Attic Water Tank Sterilisation

Doop · 07-01-2019 01:53PM #1

Anyone got any recommendations of a company (Dublin based) who carry out domestic water tank cleaning/sterilisation?

Moving into a new house and dont fancy the look of the attic water tank... the lid is ajar which doesn't help!

also an idea of cost?

my3cents · 07-01-2019 04:59PM

Empty it and give it a scrub out hardly a big deal.

You don't even need to turn the water off just use a piece of wood across the tank to tie the ball valve up.

Calahonda52 · 07-01-2019 05:17PM

Doop wrote: »

Anyone got any recommendations of a company (Dublin based) who carry out domestic water tank cleaning/sterilisation?

Moving into a new house and dont fancy the look of the attic water tank... the lid is ajar which doesn't help!

also an idea of cost?

The boom is back

Post some pictures

Doop · 07-01-2019 05:27PM

my3cents wrote: »

Empty it and give it a scrub out hardly a big deal.

You don't even need to turn the water off just use a piece of wood across the tank to tie the ball valve up.

Thanks for the suggestion but just so i m clear....
Lift the ball cock so the tank doesnt refill, clean the tank, run the water out the taps to empty the tank...........Is that not asking for an airlock?

my3cents · 07-01-2019 05:34PM

Doop wrote: »

Thanks for the suggestion but just so i m clear....
Lift the ball cock so the tank doesnt refill, clean the tank, run the water out the taps to empty the tank...........Is that not asking for an airlock?

Unlikely, you'd have to have particularly bad plumbing for that to happen.

From the tank you are relying on water falling though gravity so unless you have some uphill plumbing that can hold air it won't happen. Even if it did its no big deal to fix.

07-01-2019 05:40PM

If its a galvanised tank then it should be replaced. If its plastic then you could clean it out yourself as described by others. If you don't want to do it yourself then a plumber will be happy to charge you to do it for you.

When it's all done and filled fit a lid to keep it clean. If you don't want to spend 30 odd euros on a plastic lid cutting plywood to size will do the job

sbsquarepants · 07-01-2019 05:43PM

I'm not sure what the issue is, any house I've lived in the tank didn't even have a lid. Some settled dust, maybe the odd spider - it's not like you're drinking this stuff.
Unless there's something really out of the ordinary in there it's a complete waste of time and effort, certainly a waste of money.
Even if lidless for decades it's likely cleaner than most of the worlds drinking water and you only use it to wash and flush the toilet!

(The one in my parents house for example hasn't had a lid for 40 years and hasn't caused any problem whatsoever)

listermint · 07-01-2019 05:57PM

sbsquarepants wrote: »

I'm not sure what the issue is, any house I've lived in the tank didn't even have a lid. Some settled dust, maybe the odd spider - it's not like you're drinking this stuff.
Unless there's something really out of the ordinary in there it's a complete waste of time and effort, certainly a waste of money.
Even if lidless for decades it's likely cleaner than most of the worlds drinking water and you only use it to wash and flush the toilet!

(The one in my parents house for example hasn't had a lid for 40 years and hasn't caused any problem whatsoever)

It depends on your water source.

basically.

Lumen · 07-01-2019 05:59PM

So do all the cold taps in the house come directly from the mains supply?

I know bollock all about plumbing, obviously.

My tanks are manky too so this thread is interesting.

Mango Joe · 07-01-2019 06:07PM

Anyone done this recently and care to share any tips?

This thread has reminded me that mine was never done.... Its been on the list a while....

I was thinking of using a clean sweeping brush (for reaching sides and bottom)and a bit of fairy liquid and scrubbing away... Would tipping in a bottle or two of Milton sterilising fluid be a good idea?

Is there a risk of clumps of debris/algae becoming dislodged and travelling through the pipework only to be trapped on the inside of the wire mesh inside my kitchen and bathroom tap spouts?

There's not great pressure/flow there as it is - not keen to make it worse.

Also has no proper cover - a sheet of ill-fitting aeroboard since 1980....!!!

coylemj · 07-01-2019 06:07PM

Lumen wrote: »

So do all the cold taps in the house come directly from the mains supply?

In most houses, only the cold tap in the kitchen comes direct from the mains supply, every other cold tap is fed direct from the tank in the attic and the hot taps are fed from the same tank via the immersion tank.

So bar the cold tap in your kitchen, it's likely that every tap in your house is fed from the tank in the attic.

Akrasia · 07-01-2019 06:11PM

coylemj wrote: »

In most houses, only the cold tap in the kitchen comes direct from the mains supply, every other cold tap is fed direct from the tank in the attic and the hot taps are fed from the same tank via the immersion tank.

So bar the cold tap in your kitchen, it's likely that every tap in your house is fed from the tank in the attic.

Yeah. Don't drink from the cold tap in your bathroom.

Lumen · 07-01-2019 06:15PM

Akrasia wrote: »

Yeah. Don't drink from the cold tap in your bathroom.

