Cleaning out water tanks

I wonder what products others use to ensure their water systems are bug free and how often they undertake a clean. Do you empty tanks after each journey or periodically?

I use puriclean powder at the start and end of the season. Add to tank, leave for a few hours, drain and rinse. There can be a residual taste, but this dissipates after about one third of a tank of clean water is used.

I have also used Milton fluid in the past, but hard to work out the dilution rate.

We drain down if we have visited a limescale area or are not going to use the van for more than a week or so.

Happy to drink the water from our tank as it should meet an EU standard and not had any problems in the six years we have had this  van.

Davy

Product in the link below was recommended in another thread here in this forum. I'm going to fill our tank full this afternoon then drain it completely then fill again and put in some of the linked product.
HTH.

 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/371306731903?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Thanks for the replies will follow up the ebay link. Up till now Ive always emptied all tanks after a visit, but we've been away for so many short visits I have become lazy about that. Usually used aqua clean tabs on adhoc basis.

Consider putting a hatch in the tank, it makes cleaning and venting the tank simple but the big advantage is that you can clean the notoriously unreliable gauge sender or change the water pump in a couple of minutes.

The waste and water tanks on the wife's symbol (I'm only the driver) has a large screw access cap under the tank. I unscrew them when we get home which fully drains the tanks. This gets the last bit of water out.

I will need to wait for these downpours to stop before trying to get under the van!!!

Groundhog how do you put a hatch in and still keep it watertight?

Excellent advice and products here:

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

No connection, just a satisfied customer.

cheers
Roger

Have a look at [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] typical example of a company that supplies them. Marquis fitted mine, my water pump failed under warranty and it was cheaper and easier for them to fit a hatch than drop the tank and change the pump.

I would imagine it is not that hard a job to do.

Fully agree with Rogerblack and would highly recommend Graham, (Zappy).
He is a very knowledgeable and helfull guy.
In short all you need is a 1000mg Chlorine tablet, maybe 2 dependent on tank size. Take care not to run the solution through the hot water system if you have a modern stainless steel heater.
I would tend to empty the tank after every trip and do the sterilizing process if it has been left empty for more than 4 weeks.
In recent years (since 2000), I have yet to find a site in France or Spain who's water supply does not have the EU recommended level of residual chlorine in it, other than a couple in rural France which were clearly marked 'non-portable'

I put 1/2 bottle of sterilizing fluid in the water tank, fill up with water and leave it overnight, then turn on the pump, turn on all the taps and let it run through into the waste tank, leave overnight again then drain onto my driveway using a sweeping brush to spread it about.
Three jobs in one. Clean tank and pipes, clean waste tank and clean drive.

Dave

Forgot to add, i only do this once a year because i use van all year round.

Dave

Well done Dave I am all in favour of doing more than one job at once.
Thanks for the other advice too. I have to say that in 12 years of motor homing I've never had a problem but I don't want to start now.

Milton is my steriliser of choice. If its good enough for babys bottles....

Good to have a drive over a bumpy twistie road to give it all a good swill before emptying. - once with solution in the fresh tank and once when you've emptied it into the grey.

I also use chemical drain cleaner every so often as I find it doesn't always empty as fast as I'd like. Although some on here swear by cheap orange squash to keep things flowing.

"Please note that Milton should not be used on metals on a regular basis
as it can corrode metal."

I drain down once a year ,in spring I  then use a cleaner forgot the name it is crystals in a tub,   rinse and fill tank, as I use all the year I carry water in containers in the winter.

Hi, Hope its ok to join this discussion. We have recently purchased our 2004 AS Symbol and want to drain down the fresh water tank. (still has original water from kind previous owner put in there for us  ).
 Is the large black "screw" cap on the bottom the only way to let water out ?  I want to flush it out / and put milton tablets in. 
 Guess my concern is does it re-seal each time you open it ? 
Would appreciate some advice . 

Thanks

Most have an actual tap, just turn mine then  open all taps to drain.

I would advise against Milton, not good for the metal in the water system, may look cheaper in the short term,  a recommended cleaner isn`t expensive and lasts a long time, I do mine once / twice a year only, bought a tub three years ago and still plenty left.



Don`t forget the water heater if you have one, mine has a yellow tab on it,  open and that drains the heater.

Thanks Daisy Mae, Can you give me the name of the Sterilizer you use.    Haven't yet found taps underneath only the large "bungs", Will have a better look tomorrow

Hi, sorry had to go out to garage as I had forgotten the name.it is,

PURICLEEN, cleans and purifies all stored water systems ,  Tanks, Containers and Pipes. no taste, ,smell from or harm to any components in the water system.

1 teaspoon per gallon ( 4,5 litres) I paid £6.99 from a camping shop, the container does 60gallons. recommend at start of season and at the end , ie...twice a year, larger sizes are available, possibly buy on line. hopes this is of some help.

Regards,
Margaret

Boston Blue, have sent you a PM

Thanks for PM Margaret  . I have found that my van doesn't seem to have a drain tap. there is an area at the side that has a threaded bolt sticking out, wondering if it has been "blanked" off.  
Anyway i drained the tank by undoing the large Bung on bottom, refilled it with fresh water turned on the pump switch and water is being "pumped" out of an overflow or breather pipe !
HELP   what have i done . Tried turning the taps on in case there was an air lock, still gushing out of small bore pipe . Sorry all for being such a van Virgin !!

Water comes out of the bottom on mine when I filled up, the reason I had overfilled and was coming out of the overflow, I don`t know your tank so probably someone else will do and reply.Sorry

Can anyone say the capacity of the Fresh Water tank is on the 2002 Autosleeper Polensa?

60 litre fresh, 56 litre waste.