haggismx Posted November 30, 2009 Share Posted November 30, 2009 Can anybody tell me the best thing to use to flush my fresh water tank.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njw Posted November 30, 2009 Share Posted November 30, 2009 i use miltons that will do the job Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davenewellhome Posted December 1, 2009 Share Posted December 1, 2009 Be very careful with Milton, if it comes into contact with stainless steel it will dissolve it! Your water heater is made of stainless steel so you run the risk of ruining it with Milton. D. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Uzzell Posted December 1, 2009 Share Posted December 1, 2009 This is an earlier thread that may be useful http://www.outandaboutlive.co.uk/forums/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=3082&posts=12 Thetford also markets products for cleaning/sanitising fresh-water tanks. See: http://www.thetford.com/Home/Products/ChemicalsCleanersHome/FreshWaterTankSanitizer/tabid/133/Default.aspx My own view is that, as long as you follow Milton's instructions very carefully, use only a suitably dilute solution, don't leave it in your motorhome's water system for an extended period, and make sure the system is thoroughly flushed through with fresh water after the cleaning treatment, then Milton will be OK. Neat Milton will rapidly 'eat' stainless steel, but shouldn't do harm if it's well diluted and then quickly flushed away. I know Truma documentation warns against chlorine-type cleaners like Milton, but when I asked the Truma(UK) technicians about using it that was their opinion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colinfrier Posted December 1, 2009 Share Posted December 1, 2009 Be carefull with Milton I stood the bottle in our stainless steel sink it was knocked over and a few drops burnt several holes right through the sink which had to be replaced. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Tracker Posted December 1, 2009 Share Posted December 1, 2009 I use ordinary chlorinated tap water to flush out the tank once a year. A few days before using it for the first time fill it and empty it then fill it again and leave overnight before draining ready to be refilled for use. If you can drive it a few miles when full and before emptying it it sloshes the water about a bit which might, or might not, help the cleansing process. I have been doing this for over 30 years and have never had a problem with drinking water from the tank. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PetMice Posted December 1, 2009 Share Posted December 1, 2009 I use PuriClean, and then drain it via the taps into the waste tank which freshens them up too. Only have problems if I don't do it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TeePee Posted December 1, 2009 Share Posted December 1, 2009 I have been doing the same as tracker for 30 years and have never had a problem. That includes filling up with water in most parts of Western Europe :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dshague Posted December 1, 2009 Share Posted December 1, 2009 tracker is chlorinated tap water what the wife puts in the iron ? .how much do you put in per litre tank thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Kirby Posted December 1, 2009 Share Posted December 1, 2009 Most irons require demineralised water.All tap water in UK is chlorinated, but is unsuitable for most irons. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Tracker Posted December 1, 2009 Share Posted December 1, 2009 dshague - 2009-12-01 6:14 PM tracker is chlorinated tap water what the wife puts in the iron ? .how much do you put in per litre tank thanks Chlorinated tap water is what it says it is! That is ordinary water that comes out of the cold tap that has been purified and chlorinated by the water company - and we use it neat and undiluted! The water that is supposed to go into a steam iron is supposed to be what used to be known as distilled water but is now known as demineralised or deionised water - that's progress for you! We used boiled water that has cooled in the steam iron as we are too idle and tight to go and buy the proper stuff - does anyone? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colin Posted December 1, 2009 Share Posted December 1, 2009 Tracker - 2009-12-01 7:16 PM We used boiled water that has cooled in the steam iron as we are too idle and tight to go and buy the proper stuff - does anyone? 25(? ) years ago when we moved to 'the old house' gf put an old ironing board in the spare bedroom, first time I went to use it, it colapsed landing on my toes(where was the risk assessment and PPE) so I chucked it out the window, couple of years ago she brought a new one, it's mainly used for storing paperwork(hers I should add), thus saving on de-ionised water and electricity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magbrin Posted December 1, 2009 Share Posted December 1, 2009 Brian Kirby - 2009-12-01 6:20 PMMost irons require demineralised water.All tap water in UK is chlorinated, but is unsuitable for most irons.Minor correction - all tap water in UK from water companies may be chlorinated and may also have been recycled many times. Because there was no public water supply to our property when we moved to the highlands, nearly 30 years ago our water comes from a private supply - a bore hole in the garden - and it is naturally recycled (details on application!) It is not chlorinated and is suitable for a steam iron.On the Milton debate, at a professional level, we have been sterilising food manufacturing equipment - both plastic and stainless steel - with recommended dilution of Milton for 10 years plus, and I can confirm that if it is rinsed with water (in this situation chlorinated, water company water) it causes no damage to plastic or stainless steel. I would therefore recommend it for flushing a water tank, as long as it is rinsed well, immedieately. