Although it is quite a hassle, the water tank must be cleaned regularly to keep the water in it clean and free of bacteria. The water tank needs to be cleaned every year. Over time, the water tank will become filled with moss, silt (chips or grains of rock smaller than fine sand), or bacteria which if not cleaned can harm the health of you and your family. When cleaning a water tank, you need to drain the tank, wash the inside, and properly clean the bacteria in the tank. By following this wikiHow guide, you can properly clean your water tank to keep the water in it clean and safe to use.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Draining the Water Tank
Step 1. Open the valve or tank faucet
First you need to drain the tank until it is empty. Open the valve or faucet located at the bottom of the tank. Let the tank water drain by itself.
- Connect the hose to the valve or tank faucet to drain the water to a safe place and not cause flooding.
- Most permanent water tanks have a special valve at the bottom of the tank that serves to drain the tank water. If your water tank has a drain valve, open this valve to drain it.
Step 2. Drain the water at the bottom of the tank with a bucket
Since the valve or faucet is usually slightly above the bottom of the tank, you may need to drain any remaining water in the tank yourself. Use a bucket to drain any remaining tank water. Once there is less water in the tank, you can use a plastic cup to drain the rest.
Step 3. Drain the remaining water
If you only use a bucket or cup, you may not be able to drain the water tank completely. Drain the remaining tank water in the following manner:
- Use a water vacuum to suck up any remaining tank water.
- If the tank is not too big, you can try tilting the tank to drain any remaining water.
- If there is still some water left in the tank, you can use a towel to absorb it.
Part 2 of 3: Cleaning the Inside of the Tank
Step 1. Make a cleaning solution
Although the tank can be cleaned without using a cleaning solution, it can make washing the tank easier and faster. Mix hot water with powdered or liquid detergent to make a tank cleaning solution.
Step 2. Scrub the inside of the tank
Use a bristle brush or abrasive sponge to scrub the inside of the tank with or without the cleaning solution. Scrub the tank horizontally and press the sponge or brush firmly. Continue to scrub the entire inside of the tank until the dirt and moss is gone.
- Depending on the size of the water tank, you may need to use a brush with a long handle. The long-handled brush may be a little tricky to use, but it reaches the bottom of the tank with ease. If using a long-handled brush, you may need to scrub the tank vertically instead of horizontally.
- Do not use a wire brush or metal sponge. Plastic is easy to scratch. Also, a wire brush or metal sponge may be too abrasive for a plastic tank.
Step 3. Use a high pressure washer
You can also use a high pressure washer to clean the inside of the tank. Depending on how stubborn the dirt is in the tank, you can use a high pressure washer while scrubbing the inside of the tank. High pressure washers come in various sizes and strengths. You can use a 1,300-2,400 psi pressure washer to clean the plastic water tank. Below is how to clean the inside of the water tank with a high pressure washer:
- Fill the washer with water or cleaning solution.
- Position the washer 1 meter from the surface of the tank to be cleaned. Bring the washer closer to find the right distance to clean the dirt and moss that sticks.
- Hold the washer so that the water touches the surface of the tank at a 45 degree angle.
- Continue to do this until the dirt and moss attached to the inside of the tank is gone.
- High-pressure washing machines have a large enough power. Therefore, wear protective glasses when using this machine. Never point the washer at other people or pets. In addition, you need to follow all the recommended safety guidelines. Beforehand, ask an experienced person to teach you how to use a high pressure washer properly.
Step 4. Use baking soda to remove stubborn dirt
If the dirt stuck to the inside of the tank is quite stubborn, you can sprinkle baking soda on the tank wall and then brush it off with a brush or sponge.
Step 5. Scrub the corners of the tank
When brushing the tank, don't forget to scrub the corners. Dirt attached to this section is sometimes difficult to remove. Therefore, spend more time cleaning the dirt that sticks to this section. You can use a toothbrush to brush hard-to-reach parts of the tank.
Step 6. Rinse the tank
After you have finished brushing and cleaning the inside of the tank, you will need to rinse it. Use the hose to rinse the entire inside of the tank. Don't forget to rinse the corners of the tank. You can also use a high pressure washer filled with water to rinse the tank.
Alternatively, you can fill the tank with hot water and let it sit for a few hours. Drain the tank until it runs out. Do not forget to dispose of the tank rinse water to a safe place. Repeat this process until the tank is free of detergent and sediment
Step 7. Clean the washing water using a water vacuum
Some water tanks may not be able to drain their contents completely. For example, if the tank is too large to tilt, the detergent residue in it may be difficult to clean. To remove the remaining detergent in the tank, you can use a water vacuum. Don't forget to vacuum the entire inside of the tank to remove any remaining detergent residue.
When you're done using the water vacuum, use a clean cloth to clean any remaining sediment that is still at the bottom of the tank
Step 8. Rinse the water tank hose and pipe
Pour the cleaning solution into the tank's pipes and hoses. After that, use a water pump to pump the cleaning solution through the tank's pipes and hoses to remove any dirt and adhering deposits. Repeat with hot water to keep the hoses and water tank pipes free of detergent.
Part 3 of 3: Sterilizing the Water Tank
Step 1. Fill of the tank with clean water
After scrubbing the inside of the tank, you can start sterilizing it. First, fill of the water tank with clean water using a hose.
Step 2. Add chlorine bleach to the tank
Add chlorine bleach to the tank at a ratio of 50 ppm (parts per million). Read the guide below to determine the amount of chlorine bleach to add to the tank:
- For a 1,000 liter tank, add 1 liter of bleach.
- For a 2,000 liter tank, add 2 liters of bleach.
- For a 3,000 liter tank, add 3 liters of bleach.
- For a 4,000 liter tank, add 4 liters of bleach.
Step 3. Fill the tank with clean water to the brim
After adding the chlorine bleach, fill the tank with clean water to the brim. By doing this, the bleach will mix with the water in the tank.
Step 4. Leave it for 24 hours
Once the tank is filled with water and bleach, let it sit for 24 hours. Make sure you or your pet don't touch or use the water in the tank as it can be toxic.
Step 5. Check the chlorine content in the tank regularly
As long as the chlorine is left in the tank for 24 hours, use a chlorine strip to check the chlorine content in the tank. For 24 hours, the tank must hold a sufficient amount of chlorine. To check, dip one side of the chlorine strip into the tank water. Follow the instructions for use on the chlorine strip package to determine the chlorine content in the tank. If no chlorine is detected, repeat steps 2-4.
Step 6. Drain the tank completely
Use the hose to drain the tank completely. Attach the hose to the valve or faucet at the bottom of the tank to drain the water into the drain. Make sure the hose is not directed at plants, lakes, or areas where chlorine bleach is not allowed. Do not drain the tank into your home's water distribution system.
Drain the remaining tank water with a bucket. Afterward, use a towel, mop, or vacuum to drain the rest
Tips
Wear rubber gloves and protective goggles when cleaning the tank
Warning
- Cleaning the tank by getting into it is quite dangerous to do. When you have to do this, be careful.
- Be careful when draining the water tank. Draining the tank water in large quantities can cause flooding and erosion. Water containing detergents and bleach can also damage plants and water sources.
