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Hi,

I'm new to the forum and i have just bought my first camper. I was wondering if anyone could tell me how to sterilize the water tank in my camper ie; what to use, how long to leave it in etc. Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks.

Hi jsherry

A warm welcome to UKCS.

Most of us use Miltons (the baby bottle sterilising stuff) or our local supermarket stuff. Dead easy just follow the dosage instructions.

We use Milton too but it can taint the tank if left too long and does have an adverse effect on the boiler, so don't run it through the system.  You can get a proprietry product but not sure what it's called.

Jean

Hi, Use Puriclean, It's the proper item for the job, wont taint the taste of the water and safe in the heater system. plus it will remove mound and algae which I dont believe milton will do. Easy to buy from any camping/caravan shop or online

I've recently posted a similar question about foul smelling water coming out of the taps when the van hadn't been used for a week or two.  Have you looked at the replies I received?  I decided to try Puriclean.  Unlike Milton, it didn't smell of chlorine. 

Did the routine before taking the van out over this weekend.  Half filled the tank and added the appropriate amount of Puriclean, then opened all the taps (and showerhead) to get the solution into the pipes, closed the taps and left everything standing for two hours.  Then flushed remaining contents of tank out through the taps, followed by another flush through with half a tank of clean water.  We drink water straight from the tap and there was no chemical aftertaste whatsoever.  I'm also using the tip of leaving the taps open after emptying the tank, when the van isn't being used.

I'm hoping this will have cured the problem but only time will tell.  Understand that you only need to do the routine maybe a couple of times a year.

Hi,

Thanks for all the replies, they have all been very helpful. I think i will go for the puriclean, as it seems to be the safest option not to damage anything.

Thanks again.

A new product from ELSAN requires a few drops from a small bottle after which the water is sterilised AND drinkable.  Check out the Elsan website.

Chris

Filling the tank with water and then having to sterilizing that water because your tank and pipes may be unsafe sounds like shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted!  Adding chemicals to water that has already been chemically treated by the water board who supplied it is surely verging on overdose?  On the other hand, we do carry sterilizing tablets with us but only in case we have to top up the tank from a suspect water source. 

I think what many of us are looking for is being able to fill our on-board tank with clean, safe tap water and then be able to draw it without it becoming contaminated on the way through the on-board pipes and taps.  We've put our trust in periodical tank/pipe treatment with Puriclean and can so far report that our water comes out of the taps smelling and tasting fresh and we haven't yet been carted off to hospital.            

More years ago than I care to remember I was asked to clean chlorinate some water tanks for a college. Never having any expereice of doing this I thought I would ask the advice of the water board. They were not amused. Clean out the rust and rubbish by all means they said, we put enough chlorine in the water as it is and no more is required. You may have smelt it when they go for a big clean up sometimes when you fill your kettle. Keep your tank clean and flush through regularly and should have no problems. It's all I do and had no ill effects over two vans and eight years.

Has anyone thought or done insulating the hot water tank?