Wondering if you could help us out. I emptied the caravan water tank a couple of weeks ago and it has resulted in a bad smell coming from the water tank. Have filled the tank since and smell is not as bad but still lingering around.
Does anyone know the best way to clean the tank or get rid of the smell?
There are a couple of threads on here that will give you advise. To find them Type in Water Tank in the search at the top. My suggestion is to add Bicarb of Soda (Baking Soda) to the water. To give it a good rinse put a heap in, leave for a while then rinse out. I always put a couple of teaspoons in the tank and leave there as well. Won't hurt you at all and will keep it fresh. Some people use a bit of bleach, haven't tried that one.
Put some Bicarb in the tank, partly fill it then take the van for a good drive. The swishing of the water should help clean the tank. When you get home - empty the tank, then refill with fresh water. Should do the trick.
Hi guys,I asked a long time traveller about the water tank and he suggested his remedy which was a bottle of Milton solution>The stuff they use to sterilise baby formula bottles.
He used about twenty mills per gallon and nearly filled the tank,went for a drive then emtied the tank.Refilled with fresh water.Any lingering residue is harmless to you.
I did that with a 200 litre water tank on my RV and no problems at all.Nice odourless water.
Any of the above will work. Bi-carb is popular as is Household Bleach (Half cup per tank) must be unscented. I'e' Not the lemon scented bleach. Miltons baby bottle sterlising solution has it's followers.
The another not mentioned very often is the one used in the industry. RV accessory stores and some camping stores sell bottles of propriety brand water tank cleaner/deoderisers.
Which ever one you choose add to the tank (Bleach should be mixed with a bucket of water first) then fill the tank with fresh water, pump some through all the hoses and taps and allow to stand for a couple of days.
Then flush the tank and refill with fresh water, not forgetting to pump some fresh water through the complete system to remove all cleaning agent, and then flush again, refill with fresh water and allow to stand for at least a day.
Flush the tank and system one final time and refill. You should now be ready for the road. If the water still had a bad taste or smell repeat the above process.
Note: be sure to used a quality 'Food Grade' Water Hose, not a garden hose as they contaminate the water leaving a foul taste. Cheers, ozjohn.
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Retired Engineer, Ex Park Owner & Caravan Consultant. Holden 2.8 Colorado - Roma Elegance 17'6" Pop Top. Location: Mornington Peninsula Vic.
I think that if there is a bad smell, there may be germs etc...so I would be using bleach. I put in about half a cup, fill the tanks, then run each tap. Let it sit in there for a few days, drain and then quarter fill and drive around so the water slushes around.
Drain fully and refill....maybe drain again and refill.
Another is to half fill the tank, add carb soda and vinegar, go for a drive then drain the tank/s. Denture tablets are also another way of removing any algae or bugs which may cause the smell. The home brand or other generic brand will do the job in warm/hot water. Then flush with clean water until it runs clear. Once clean make sure the tanks are full as much as possible. Fill to over-flowing then seal. I would never add bleach to anything used for human consumption. It would be like drinking swimming pool water and it has a way of staying in the tank material.
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20ft Roma caravan - Mercedes Benz Sprinter - SA-based at the moment. Transport has no borders.
Management makes the decisions, but is not affected by the decisions it makes.
Try some miltons tablets thay are the ones mothers clean babys bottles with and you can drink the water thay serilise water to.after you do that empty the water out and re fill I throw tabs in every time I top up Water tanks.
I am another believer of using Household Bleach in the water tanks.
When we travel and fill from any questionable source, by this I mean anywhere away from home I put 20 - 30ml in each tank. Never any smell or taste and the water is then Clean.
I am not fussed about using "food grade" hose for tank filling, personally I think it is a fallacy that there is a problem using garden hose for tank filling. Lets face it, who hasn't over the years drank water from the end of their hose whilst gardenning? The water passes through the hose too quickly to become contaminated.
When using the hose as a pressured supply, eg in a caravan park connected tap to inlet then this is different. The water will sit in the hose sometimes for hours (in the sun) and it can become tainted.
If you get "food" hose then get it from a van shop or similar, don't try to save a couple pennies by using Buntings crap.
Store full to minimise the air which will encourage algae or spoilage. You can drain and refil before you next trip. The hose isn't a problem unless the water sits in it for a while, eg a few days. Because the hose is attached to the tap and then to the van, the water runs through the hose all the time, for various periods, eg hours, days. I use a human consumption hose, the cheapest available at Bunnings. I use a garden hose to fill the tanks.
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20ft Roma caravan - Mercedes Benz Sprinter - SA-based at the moment. Transport has no borders.
Management makes the decisions, but is not affected by the decisions it makes.
Second question... is it better to store your van with the water tank full or empty (Have found it difficult to empty completely) ?
To completely empty your tank, during your last meal stop on the way home, remove the drain plug (when you first stop.) Then when you proceed home, centrifical force will empty most of the residual contents.
When you get home, flush and refill as soon as possible.
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PeterD Nissan Navara D23 diesel auto, Spaceland pop-top Retired radio and electronics technician. NSW Central Coast.
