Involved about cleansing your motorhome water tank? Need to sterilise the freshwater tank in your camper or caravan? Right here’s what you have to do to make sure protected consuming water in your van.
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Cleansing your motorhome water tank
One factor I’ve at all times been aware of is consuming water. Mr WB has spent quite a lot of time within the Center East, the place water is just not at all times protected to drink and he’s a bit of obsessive about ensuring we’ve protected water.
No less than- I used to assume it was obsessive till he acquired Legionnaire’s Illness!
Now, I ought to make it very clear that he did NOT get Legionnaires from our motorhome water tank, nevertheless it was from one other van, which isn’t used very a lot.
So, to keep away from the identical state of affairs in our van and aid you keep away from it in yours, you have to clear your motorhome freshwater tanks often.
Why cleansing motorhome water tanks is essential
Most water carries micro organism. When that water is saved in a enclosed area (like a motorhome contemporary water tank) micro organism can multiply shortly. This turns into even worse in heat temperatures. Legionella is among the most important considerations, however so is E-coli and a number of other different varieties of micro organism.
Sadly, you don’t have to drink the water to turn out to be contaminated. In the event you bathe from a contaminated tank, or use the water for cooking or rinsing meals, you may turn out to be sick. Many of those result in lung circumstances, like pneumonia and COPD.
Additionally, over time, the contemporary water system in your motorhome, campervan or caravan turns into contaminated by dust, particles and even bits from the hose you employ to replenish the tank. All of this promotes micro organism and makes the water much less protected to eat.
You too can by no means assure that the water you’re filling your tanks up with is protected to drink both. Once we had been motorhoming in Scotland, we spent a while on the Isle of Skye and it seems a sheep had died within the campsite water provide and had contaminated all of it! Thank goodness we didn’t replenish!
Nevertheless, many individuals don’t wish to carry further water for consuming, because it eats into area and payload, (1litre weighs 1kg) so holding the water tank clear turns into a better precedence.
Is it protected to drink water out of your motorhome water tank?
It is a matter which divides opinions massively. Many individuals solely use the water straight from their tanks for showers/ cooking and so forth, preferring to both filter the water earlier than consuming or boiling it for decent drinks. Listed below are some choices for filtered water:
Others are fairly glad that it’s okay to drink and don’t fear about it in any respect.
Personally, I do drink from the water tank as I now have an inline filter within the chilly line fitted (so I don’t drink something from the water heater!), however for a few years we solely used our motorhome water tank for showers, tooth cleansing and washing up and used a Lifesaver Jerrycan to drink from, even after we’re going to boil it within the kettle.
Many individuals ask me if the water tastes bizarre with the filter, however no- I can’t style any distinction tbh.
Lately you may add inline water filters to your water system, though I don’t use one in my van, they’re turning into well-liked. You’ll be able to take a look at the Alde system right here however different techniques can be found.
How usually do you have to clear a motorhome water tank?
The query of how usually it is best to clear your motorhome freshwater tank relies upon rather a lot on how usually you employ it and the place you’re. Personally, we clear ours twice a yr, however that’s as a result of we spend quite a lot of time touring Europe in our motorhome.
On the naked minimal it is best to clear it completely annually and ALWAYS when it’s been stood for a number of weeks or extra. That is when micro organism and biofilm can actually begin to develop contained in the tank and make the water harmful to drink.
How do you clear a freshwater tank on a motorhome?
The very first thing to recollect is that no matter you employ to wash your water tank will depart a residue, which you’ll then be consuming for some time each time you employ the water. For this reason I don’t advocate a cup of bleach or bleach combination, except it’s both protected for human consumption otherwise you don’t plan to ever drink from the tank once more.
Then you have to choose a product. There are a number of in the marketplace, and every have their professionals and cons (see beneath).
As soon as chosen, right here’s what you do:
- Shut all faucets and valves (together with the new water tank drain and reduction valve)
- Add your chosen cleansing product (ie- Puriclean). Pour it into the contemporary water tank directly- you would possibly want a funnel.
- Fill system utterly with contemporary water from a hose or utilizing a bucket.
- Activate faucet FURTHEST away out of your contemporary water tank to get the answer all by means of your system. Let the water run from the faucets for 10-15 seconds after you hear the water pump (or till you may odor the cleaner), then shut
- Depart in a single day. Alternatively, you may drive round for a short time, to get the combination into all corners. Simply remember you’re driving with a full tank and the automobile could also be heavier than you’re used to.
- Subsequent day, absolutely open all faucets, which permits the cleansing product to then run into your gray waste tank and clear that too. I additionally pour some cleansing product/ resolution down the drains within the kitchen and toilet.
