Cleaning water storage tank

Peter1988

Hello,

I need to clean out my water storage tank in the loft due to the fact the lid had collapsed into it and sunk alot of insulation which has made the water very dirty and is actually intermittently coming out of the bathroom taps as dirty brown water.

My idea was to use a dirty water pump to get rid of as much water as possible (our loft hatch and storage tank is close to the bathroom to drain the water). I could then fish out alot of the insulation and general muck that is in there. Something such as the Karcher SDP7000 320W Dirty Water Pump 240V.

Is the above a good idea? Or is there a better/cleaner way?

Should I consider plugging the outlets to avoid any muck seeping into the pipes etc?

Should I also consider that the immersion heater is fed via this cold water tank and therefore I dont want that draining down and not refilling as it would potentially damage it?

Eventually depending on how well this goes we may buy a new cold water storage tank kit but at the moment we cannot afford this and would rather try to clean it up as much as possible.

Thanks

plumb1_2

Just use a long hose-pipe and syphon the water out.

By a byelaw 30 kit for the tank.

bretthileman

I am also troubled with same problem.At the bottem of tank we use a pipe for the drain water.With the help of pipe we can clean the water tank.

Myser

You could use a drill pump to remove the water - which would be much cheaper. Just attach your drill to it:

http://www.toolstation.com/shop/Power+Tools/Water+Pumps/Drill+Pump/d40/sd3220/p23710

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wolfcraft-Waterpump-Attachment-drills-1300/dp/B0001P1972/

http://www.axminster.co.uk/axminster-axminster-drill-pump-prod23712/

The sediment can then be cleaned out with a small plastic spade/cloth.

You may be a able to purchase a new better fitting lid provided the tank shape hasn't become larger or warped!

Mr_Ted

:)Why go to the expense of a drill when a hose and syphon technique as already suggested is the cheapest AND the best solution;)

Clean it with a cloth and vinegar and then thoroughly flush the tank and the system to finish, after all anything ingestable is not going to contaminate the system as any chemicals would;)

AndyPK

Or
Turn mains off
Drain tank by turning on bath cold tap.

Myser

AndyPK wrote: »

Or
Turn mains off
Drain tank by turning on bath cold tap.

If the pipe is above the base level of the tank to prevent dirt entering the pipe, there may still be some water left at the bottom when you open a tap to drain the tank.

Mr_Ted wrote: »

:)Why go to the expense of a drill when a hose and syphon technique as already suggested is the cheapest AND the best solution;)

Wasn't suggesting the OP purchase a drill! Just a drill pump which works with any ordinary drill. The drill pumps themselves aren't very expensive.

Mr_Ted

Myser wrote: »

Wasn't suggesting the OP purchase a drill! Just a drill pump which works with any ordinary drill. The drill pumps themselves aren't very expensive.

;)Still an unnecessary expense;)