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EJB Posted December 1, 2009 Share Posted December 1, 2009 We always flush with tap water as already suggested. We also use tap water in the iron.....and buy a new one every 10 years *-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Travelling Tyke Posted December 1, 2009 Share Posted December 1, 2009 Hello, we also use tap water to flush, leave it in overnight and refill before leaving if not travelling too far or not sure of supply situation. Fill on site if travelling distance and sure of supply. Soft water areas may be ok for irons but hard water (chalky) will clog them up. They can, of course be cleared with a little drop of diluted acid (vinegar) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lennyhb Posted December 2, 2009 Share Posted December 2, 2009 EJB - 2009-12-01 9:50 PM We always flush with tap water as already suggested. We also use tap water in the iron.....and buy a new one every 10 years *-) Only last 2 years in our hard water area still cheaper than buying distilled water. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel B Posted December 2, 2009 Share Posted December 2, 2009 Tracker - 2009-12-01 7:16 PM We used boiled water that has cooled in the steam iron as we are too idle and tight to go and buy the proper stuff - does anyone? I do! I buy it 'in bulk' from Auchan (or wherever) as it's only about 1,30 euro for a 5 litre container, about a quarter of the price here! We are in a hard water area and even our boiled water is hard!!! Besides, I don't want to knacker my iron prematurely ... it cost all of 50p from a car boot sale so gotta get my money's worth out of it!!! :-D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Raindrop Posted December 2, 2009 Share Posted December 2, 2009 I empty the tank then take the inspection cover off and dry it out completely, leaving the cover off all winter. Never use any additives or cleaners. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Tracker Posted December 3, 2009 Share Posted December 3, 2009 Mel B - 2009-12-02 7:41 PM Besides, I don't want to knacker my iron prematurely ... it cost all of 50p from a car boot sale so gotta get my money's worth out of it!!! :-D When we meet one day Mel I'll give you one of our old irons as I am always happy to help a fellow potential pensioner save 50p and recycling to a needy cause is better than chucking it away! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rayjsj Posted December 3, 2009 Share Posted December 3, 2009 Just to add my tuppence-Worth to the debate, I used to use Milton regularly to sterilise the whole water system in my Caravan (yes, Once was a tugger). Then i got a water leak from the tank of the Carver hot water boiler, I managed to get another tank (almost impossible Now !) and fitted it. The 'Old' tank (2 years old) had several pinprick holes through the plastic liner,through the alluminium tank and a lump of white 'bleach like' powder lodged over the holes..... powerful stuff Milton. Now this system HAD been flushed but Milton still manged to eat it's way through the plastic lined Alloy tank. Obviously small bits of debris in the tank absorbed the Milton, then sat in there 'eating away' ? I don't use Milton Now. I use the stuff that home brewers sterilise their equipment with, No nasty warnings of flush VERY often. So, hopefully Not dangerous to metals (it says it isn't) Ray Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basil Posted December 3, 2009 Share Posted December 3, 2009 I have never used Milton as it was stated never to use it in the Carver water heater manual with the advice that it would eat through the boiler tank. They recomended a steriliser used by home brewers that I have always used effectively but it is no longer available. It is replaced by VWP cleaner steriliser which is safe for use on stanless stell and aluminium and more importantly it is safe for use where potable water is being used from the containers after sterilisation. It is obtainable from home brew stores or from the net with a Google search eg see http://www.art-of-brewing.co.uk/acatalog/AoB_OnLine_Catalogue_Steriliser___Cleaner___________39.html We have always sterilised at the start of the season or after there has been more than a one month break in use, or if the tank has been left empty for more than two weeks in hot weather. Bas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Kirby Posted December 3, 2009 Share Posted December 3, 2009 magbrin - 2009-12-01 9:27 PM ......... On the Milton debate, at a professional level, we have been sterilising food manufacturing equipment - both plastic and stainless steel - with recommended dilution of Milton for 10 years plus, and I can confirm that if it is rinsed with water (in this situation chlorinated, water company water) it causes no damage to plastic or stainless steel. I would therefore recommend it for flushing a water tank, as long as it is rinsed well, immedieately. The problem, I think, with this, is the ability to flush all traces of Milton out of a water heater tank. You can't see into it whatever make it is, and there will be an inevitable residue left at the bottom. If the van is then used, and water flushed regularly through the tank, there should not be a problem. However, if the sterilisation is carried out at the end of the season, and the van is then unused for several months, any residue may cause trouble. As ever, it's horses for courses - hard and fast rules can't be applied! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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