Water Tank Sterilisation
We have just joined the Motorhome community and bought an Autocruise, that hasn't been on the road since around May.
With not being used for a few months, and us not knowing whether the water tanks has been empty or had stale water in, I wondered what the best way is to sterilise the tank?
Or would people recommened not using the built-in water tank for drinking but only showering, washing up etc.
Any help to us newbies would be most welcome.
Comments
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you will het many different answers to both parts of your post...
firstly, many use agents like Puriclean or even white wine vinegar.....beware Milton that can damage the stainless steel in ards of your hot water boiler.
secondly, provided that you have cleaned the system, there should be no ossue with drinking water from the fresh tank...some do, some dont.....we do, but use a filter jug first.
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I've always used
Aqua Clean Tabs in the two motorhomes we've owned. Both were bought second hand and we've almost always drunk from the tank. We also use a filter jug now.When I'm filling the tank for a trip I run the water through the tap for a while then try drinking some to check for any off flavours. There is enough chlorine in UK drinking water to obviate any dangers.
See my notes Here.
Graham
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Im an AquaClean user too, PJ -- never had a real problem in donkey's years BUT you might taste or react to the different waters in the various parts of this country never mind Europe. There will be nothing wrong, but
just a different taste and / or look.In the far North & west of Scotland the water can look just like a nice malt, but sadly without the effect!!
Brian
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We use Puriclean powder. We drink water direct from the tank and have done for 20+ years without problem. However, we do clean the tank every year and we use a food grade hose or container to fill. And we are careful to get water from a 'safe' source. We
also have a robust constitution.If properly diluted, Milton will not damage your boiler; too strong and it will strip stainless steel. We used it for over 10 years without problems except that it taints the water until the tanks has been flushed through three or more times. Nowadays there
are alternatives to Milton so don't use it.0 -
Just one final { from me
} point PJ ===> When you have given your fresh water tanks a good cleansing, try a nice quick drive round your local area with tank about one third to one half full !! The local " Twisty Country Roads" should ensure virtually everything
that can be dislodged has been !! Then Empty & refill & use !!0 -
In my opinion after 3 years of boating and 14 years of mororhoming and never useing anything to sterilizing our water tank I say there is no need to put anything in you tank as the clorine that is in tap water is more than enough to keep you tank clean. If the MH has a long period of none use the drain out the old water and refill, and that all.
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That does it for me, too, D + S altho' I do do "ends of season sterilising", But there are some, like Valda I think, who have suffered grievously from doing what U & I do ! If somebody has a similar problem, then they should buy water if needs be or use a regularly refreshed small 'drinks' container.
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I would go with the "Do not bother brigade" .We use a couple of Evian bottles per day, filled from the camp supply, so know that the water is fresh. The tank water is for the loo and shower, . Mind you the dog prefers the tank water, so it must be bad
for you, the dogs other choices are puddles and pond water, neither appeal to me.Rgds
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I just use the on-board tank for washing & cleaning and get fresh water from the site at each stop. Some people have said that this is 'bonkers', while pointing out that they sterilise their tank after each outing, have a filter jug and of course tank up
using a 'food grade' hose. Now, that's 'bonkers'.0 -
Over the 20 year period that we had sailing boats I only ever Puritabbed the tanks at the start of each season, although the water was only ever used for washing up and showering etc. We always used bottled water for human consumption.
I never sterilized the tanks on my boats, left water in over winter(we are in the south) and drank it. I've lived to tell the tale.
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We use our motorhome tank water for everything - drinking, washing, cooking etc.
Never washed it out yet. Never ailed owt, either. A bit of muck never hurt anyone
Russ
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Over the 20 year period that we had sailing boats I only ever Puritabbed the tanks at the start of each season, although the water was only ever used for washing up and showering etc. We always used bottled water for human consumption.
I never sterilized the tanks on my boats, left water in over winter(we are in the south) and drank it. I've lived to tell the tale.
The salt spray ingested on passage and grog consumed on arrival has probably killed off anything orrid!
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We run the tank through once a year with a proprietary fresh water tank cleaner. Sometimes I wonder why I bother, after all, how many people clean out the water storage tanks in their loft? Our van is used all year round. I drain the water tank if it is
going to be stood for more than a couple of weeks. We drink from it and have never had any issues. In fact, our tap water at home comes from a borehole so has no chemicals in it at all. We have rarely died.0 -
One wonders what the exact mortality rate was though.
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We buy a large bottle of water for drinking and then keep the bottles and fill them. That way you don't need to worry about your tank and it's fine for washing etc. Sometimes water you get from the tap tastes of chemicals and if that's the case we buy
bottled water when we're away. We have a water filter fitted at home.0
