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Subject Topic: Fresh Water Tank Cleaning Post Reply Post New Topic
PersonClubmanGT
02/7/2024 at 2:18pm
 Location: West Sussex
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Hi all,

The new motorhome I bought smells very "stale" when the taps are on.

I have emptied the tank multiple times but I assume that is was left previous to sale for some extended period.

What do people recommend to combat this issue? Is there an additive I can put in and flush through?

I imagine it's full of hard water as it's not pleasant.

Thanks

Sam


PersonFiona W
via mobile 02/7/2024 at 2:47pm
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You’ll find plenty of threads on this topic, if you use the search facility. Some folks swear by x chemical into the fresh water tank, others don’t.
Our stale smell comes out of the plug holes & is easily sorted with bicarb & white vinegar followed by a kettle of hot water. That might be worth a try, given you’re opening the fresh taps while you’re standing over the sink.
No idea why the fresh water tank should still smell after it’s been flushed through, but suggestions from others will follow soon.

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2024 = 20 sites / 41 nights. 2023 = 9/23. 2022 = 13/35. 2021 = 11/29. 2020 = 4/20. 2019 = 13/35. 2018 = 20/33. 2017 = 10/22. 2016 = 19/33. 2015 = 15 sites / 27 nights. Didn't count 1976 to 2014.


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PersonFiona W
via mobile 02/7/2024 at 2:52pm
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PS - we only cook & wash in the tank water, we only drink cold water out of the site’s drinking water tap. (Didn’t edit because edt changes apostrophes to weird symbols.)

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2024 = 20 sites / 41 nights. 2023 = 9/23. 2022 = 13/35. 2021 = 11/29. 2020 = 4/20. 2019 = 13/35. 2018 = 20/33. 2017 = 10/22. 2016 = 19/33. 2015 = 15 sites / 27 nights. Didn't count 1976 to 2014.


PersonClubmanGT
02/7/2024 at 2:53pm
 Location: West Sussex
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Thank you for the reply.

I like to try to avoid chemicals where possible especially when the kids are likely to drink from the tap occasionally.

I did have a search but couldn't find anything relatable.

I will try using it again with an alternate criteria.

Thanks


Personblueexpo97
via mobile 02/7/2024 at 3:17pm
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If you search fresh water cleaning, tick all words and forever there are Two threads on the subject.

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XVI yes?

As well is two words!
How does a sage know everything about everything? or does he? or does he just think he does?
Remember, if you buy something you bought it, not brought it.


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PersonMonty15
02/7/2024 at 5:38pm
 Location: London
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Generally 'Puriclean' seems to top many people's choice of water system cleaner/steriliser, it's recommended by the big clubs and manufacturers as well. https://www.cleantabs.co.uk/product/puriclean/

People's attitudes vary from one extreme to the other, some claim never to clean/sterilise their systems and drink the water and 'haven't been killed in decades of doing so', whilst others are more cautious and are horrified at how much 'gunk' (algal growth/biofilm) treatments like Puriclean clean out of their systems on regular cleans!

I'm a Puriclean user/convert, and the first time I used it on my 3 year old van (I'd used Milton before - it needs extreme caution to avoid damaging parts of the water system!), I was astounded/horrified at how much 'muck' washed trough the system! Use it regularly once or twice a year now. I don't drink the system water, using a 5L water container filled from the site tap for that, but do wash/shower, clean teeth and cook with it, so fairly keen that it's a few steps up from 'pond water'!

If you only do it the once, a dose of Puriclean is not going to break the bank, nor will it harm the system (nor water users if correctly used!), but will give peace of mind that the system is clean and sterile.

Milton Fluid is basically a mild bleach (with the same corrosive properties!), Puriclean claims biodegradable and user/enviroment safe properties.


PersonClubmanGT
02/7/2024 at 6:16pm
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Thank you for your detailed response.

This is they type of information I was after.

Whilst we also will not to drink the system water (we have a curious 10 and 8 year old!) this seems like the best solution to our issue currently.

I will let you know our findings.

Thanks again


PersonWebmaster
via mobile 02/7/2024 at 8:36pm
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Quote: Originally posted by ClubmanGT on 02/7/2024
Thank you for the reply.

I like to try to avoid chemicals where possible especially when the kids are likely to drink from the tap occasionally.

I did have a search but couldn't find anything relatable.

I will try using it again with an alternate criteria.

Thanks


Lots of threads, which should help, try searching "water tank", or "water system" amongst others

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PersonPixie_Hez
03/7/2024 at 8:33am
 Location: Liverpool
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I use Puriclean a couple of times a year and find it flushes out a lot of gunk. Try to let the Puriclean soak in the system for several hours if you can. The instructions say at least an hour but I have found that if you can leave it for at least 4 hours you get a better result. One you have let it sit then pumped it through the system and out the other end, remember to flush the whole thing through with a lot of fresh water to get rid of the chemical taste.

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Pixie


PersonPaul_B
03/7/2024 at 10:25am
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I use white Vinegar or citric acid once a year to clean off the limescale and then Puriclean to remove the biofilm a couple of times a year,
then rinse well. We use a bottle of water for drinking purposes due to the occasional tcp taste.


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Persondusters
via mobile 01/9/2024 at 7:02pm
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If u buy bottle of sterilising fluid from home bargains similar to Milton but much cheaper, pour into sink & fill up the water tank leave 24rs then drain it out .
Dead simple & works.

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phil.


PersonGeorge-Mildred
02/9/2024 at 8:48am
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We have used Puriclean on our previous vans and tend to use it before we go away as it gets a good sloshing around in transit, then flush it through at the other end and leave it in the waste tank a while. Also we don't use it for drinking from either.

Can you access the tanks for manual cleaning? Should be a decent size cap you get to for inspection?


PersonMonty15
02/9/2024 at 2:27pm
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Quote: Originally posted by dusters on 01/9/2024
If u buy bottle of sterilising fluid from home bargains similar to Milton but much cheaper, pour into sink & fill up the water tank leave 24rs then drain it out .
Dead simple & works.


Not wise to leave 'bleach' based (sodium hypochlorite) products (Milton Fluid is one!) in contact with system metal components for more than an hour or so! They risk permanent damage, and replacement parts are typically very expensive! Milton advise sterilisation achieved in 15 mins at recommended concentrations, so no need for extended use anyway!

For the petty cost of a BETTER (it cleans out biofilm 'gunk' as well as sterilises!) and system safer product like Puriclean, and it's only occasional use to further spread the cost, I see little wisdom is using potentially damaging products to literally save 'pence'! A £9/400g tub of Puriclean will sterilise up to 360 litres, that'd clean my caravan system 10 TIMES!!!!! - £0.90 a year, or £1.80 a year on a particularly busy or longer use season when done a couple of times! Seems like a no brainer to me, rather than replacing a damaged heater tank at £hundreds!



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