Water is essential for life and cleaning your water tank is essential for a healthy lifestyle. Bacteria, algae, and other microorganisms love to build up in moist conditions. Your water tank provides an ideal environment for such communities.
Regular cleaning can not only get rid of these build-ups but also discourage any potential risks to your health. Therefore, it becomes imperative that you must do a regular clean-up of your water tanks.
If you keep your tank dirt-free and hygienic it will preserve its durability qualities and prolong its lifespan. We have prepared a checklist of common tips and tricks.
1. Empty the tank:
Firstly, you need to drain all the water out of your tank. You can do this by opening the outlet valve or tap emptying out all the remaining water liquid by connecting a water hose to the open valve and feeding your hose to a garden (or releasing the water into a nearby pond).
It is not only an eco-friendly step but also budget-friendly because you will be avoiding any wastage of the water left in the tank. This water can be consumed for cleaning the windows or washing the car.
For efficient water tank maintenance, the tank should be emptied as much as possible until the water stops flowing out of the hose.
2. Rinse the water tank with warm water:
Get a high-pressure jet or a water hose to rinse the insides of the water tank. Warm water works wonders as it not only rinses the inside of the tank but also softens the mineral or grime build-up.
Warm water also makes the insides of the tank uninhabitable for some bacteria. But you must not rely on this step and think the job is done. This will fasten the water tank cleaning and make it easier.
3. A drop of soap goes a long way:
Now after rinsing the water tank with warm water, do not remove the water just yet. Add a drop of dish soap and mix it in the water. Let sit for 30 minutes to allow the water time to soak through any dirt or mineral buildup inside the tank.
The soap will further soften up the build-up and ultimately dissolve it. Adding soap to your Water tank cleaning routine is great, it quickens the whole process.
4. Now comes the scrubbing:
Well, now you should get to the scrubbing part. It entirely depends on a stiff brush, and you can carry out this task smoothly. As the previous rinsing and soaking step has softened the build-up, it will easily come off when you scrub with the brush.
If it does not be extra thorough with cleaning the corners and joints. It will ensure that no small amounts of the build-up remain in the water tank. This will make you sweat, and you may skip a day at the gym.
Leave it for 2 more hours. Now rinse with a high-pressure jet or a water hose. You may use cold water this time. Rinse thoroughly until you are certain that all the soap and mineral build-up is gone. Run the water through the taps to remove the build-up from the pipes.
5. Disinfect the tank:
For disinfecting your water tank, you will need an antibacterial spray or liquid bleach. It is a necessary step because this will ensure that your water tank is now free from all the bacteria and algae that resided in it previously.
This will completely destroy their colonies. Now your tank is decontaminated and free of germs. Once again fill the water tank with water and run the liquid mixture through the taps to sterilize the pipes.
6. Fix the pipes:
This is one important step while going with your water tank cleaning. Pipe leakages can be invisible, but now that you are on a detailed cleaning mission, look for any such leakage. They cause water loss and become a channel of foreign contamination.
Broken pipes can cause significant damage quickly to your property. Therefore, find the leak and fix it. Acting fast if your pipes do burst can help protect your family, your home, and your belongings from the devastating effects of water contamination.
7. Clean or Replace:
Now cleaning and replacing step, therefore if you have a leaf guard or a first-flush diverter, you must clean them thoroughly to remove any leaves and debris.
Similarly, if you have a cartridge filter installed, think about when you last changed the cartridge. Cartridge filters need to be changed every 6 to 18 months, depending on the level of use. So may you replace the cartridge filter for it to function the best.
8. Leave the tank for drying:
The final step is to get the water tank dry as possible during the final draining. Emptying the tank completely and disposing of the disinfecting water is crucial. The disinfecting water will contain a high concentration of chlorine.
You need to fill the tank with fresh water, allow it to stay for 30 minutes, and then flush the entire system again. Make sure you replace the lid properly to prevent any debris from falling into your clean tank and leave the tank for drying.
If you are having trouble emptying the tank completely with the valve, you can use a bucket, towel, large sponge, or handheld vacuum to soak up as much water as possible. After the tank is dry, it is ready for use.
Remember that regular water tank cleaning is the key to healthy living. This keeps your pipes safe too, as it leads to a decreased build-up of germs and other harmful bacteria in them.
You should also do a time-to-time pH test of your water tank; this will further guide you in maintaining the cleanliness of your water tank.
As for now, you have a clean tank. It is time-consuming and hectic and if you do not wish to DIY it, you may hire professional water tank cleaning services. Hiring them may be particularly wise if you have a large water tank. Visit Swiftcare Water Tank cleaning services for more.