Flushing out cold water supply pipes on yacht

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davidmh

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I need to flush out the cold water pipes on the yacht. There are three flexible plastic hoses which run from the tank to the the 3 outlets. All 3 are teed together at the tank end. At each outlet there is a foot operated pump such as the whale flipper pump. I need to get a good volume of water through it and the idea I had was to connect a water supply hose to the tank end of the pipe and hope that the water pressure will keep the pump valves open to allow the water to pass through the pump. Will this work or have I missed something about the valves in the simple foot operated pumps.

The forums knowledge will I am sure know the answers to this one.

Regards
David MH
 
After several years in use no amount of flushing will remove the layer of green algae from the inside of water pipes. in my experience. It is easier just to replace the pipe and filter
 
C08 said:
After several years in use no amount of flushing will remove the layer of green algae from the inside of water pipes. in my experience. It is easier just to replace the pipe and filter
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Fill it up with Patio Magic ;)

(NOTE: This is a JOKE; do not use Patio Magic in your potable water system)
 
I suggest that you contact Endosan and buy some of their hydrogen peroxide and silver solution.

I use it for deep cleaning agricultural spraying equipment, and also on the boat for sterilising the freshwater systems, and for cleaning the galley and heads. Used properly it is safe for potable water systems.

It will clear green algae from pipework, BTW :)

https://www.endosan.com/
 
You haven't said why you want to do this. If it's any help, I have spent several years trying to get rid of a nasty musty taste in my tank water. I tried several proprietary tank additives with no success. I replaced all the hoses and dismantled all the tanks and pumps and took them home for cleaning. After re-filling, the taste came back within days. Aquasol worked in the end, but you have to put up with the taste of that - even though the manufacturer says it has no taste! It's better than 'musty' anyway!
 
davidmh said:
I need to flush out the cold water pipes on the yacht. There are three flexible plastic hoses which run from the tank to the the 3 outlets. All 3 are teed together at the tank end. At each outlet there is a foot operated pump such as the whale flipper pump. I need to get a good volume of water through it and the idea I had was to connect a water supply hose to the tank end of the pipe and hope that the water pressure will keep the pump valves open to allow the water to pass through the pump. Will this work or have I missed something about the valves in the simple foot operated pumps.

The forums knowledge will I am sure know the answers to this one.

Regards
David MH
Click to expand...

I am sure it will but the Whale Flipper is supposed to be hand operated
 
Am I missing something, or are these guys not cleaning their water tanks at the beginning and end of the season?
And ensuring that they pump the dissolved cleaner through to every outlet.
 
The problem with chemical cleaning of tanks and pipes is getting rid of the taste afterwards.
 
C08 said:
The problem with chemical cleaning of tanks and pipes is getting rid of the taste afterwards.
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I found that the vent pipe on my forward tank had been installed with a slight dip. It must have had virtually stagnant water in it for most of its life. I disconnected it, drained the dip and filled it with warm conc. household bleach. Perfectly clean the next morning and most of the bleach was easily drained.

Residual bleach isn't a problem as I keep Sodium metabisulfite on board and a small amount will kill off bleach. Of course your taste buds will detect even a few parts per million of excess sulfites. Fortunately, that rapidly oxidises to virtually tasteless sulfates. I say virtually, never tried sipping 5-10% solution but a small excess of a few ppm is certainly not a problem.

Note that metabisulfite isn't hazard free, avoid inhaling the powder (not exactly difficult). I expect ingesting several gms would kill you but even a few milligrams shouldn't cause any harm. Even a spoonful dissolved in a litre and added to a tank would kill off a lot of residual bleach in a drained tank and vanish by the time you refill it (via normal agitation & oxygen in the water).
 
When I bought 2 flexible water tanks the water tasted very plasticky. The makers recommended vinegar to get rid of the plastic taste. That worked really well but it took years to get rid of the vinegar tang to the water!
 
guernseyman said:
Am I missing something, or are these guys not cleaning their water tanks at the beginning and end of the season?
And ensuring that they pump the dissolved cleaner through to every outlet.
Click to expand...

Surely you need to physically scrub the tanks to clean the tank properly?

" One common instruction is plainly to not drink the water on board, unless you live aboard full time. Living aboard gives you the ability to constantly monitor the condition of the water coming in and going out, and the water will get used and refreshed a lot more often.
If you're anything less than a full time live-aboard, shower and hand-washing use is acceptable, but don't drink it or use it to brush your teeth. Do so at your own risk, anyway!

http://www.knotsandboats.com/2013/05/how-to-clean-fresh-water-system.html

"Ask any ten boaters what they think of their onboard freshwater quality and at least half of them will admit to not using it for drinking purposes. Yet keeping onboard water supplies good tasting and drinkable isn’t rocket science[/I

http://www.boattest.com/view-news/4218_how-to-make-boat-water-drinkable

Clive
 
guernseyman said:
Am I missing something, or are these guys not cleaning their water tanks at the beginning and end of the season?
And ensuring that they pump the dissolved cleaner through to every outlet.
Click to expand...
I don't.
I did use some sterilizing fluid but have an advised a flush with tap water should be sufficient. I pumo the water out in the winter.
I use 5 litre bottles for drinking water but would drink from the tank if there was no other option.
 
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