Attic water tank has no lid - how to clean it before putting one on?

guitarless

I was messing around with the fiberglass attic insulation in my attic which kicked up a load of dust that settled in the water tank. I want to buy a lid and fit it but I want to give it a clean first so I'm not brushing my teeth with fiberglass dust.

Is it enough to raise the ballcock so the tank stops refilling, drain the tank by using water in the taps/toilet, and then give the tank a scrub when it's empty? Is that generally how you go about cleaning these tanks or should I really siphon the water out?

Lumen

Yes, that's it.

SteM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058278454/attic-water-tank-has-no-lid-how-to-clean-it-before-putting-one-on

Does the water you use to brush your teeth with - the bathroom tap - not come directly from the mains?

Kurooi

Roughly yes, the outflow pipe of the water will generally be a bit above the bottom of the tank, so once you drained everything you can take a big car sponge and a bucket use the sponge to transfer the rest of the water out.

When the water is really muck I prefer to do that allows me scrub the bottom of the tank properly.

ted1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120074123#Comment_120074123

in Ireland generally not.

10-10-20

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058278454/attic-water-tank-has-no-lid-how-to-clean-it-before-putting-one-on

Don't do that if you have aerators on your taps, they'll block up pretty rapidly. They normally screw-off so do that first.

Also avoid using the cisterns as they often also have filters which clog.

DublinDilbert

Most tanks have small bits of debris in the bottom. Once there's nothing major in there like dead animals etc, clean everything off the top of the water that you can. Then throw in some milton fluid over night and let it sit.

For a lid pick up some foil backed insulation board and cut one to size, makes a great lid plus it is insulated. Often you will see off cuts of this being put into skips by builders.