- Utterly empty the freshwater tank, then refill with clear water and EMPTY absolutely once more by means of the faucets to wash out all of the pipes.
- By the top, you shouldn’t be capable of odor the cleansing product any extra. In the event you can, refill and empty repeatedly till the faucet water now not smells.
- It’s a good suggestion to vary your water filters now too, so the entire system is clear and able to go, though should you’re going into winter storage you would possibly wish to wait till the brand new season.
- Moreover, you may clear your gray waste tank and bathroom cassette/ black water tank with the beneath product (BUT don’t put this in your contemporary water tank!):
Motorhome tank cleansing merchandise
Like most issues on the subject of cleansing your motorhome, there are a number of merchandise you may select from.
Most of them work in very related methods, so it’s largely a matter of selecting the product which sounds finest to you.
What’s Puriclean?
Puriclean is among the most well-known motorhome tank cleaners. It’s very easy to make use of and works very successfully to eradicate micro organism, viruses, bio-film, algae, and fungi.
It has a dual-purpose method which each cleans and sterilises in a single go, so no have to do two remedies. It cleans your complete motorhome water system: tanks, pipes, pumps, hoses and faucets and might apparently even be used to “take away stains from many home gadgets comparable to glassware, plastic tableware, tea and occasional pots and stainless-steel gadgets comparable to vacuum flasks”.
One 400g tub cleans a tank of as much as 270 litres and the combination doesn’t odor, foam or hurt any elements within the water system. It may be difficult to know when the tank is flushed, so I’d do it at the very least twice to take away the entire method earlier than you employ the tank usually.
Are Aquasol and Puriclean the identical factor?
NO. Aquasol and Puriclean are NOT the identical issues. Puriclean cleans and sterilises the tank, whereas Aquasol disinfects water while it’s within the tank ready for use.
We add Aquasol to our water EVERY time we replenish. It’s protected to drink or use in bathe.
Can you employ vinegar, bleach or acid to wash your water tank?
I’ve seen some posts and movies on Youtube speak about utilizing citric or acetic acid to wash a motorhome water tank because it restricts the expansion of micro organism and prevents algae rising.
We’ve by no means achieved this, purely as a result of the acetic acid we all know of is hazardous to eyes and pores and skin. Many individuals use it as a weed killer. You may get a milder dose (vinegar is barely 4% acetic acid) however I query how efficient this may be!
So no, I don’t advocate utilizing vinegar or citric acid to wash your motorhome water tank. In the event you do select to, you’ll want one litre of cleansing vinegar for each 100 litres of water.
Some individuals additionally point out utilizing bleach. Once more, family bleach/ chlorine bleach may be hazardous if consumed and I don’t really feel the chance is price utilizing it, particularly when there are different merchandise in the marketplace which do an awesome job. I strongly advocate you employ a kind of.
In the event you do select to make use of bleach, remember it may possibly harm stainless-steel, which many motorhome scorching water boilers are produced from.
Do you have to sterilise a motorhome water tank?
Sterilising and cleansing a tank are related, however not fairly the identical factor. Cleansing is extra ‘washing out’, whereas sterilising is actively making an attempt to kill all of the micro organism.
One of many causes we like Puriclean is it cleans AND sterilises on the identical time, making the entire course of a lot simpler.
Easy methods to take care of your motorhome water system whereas travelling
Listed below are some tricks to hold your water tank clear whereas on the highway:
- Change the water often (at the very least each three/4 days).
- In the event you don’t naturally use this a lot water (should you’re travelling solo or naturally frugal), then simply fill the tank midway every time so it’s not standing within the tank too lengthy.
- In the event you’re motorhome wild tenting and wish to keep off-grid , you may fill the tank full however be sure you add chemical compounds (we do that each time anyway, regardless of whether or not we’re wild tenting or on campsites).
- Use a correct meals grade hose to fill the water tank, and hold it devoted JUST for this process. Hold the hose in a protecting bag to cease the ends coming in touch with different issues. See our different motorhoming necessities right here.
Can you permit your motorhome with water in it?
Water doesn’t retailer effectively, regardless that many plastic bottles say it’s going to final for a number of years. However stagnant water will begin to get micro organism and slime very quickly- scarily shortly. I at all times advocate you drain your water system down except you’re utilizing it once more inside per week.
I hope you discovered these ideas helpful. I do know the considered catching one thing nasty out of your motorhome water system may be worrying, however utilizing a correct food-grade hose and cleansing out your system and tank often ought to hold every little thing protected.
Need extra ideas for motorhoming?
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