Best way to keep freshwater tank odour free & usable

[rubberduck]

Is there anything you can put in the freshwater to stop it going yucky if left for a while? only talking a few weeks, not years. Ours seems to have started getting whiffy after about a month.

 

[PhilipF]

We use a product called "Puriclean". Obtained from chandlers etc.

 

[Skyva_2]

if you search there are lots of posts on using Milton, Puritabs or similar to clean the tanks, I used it this year and it works.

 

[rubberduck]

Is the water drinkable when treated ?

 

[ebbtide]

I use Puritabs but made the mistake of making a cuppa immediately after dosing - SWMBO wasn't impressed!
So sterilise regularly but allow 12 hrs to work thro.

 

[studgies]

puriclean works well but we only use when the boat i snot getting used much, we find that regularly cycling water through the tank is the best way.

 

[Nautorius]

We Used Milton Baby sterilising Tablets. Worked a treat and is drinkable with a slight taste! Mind you better than bacteria...

Paul /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Cliveshep]

If your water gets "yucky" after only a few weeks there is something wrong. I strongly suggest you undertake the following:

Chuck in a bottle of own brand baby bottle steriliser fluid, or Milton if you like to buy the same thing at twice the price. Next, run a little water through cold tap to get fluid up to there. Next, run a little through hot tap. That will get fluid up as far as your calorifier (but not in it) If on the other hand you have a water heater and not a calorifier run sufficient to get fluid out of hot tap and shower. Now top off your tank and clear off for the night. Next day, on a calorifier system, run the HOT tap until it smells faintly of bleach, i.e. water in calorifier replaced by treated tank water. Go off for a few hours. Finally, pump out through all taps until system empty, refill, pump out through hot tap only in calorifier system. Repeat flush at least once more. Refill tank and put kettle on, I'll be 5 minutes!

 

[VicS]

Another vote for Milton.
Used at the recommended rate of 15ml per gallon for sterilising tanks and pipes, and 2.5ml per gallon for treating the water, but not every fill.

See http://www.milton-tm.com/caravanning-camping.htm

 

[Peanuts]

Regarding using 'own brand' sterilising fluids, check on the instructions that you can use it in aluminium, some (Tesco's) warn you about that. It will eat away the aluminium especially at welds!! Of course this is only applicable if you have an aluminium tank.

 

[blueglass]

all above good info but for sweet tasting safe drinking water out of boat tanks I think a general ecology filter sytem is unbeatable. Simple to fit and you then get bottled water quality from a separate tap, drawn from your main tank.

 

[andyc]

I always empty it out so it and drain all taps ,when I leave it and refil if I am going out for a bit.I have never had a problem ,there again we dont drink it, we have a 15litre drinking water container that goes in the Kitchenette.

 

[hlb]

Never had a problem in 20 odd years. I recon, the folk who have problems must never use it.

 

[michael_w]

Biggest culprit for poor quality fresh water is transparent pipework. This lets in light which the beasties love.

Rip out all that cheap 'n nasty clear tube and replace with opaque such as Hep2o, Speedfit or Polyplumb from your local Plumber's Merchant.

Open up and clean the tanks by hand, maybe once a season, fit a filter and than have a decent cup of tea, untainted with the taste of swimming pools.

 

[rubberduck]

Thanks for replies guys, & I promise to use the boat more now eldest son has finished his GCSE's Haydn /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[hlb]

Just make sure you have plenty of showers and loads of washing up. Mind if you've already neglected it, maybe it needs the milton. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif