In the many caravans we have owned over the years, I have never quite been able to find a perfect recipe for keeping the water in the tank fresh.
Our normal procedure (Penta) is to completely empty the water tank at the end of a camping trip, but the hot water geyser remains full at all times and cannot be drained, (as far as I know). This water, plus the residue of water in the pipes which remain behind, can go "off" and become quite smelly if the van is not used for a while. We added a little Milton into the main water bottle and ever since then, we can taste Milton in the water and especially so one can smell it when the hot water tap is opened up. Even the ice cubes have that Milton smell. Whilst we know it is safe to drink, it's quite unpleasant.

So I thought I would ask the collective glitterati on the forum, what the optimal solution is. We've just bought a Classique, which has a 60 litre undervan holding tank (like the old Palma) and I am reluctant to add Milton as it takes many months to get rid of the smell. The hot water tank aggravates the issue.

Someone once told me they simply flush their water system system (including the hot water geyser) completely with fresh water before they leave on a trip and there are no issues with bad smells.

Laat ons hoor!

Circulating the water in the van's tank is part of my maintenance routine. 

When not in use there is not more than 10 liters of water in the main tank. Every second weekend I open the hotwater taps and drain close on 10 liters through the geyser and add 10 liters fresh water to the main tank.

No problem with smelly water.

Where’s Willem - Wilsur?

Kom Willem – jy moet seker raad hier he! Waar kruip jy weg?

We have water restrictions in Cape Town. A full flush would use 70 litres. Now to remember to actually do that. I will have to set an alarm on my phone. Most days I cant even remember where I put my phone! Eish.....

Had the same experience with the Classique. Best way to resolve the problem is to keep the tank empty.  You will however still have the geyser water to sort out. 

I found that it takes about 45days for the water to start getting a smell. If the water is from a resort that usually pumps frm a borehole the time is reduced to 20 - 30 days.

What I do to resolve this is:

1. I always drain the water while driving home. To get rid of the borehole water.
2. Normally the water in the Geyser is stil hot when I get home.  I then put home water in the tank  about 30litres and flush the geyser till the water comming out is cold. This way I get rid of most of the borehole water.
3. I then add onecap of milton to the water remaining in the tank.

Very important is to remember that that water will go bad even with the milton. So either drain the water if the van will stand long or go camping within 40-45 days.

If the van is not used for long time I will advise to drain the tank and geyser. Look in the manual there is a way to do it.

Remember not to switch on the geyser at this time as this will damage the electric element.

Make sure the water flows fully through the geyser before switching it on.

OK - so most of what is being said here is common sense. Flush regularly. End of story. One must just get into the habit of doing it regularly. Many thanks everyone. At least the Classique's watertank is under the van where it gets no UV exposure and is probably the coolest place for the water anyway. It's the small amount of water left in the pipes which goes off fairly quickly and especially so this past summer where it has been extremely warm.

Johann ek ry ook met die tenk vol na die kameer oord toe, maar kom met hom leeg terug.  Die groot rede vir dit is die kalk in die boorgate se water.

Ek het gesien hoe pak my Urn aan, aan die binne kant en wil nie weet hoe lyk die geyser se binnekant as mens dit nie probeer reguleer nie.

Maar dis 'n bespreking op sy eie.

Ek sit met dieselfde probleem. Ek het miltons gekoop om 'n doppie of 2 in te gooi om die tenk uit te spoel toe besluit my seun 2 doppies is nie genoeg nie en gooi die hele bottel in. Nou proe alles na miltons!

Ek gaan die naweek die sout en asyn trick probeer en kyk of dit werk.

Johan jy kan maar die sout los en net asyn probeer. Ek het gevind dis nou in die 25liter urn dat as jy water by sit vat dit jare om die kalk uit te kry.  Skoon asyn wit of bruin neem een aand dan is die urn skoon en lyk soos nuut.

Die probleem lê om die asyn in die geyser te kry sodat dit daar kan werk. Met die urn skud jy hom nou en dan of roer sommer met die hand.  As jy regtig die geyser wil "ontkalk" sal jy hom moet uithaal.

Groot werk!!!!!!!! Dis maar hoekom ek die dreinering en spoel aksies doen. Dis net om die geyser se aanpak te verminder.  Die onderhoud staan nêrens in n boek nie, dis maar my eie idees om my wa se leeftyd te verleng so lank ek kan.

Dis natuurlik toe ek nog eengehad het. Tans is my geyser my 25l urn.

I make my own beer, and use a detergent and saniteser that I get from my supplier that dose not leave a tast or smell in the 25lt plsastic contsainer used for the brewing. It also removes the old beer smell from the bottels I reuse. Take a look on the internet for craft beer suppliers in you area and get stuff from them, I am sure it will work in the caravan and motor home water storage systems without any problems.

I would also like to know how to drain the geyser when the van is stored.

Any ideas/pictures

Thanks and kind regards

Edwin

Slim wrote:

Hi all, Some advice please regarding the water tank in my classique.
1.On returning from my last trip I pumped the tank empty. On refilling I had an air lock and was only able to get the pump operating after much hassle(thanks to help received from Kempton Caravans)2. Iam unable to find a drain plug/hole for the water tank. Any help would be apreciated

EvWyk wrote:

I would also like to know how to drain the geyser when the van is stored.

Any ideas/pictures

Thanks and kind regards

Edwin

Have a look at what I have done to drain the tank.  I never used the pump to drain and refill before the use of the pump.

WilSur wrote:

[quote]1012,250120681[/quote]

Have a look at what I have done to drain the tank.  I never used the pump to drain and refill before the use of the pump.

Hi WilSir

Can you please send us the link?

Thanks

Edwin

Edwin

Sorry,I now see the link did not stick.

Varswater

Or you can type in the Title search "WilSur" and you will get all my specific threads.

Willie Kotze wrote:

2 liter water...1 koppie asyn en 1 koppie bakpoeier ...los 10% van jou ou water in die tenk en gooi mengsel by (ek het 100 l tenk).As jy weer toer spoel die 10% ou water met mengsel uit, spoel nog een keer met min water en maak vol..geen reuke gewaarborg
Mengsel werk ook vir stink dreine!

'n Koppie bakpoeier of 'n pakkie ?