we have just purchased a van thats sat idle for the past 18months, what solution or chemicals is good to give the 3 water tanks a good clean.
appreciate any feed back..
Muzzlehatch said
12:13 AM Sep 6, 2017
What are the tanks made of ? Mine is 200 L Pure Aluminum and is filled with a gluey oxide sludge. I cant vouch personally but my mate who is invariably right about these things gave me 375 ml of CLR which I will fill the tank up and add. Let it slosh around for a day or so , drain and flush.
HTH
MZ
jules47 said
10:39 AM Sep 6, 2017
No way would I put CLR into a drinking water tank! ok in the grey water though. Have heard that cheap red cordial put into your drinking water tank, leave it to slosh around for a day or so, flush, and it will be fresh again. (At least three x 2 litre bottles. with some water)
Welcome to the gang Charlie, enjoy here and out in the playground.
I only a few moons back put a bottle of Milton in the tanks and filled with water, I let sit for two days then drained and flushed. Normally you would drive around a bit to 'swish' it around but I was set up at the time.
Milton is used to wash out baby bottles so should be safe. I also don't drink the tank water and if I did, but I don't, it goes through a filter under the kitchen sink first.
Keep Safe on the roads and out there.
Pilbara cruise said
09:53 AM Sep 14, 2017
Thanks for the tip....
Tony Bev said
12:51 PM Sep 14, 2017
A warm welcome from me also, Charlie
My second hand caravan, and then my motorhome, were in the same condition as your caravan, (not been used for many months, before I purchased them)
I drained the water from the tanks, filled them with fresh water, drove around a bit and emptied them, I did a few times, until the water became clear
Although I use bottled water for drinking, I (like many others on this forum), have a B.E.S.T. filter on my food grade water hose, when filling my tanks, (just in case)
I did read many years ago that some Australian Aid Organisations, used red cordial in the water, when they go to undeveloped countries, as it kills some bacteria
I have seen some sort of chlorine in some camping shops, to clean the water tanks, but have never used it
Aus-Kiwi said
08:36 PM Sep 14, 2017
Yep I've added about 1/2 litre chlorine. Drove around and left overnight . Drained and filled with 2 cups of bicarbonate of soda . Drove around cycled through taps . Then drained the next day . Then 1/2 filled with tap water .. Drove around the block again . Then filled one last time with fresh filtered water . Did this when I bought motorhome. I havn't bothered doing any chemical cleaning the last 5 years . I just keep cycling fresh water through often . Enough chlorine in tap water to keep fresh . I hope ! Aha . Have double filters on main and another finer filter on seperate drinking water tap !
Ron-D said
08:38 AM Sep 16, 2017
Yeah I don't like drinking water from the Van tanks and I don't like the rinsing the tank with chemicals ,the tanks are for showers washing up loo ect and we carry a supply of good quality drinking water in the car...
Aus-Kiwi said
10:18 AM Sep 16, 2017
Me too ! It was on purchase and you don't know what was done before ? We put similar amounts daily in our pools . I don't add to drink . Just used chlorine to sterilise tank ., Most our drinking water is boiled anyway . Check the sodium / salt in some water bottles .
John and Lynda said
12:32 PM Jan 3, 2018
Hi all, Just my 2c worth.
Chlorine is good, after all, I use it to kill bacteria in the pool and it's added to drinking water. But a cheaper alternative is white vinegar. Add a 1L bottle to your water tank, 1/2 fill with H2O then allow to sit and slosh as described above and then flush through pipes and drain out of tank. It's a nice friendly solution to both humans and the planet.
oldbloke said
09:05 PM Jan 25, 2018
Perhaps try domestos. It's about 10% sodium hypochlorite. It's added to our water supply. I would add about 250ml and half to three quarters fill the tanks. Drive around and then rinse well. Will kill a NT Buffalo.
Aus-Kiwi said
09:38 PM Jan 25, 2018
Believe it or not they use percarbonate of soda to clean beer lines in clubs,pubs etc
oldbloke said
11:24 PM Feb 5, 2018
People worry a bit too much about some of these chemicals. Providing you wash/rinse the tank well after using it will be fine.
jegog said
08:07 PM Feb 27, 2019
I remember reading that the ancient greek army used wine to purify their drinking water, worth a try anyway, and white vinegar seems in the same vein. Also the Lions club I belonged to used vinegar to sterilise preparation utensils and cutting boards at their regular sausage sizzle.
"I contend we are both atheists, I just believe in one fewer god than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours." ...Stephen F Roberts
-- Edited by jegog on Wednesday 27th of February 2019 08:08:30 PM
Baz421 said
09:05 PM Feb 27, 2019
Heaps of salt,,,,,
fill tanks to say 25% with water go for a drive,,, empty and flush a couple of times.
we have just purchased a van thats sat idle for the past 18months, what solution or chemicals is good to give the 3 water tanks a good clean.
appreciate any feed back..
What are the tanks made of ? Mine is 200 L Pure Aluminum and is filled with a gluey oxide sludge. I cant vouch personally but my mate who is invariably right about these things gave me 375 ml of CLR which I will fill the tank up and add. Let it slosh around for a day or so , drain and flush.
HTH
MZ
Gday...
Firstly, welcome to the forum Charlie
This is one source of advice ...
Water tank cleaning - click here
Cheers - John
I only a few moons back put a bottle of Milton in the tanks and filled with water, I let sit for two days then drained and flushed. Normally you would drive around a bit to 'swish' it around but I was set up at the time.
Milton is used to wash out baby bottles so should be safe. I also don't drink the tank water and if I did, but I don't, it goes through a filter under the kitchen sink first.
Keep Safe on the roads and out there.
Thanks for the tip....
My second hand caravan, and then my motorhome, were in the same condition as your caravan, (not been used for many months, before I purchased them)
I drained the water from the tanks, filled them with fresh water, drove around a bit and emptied them, I did a few times, until the water became clear
Although I use bottled water for drinking, I (like many others on this forum), have a B.E.S.T. filter on my food grade water hose, when filling my tanks, (just in case)
I did read many years ago that some Australian Aid Organisations, used red cordial in the water, when they go to undeveloped countries, as it kills some bacteria
I have seen some sort of chlorine in some camping shops, to clean the water tanks, but have never used it
Yeah I don't like drinking water from the Van tanks and I don't like the rinsing the tank with chemicals ,the tanks are for showers washing up loo ect and we carry a supply of good quality drinking water in the car...
Chlorine is good, after all, I use it to kill bacteria in the pool and it's added to drinking water. But a cheaper alternative is white vinegar. Add a 1L bottle to your water tank, 1/2 fill with H2O then allow to sit and slosh as described above and then flush through pipes and drain out of tank. It's a nice friendly solution to both humans and the planet.
I remember reading that the ancient greek army used wine to purify their drinking water, worth a try anyway, and white vinegar seems in the same vein.
Also the Lions club I belonged to used vinegar to sterilise preparation utensils and cutting boards at their regular sausage sizzle.
"I contend we are both atheists, I just believe in one fewer god than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours."
...Stephen F Roberts
-- Edited by jegog on Wednesday 27th of February 2019 08:08:30 PM
Heaps of salt,,,,,
fill tanks to say 25% with water go for a drive,,, empty and flush a couple of times.