How often should the freshwater tank be cleaned?

[Sixty-nine Chevy]

Hi all

We have just cleaned (with Elsan's Fresh Water Tank Cleaner) our freshwater tank and then drained it down for our first winter with a campervan. Our next big trip is planned for February, but we may want to have the odd single-night run out before then. If we put in some water for such short trips, should we then be using cleaner again before draining down? Or can we just clean the freshwater tank less frequently, say a couple of times a year or even quarterly? Any thoughts or experiences would be appreciated.

Merry Christmas

Ian.

 

[Sixty-nine Chevy]

Thanks very much to all for your very useful replies!

 

[Allanm]

Can’t believe the amount of water being wasted, draining the system then running a tank full of water through it!
In our last 4 motorhomes, I have drained the water 3 times in nearly 7 years.
once in our old Swift when I had to change the boiler drain valve, once in our Winnebago just after I bought it and it had been sitting with water in the tank for 3 months( I also used sterilising tabs, ) and once in our latest van when it went in for its water ingress test.
We fill our water tank at every opportunity and try to be frugal with it.
We also use the van all year round and if it looks like there is going to be a frost, we turn the heater on enough to stop the frost valve operating.
It annoys me to see people on campsites emptying boilers and aqua rolls when they leave, and they wonder why campsite charges keep going up

 

[Daz6175]

Tbh I know its courses for horses but i cant believe the amount of people that dont drink from their tank - what's the point in spending tens of thousands of pounds to be self sufficient only to then start spending more on bottled water - it just doesn't make sense to me, we've been MHing for nearly 15 years now & have never caught a bug from the tank water but tbh I do clean the tank & system twice a year with puriclean & have always had a filter system placed inline under the sink or separate drinking tap - which is no different in my opinion than buying bottled but is an easy job to do & change the filter everytime I clean the tank - the previously statement about biofilm in the tank is correct if allowed to get warm or stay in for a while it can cause a problem & a quick inspection of the contents of your tank will reveal its start a a slimy residue which in time goes full scale furry(yuck) - good visual aid that it needs cleaning - just remember to flush the entire system through a couple of times till both tasteless & odourless, running clear or the cleaning g fluid will upset your tummy

 

[Hamish the highland hymer]

I think we may be different to most in that we dont drink the water from the fresh tank in the van, we simply take a foodsafe type 4 litre water jerry can/bottles X2, which we refill from the fresh water tap.

This all started when we had the caravan using an Aquaroll, and since having the van we have carried on doing the same, as the water is always safe and does not taste of anything that it shouldn't.

It also allows us to travel with less water in the main tank, so less payload used and more fuel saved, however there are many that would never go on a trip without filling their large water tanks up before leaving, we are all different I guess.
We have also bought 2 litre bottles of supermarket spring water, which we freeze before leaving home, and place in the vans FF, this helps get the FF down to lower temps quicker, and is useful if going on ferries or the chunnel at keeping the stuff in the fridge safe with no power or gas turned on, while crossing.

I also drain the fresh tank as soon as we get home, and leave the drain tap open.
Still learning new tricks even after two years with MH.
LES

I di the same as you anly wash with the tank water the four litre bottles of water out of asda do me for drinking and brushing teeth, just always do it that way

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[M-J]

I ran puriclean through ours when we got it in February, I will be doing the same again. For the sake of a couple of quid we think it’s worth it.

 

[Ingwe]

My motto is to never trust a campsite (or Aire) hose. I always detach it and attach my own. Also disinfectant spray and wipe the tap and let it run for a few seconds as well. Seen too much abuse everywhere.

This is my filling procedure too.

 

[pandas]

Can’t believe the amount of water being wasted, draining the system then running a tank full of water through it!
In our last 4 motorhomes, I have drained the water 3 times in nearly 7 years.
once in our old Swift when I had to change the boiler drain valve, once in our Winnebago just after I bought it and it had been sitting with water in the tank for 3 months( I also used sterilising tabs, ) and once in our latest van when it went in for its water ingress test.
We fill our water tank at every opportunity and try to be frugal with it.
We also use the van all year round and if it looks like there is going to be a frost, we turn the heater on enough to stop the frost valve operating.
It annoys me to see people on campsites emptying boilers and aqua rolls when they leave, and they wonder why campsite charges keep going up

There is a well known fact that drinking contaminated water stimulates a grumpy gene. Is there a shortage of water at the moment? We only fill what we believe we will need and we like a constant water quality either within the motorhome or at home.

 

[rosalan]

Never use Milton to clean the system. The taste lasts for decades and it is not good.

 

[Jim]

It annoys me to see people on campsites emptying boilers and aqua rolls when they leave,

If they were emptying them into my awning I might get annoyed, but otherwise I would not even register it, let alone let myself be annoyed by it.

So many vans are required to travel empty because their payload is so tight. That should annoy them, but not you.

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[OG1]

Clean ours before the first MH show starts. Clean the tank with Puriclean , used this for the past 10 years. Then drain the water out when we leave, not point carting water home. We have a 1gallon tank in the MH we use for tea and coffee, then refill from the local tap.

 

[hblewett]

Amen to that!!

 

[Allanm]

If they were emptying them into my awning I might get annoyed, but otherwise I would not even register it, let alone let myself be annoyed by it.

So many vans are required to travel empty because their payload is so tight. That should annoy them, but not you.

Maybe it shouldn’t, but it does. It’s a waste.

 

[Allanm]

There is a well known fact that drinking contaminated water stimulates a grumpy gene. Is there a shortage of water at the moment? We only fill what we believe we will need and we like a constant water quality either within the motorhome or at home.

Typical, do my bit to save the planets resources and I get called Grumpy!
Merry Christmas.