Cleaning Watertanks

kesue · Senior Member

Cleaning Watertanks

Happywanderer · The Master

There was a thread on here not that long ago on exactly that. I use bicarb soda in mine. There was lots of ideas on that thread.

Happywanderer · The Master

Water gone Bad was one heading. Type it into the search at top in the blue line. There are a couple of hints in there. There is another one but can't find it at the moment.

Just found another one Water tank Maintenance.

-- Edited by Happywanderer on Friday 15th of April 2011 02:44:35 PM

patrolst · Senior Member

Try a product called "CLR" (it can be purchased from Bunnings Hardware stores), leave it mixed with water for about 48hours then drain and fill with fresh water and add bicarb soda as HW suggested leave for another 48hours then rinse thoroughly and refill with fresh water.

Regards Jim

Zoomtopz · Guru

see if this werx

So KeSue if you went back to Gerty's orig post , early Dec 10 , you will get this .

Sorry Gert fo cutting ya head off disbelief

Richo evileye

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Have just realised our van wont be used for 3 months, and wonder if we should empty the water tank, or put something in to stop it going "off"? I dont think, if we try to empty it, that all the water will drain out, leaving just a bit in the bottom to become yucky. What do others do to keep their water tanks clean? __________________ Cheers, Gert. ( Canberra) "Leaning forward to see whats coming"

ozjohn

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Posts: 201
Date: 02:29 PM Dec 4, 2010

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I leave our tank at least half full when in storage.
The day before we depart I then drain, refill, and drain again.
I then refill once more ready for our trip..
That way it gets a goog flush and if you use a good quality 'Food Grade" hose you shouldn't experience any foul tasting water.
Cheers, ozjohn.

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Onedodger

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Posts: 129
Date: 02:35 PM Dec 4, 2010

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I keep the tanks full when the van is idle at home then mt and flush & refill a few days before takeoff. We have never had algae in 30yrs vanning. __________________ Cheers Dodg.

Ron and Shirley

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Posts: 115
Date: 03:44 PM Dec 4, 2010

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We make sure the water tanks are full when we park at home. Then just a week or so before the next trip we empty the tanks, give a flush of the tanks and all lines, then refill the tanks.

If the last fill of the water tanks on the road was with water that was not to our liking/taste but OK for washing etc, then at home we would empty, flush, and then refill.

We use food grade hose for filling the tanks.

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jimricho

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Posts: 1715
Date: 06:27 PM Dec 4, 2010

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Slightly off the topic of water tanks but nonetheless on food grade hoses, I have found that my food grade hoses (a couple of different types) do impart a taste to the water when hooked up to a water tap and the water is allowed to sit in the hose for while. I have eliminated the tap water itself as being the cause.

Is this normal?

I have a normal plastic (food grade) hose plus a roll-up flat one.

Gerty Dancer

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Posts: 746
Date: 08:40 PM Dec 4, 2010

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Yes I think that taste from the hose itself might be common, I blamed it on the hot sunshine warming the hose while it had water in it. Just flush through and its fine. __________________ Cheers, Gert. ( Canberra) "Leaning forward to see whats coming"

ozjohn

Senior Member

Posts: 201
Date: 09:13 AM Dec 5, 2010

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Gerty Dancer wrote: Yes I think that taste from the hose itself might be common, I blamed it on the hot sunshine warming the hose while it had water in it. Just flush through and its fine. Ditto. ozjohn __________________ Retired Engineer, Ex Park Owner & Caravan Consultant. Ford Territory - Roma Elegance 17'6" Pop Top on order. Location: Mornington Peninsula Vic.

Two Strays
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Posts: 17
Date: 01:00 PM Dec 6, 2010

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Hi all
When I'm not using the van for a while I fill the tanks.   This limits the airspace in the tank, thus reducing the likelyhood of bugs and bacteria from developing in the tank.

When we are setting of again I drain the tanks and refill them.

Don't use garden hoses to fill your tanks.   They taint the water, use a food safe hose.   Another source of contamination is the filler hose.   Many caravans have clear inlet hoses.   These are exposed to the light and subsequently allow slime to develop in the hose.   Replace them with food safe black hose.

At least once a year I flush the tanks out with "TankKleen".    Just follow the instructions on the container.

I also pour in two table spoons of vanilla extract (NOT Essence) in the tank as well.   It seens to keep the water sweet.

You must try and keep well when travelling.   Clean water is the first step.

PeterD
Senior Member

Posts: 322
Date: 12:29 PM Dec 12, 2010

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If you want to give the tank a good flush out you need to half fill and empty it several times. Alternately you remove the drain plug on the way home and let the last 5 - 8 litres of water to be forced out buy centrifugal on corners and bends.

I use the latter method after our big trip each year. I then immediately fill the tank whilst the van is being unloaded. With having the tank full of water and a minuscule amount of air, we have not had any bad taste in the water.

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Smokeydk

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Posts: 976
Date: 09:24 AM Dec 13, 2010

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PeterD and Ozjohn.....you both might be able to help me regarding water tank.....
My caravan..water.is terrible.....I flushed the tank when we got it new.....several times....went away 2 days later...water in sink was yellow..........got home emptied tank again.......flushed it 4 more times....water was fresh...went away again.next day......water was tainted...plastic taste....all hose from tank on this new van are black....
I've heard Bi-carb suppose to be good.....how the hell you get in tank...I have trouble getting hose in it??

Dave

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blaze
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Posts: 350
Date: 09:44 AM Dec 13, 2010

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mix the bicarb in a watering can and tip in cheers blaze __________________ http://blaze-therese.blogspot.com/

lencerpetro
Member

Posts: 8
Date: 05:24 PM Mar 26, 2011

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We ensure that water tanks are full when you park at home. Then just a week before the next trip to empty the tanks, give a color of the tanks and all lines, then refill the tank. Do not use garden hoses to fill their tanks. Staining the water, use a hose for safe food. Another source of contamination is the fill hose. Many caravans have clear hoses input. __________________ Rainwater tanks

Does not say a lot to what you want to Know , but may give some ideas .

Richo.

-- Edited by Zoomtopz on Saturday 16th of April 2011 06:37:52 AM

Delta18 · Guru

I use my garden hose to fill my van tank at home, never had a problem. Of course I let it run for a couple minutes to give it a good flush before filling.

To keep the tank 'sweet' I put a couple capfuls of household bleach (chlorine) in and top up the tank when in storage. Before going on a trip I drain & refil, again putting in a couple capfuls of the bleach.

If we are in a caravan park for a few days then I use the foodsafe hose to connect from the standpipe to the van and also to top up the tank if necessary as water will be sitting in the hose for a time..

To the people saying they still get tainted water from their blue (foodsafe) hose....if you bought cheap hose from Bunnings or somewhere similar then that is the problem. Get good quality hose from a van shop.

Cheers Neil

-- Edited by Delta18 on Saturday 16th of April 2011 10:31:51 AM

goodie · Veteran Member

Hi.

Milton is still available in two forms. Tablet or solution. Bought a one litre this morning at the local priceline pharmacy[could only find tablets at s/market] and have dosed my pre-rinsed tank. Off for a ride to get it going, then another rinse and re-fill, ready to take off imediately after easter. About %##* time.

Chris