58:05 PM
.bes****erfilters.com.au/water-on-the-road-booklet/
Bevan
Have a close look at the 4 letters that were replaced by asterisks - see what they spell - the system has determined them as a 'rude' word and has automatically converted them to avoid showing the 'rude' word in the text. This happens in heaps of Forums all over the world, it is part of the underlying Forum programming, and only the Forum owner/administrator can over-ride the 'automatic correction'.
To see it correctly, you have to copy the link to your browser address line, then BEFORE pressing Enter, change the 4 characters to what they should read, then the correct website should come up !
Regards, Brian
If you haven't twigged yet, the URL begins with the words best water joined together.