OK, cool. Now I just have to find a way to explain this to my cat.

Doop · 07-01-2019 06:15PM

Thanks lads yeah ill give it a go myself so

If its a galvanised tank then it should be replaced. If its plastic then you could clean it out yourself as described by others. If you don't want to do it yourself then a plumber will be happy to charge you to do it for you.

Its a plastic tank thankfully.

sbsquarepants wrote: »

]I'm not sure what the issue is, any house I've lived in the tank didn't even have a lid. Some settled dust, maybe the odd spider - it's not like you're drinking this stuff.

you're not far off it while using it to brush teeth etc... maybe I'm being precious tho :P

hatchman · 07-01-2019 06:17PM

Use a wet and dry vac once cleaning done to take out debris rather than letting it into pipework or taps.

Doctors room ghost · 07-01-2019 06:21PM

Lumen wrote: »

So do all the cold taps in the house come directly from the mains supply?

I know bollock all about plumbing, obviously.

My tanks are manky too so this thread is interesting.

The cold at your kitchen sink is mains the rest are your tank.tie up ball cock and run the tank out the bath.give it a scrub then.you can also use a wet vac if there's limescale.you can use milton in them to clean them.cover them then.ive seen a tank before with freshly dead mice in them and you would be brushing your teeth with that water.cover them

07-01-2019 06:21PM

Mango Joe wrote:

Also has no proper cover - a sheet of ill-fitting aeroboard since 1980....!!!

Is it galvanised or plastic? You can't clean a galvanised tank. Remiving the rusting gunk inside weakens it & will cos it to leak.

Mango Joe · 07-01-2019 06:40PM

Sleeper12 wrote: »

Is it galvanised or plastic? You can't clean a galvanised tank. Remiving the rusting gunk inside weakens it & will cos it to leak.

Plastic - Sorry might have been misleading to say 1980 - I'm only in the house 10 years so any work done before that I've no clue about....

Think I might try and siphon debris out using garden hose fed into a sink.... Worried about gunk becoming trapped in taps... In theory that crap could become dislodged and mess up thermostatic showers etc?

Don't mean to sound excitable or alarmist....

gctest50 · 07-01-2019 06:44PM

Akrasia wrote: »

Yeah. Don't drink from the cold tap in your bathroom.

You wash your toothbrush with it though

gctest50 · 07-01-2019 06:47PM

.

07-01-2019 07:04PM

Mango Joe wrote:

Don't mean to sound excitable or alarmist....

There's nothing wrong with cleaning the tank. I'm in shower repair and I get a lot of calls where the tank runs dry and sucks in dirt. This causes problems with the shower and in rare cases totally blocks the water pipe. I was on a job last week where a tiny piece of attic insulation got into the pipe. This wasn't a terrible job but sometimes whole sections of pipe need to be replaced.

I highly recommend getting a lid or plywood to cover the tank once cleaned.

Akrasia · 07-01-2019 08:14PM

gctest50 wrote: »

You wash your toothbrush with it though

It's a different dose. The tiny amount of water you swallow when brushing your teeth is a lot less than filling your glass of water before bed

gctest50 · 07-01-2019 09:20PM

Akrasia wrote: »

It's a different dose. The tiny amount of water you swallow when brushing your teeth is a lot less than filling your glass of water before bed

No amount of dead rat particles are good for you i'd imagine

my3cents · 07-01-2019 09:29PM

gctest50 wrote: »

No amount of dead rat particles are good for you i'd imagine

I think after a time you build up a tolerance to your very own dead rat particles.

But honestly its not that difficult to clean a tank out. The only hardship is if access is difficult.

Until I put a filter on it ours needed cleaning regularly because of the amount of sand in the mains water supply.

Doctors room ghost · 07-01-2019 10:47PM

my3cents wrote: »

I think after a time you build up a tolerance to your very own dead rat particles.

But honestly its not that difficult to clean a tank out. The only hardship is if access is difficult.

Until I put a filter on it ours needed cleaning regularly because of the amount of sand in the mains water supply.

We do be plagued with the limescale. I do take a bucket of lime chips out of the tank every couple of months.clean it down then and cover it.v hard water and couldn't be bothered to fit a softener at the moment

sbsquarepants · 08-01-2019 09:09AM

my3cents wrote: »

I think after a time you build up a tolerance to your very own dead rat particles.

Sound medical advice:D

I was actually only up in my attic last night putting away Christmas decorations so I had a quick look at my tank. Thankfully no rats or mice, small bit of something or other at the bottom, I'm not sure what - looks like sand. Whatever it is it can stay there.

But I am thinking i'll cut a bit of plywood and put up a no swimming sign for the rodents!

jack of all · 08-01-2019 10:04AM

I've cleaned out a few storage tanks over the years, it's not a particularly difficult job, most times the hardest part is access and working in confined attics! Apart from scale I've often find plenty of plastic swarf in the tanks (left by original installer when using tank cutters etc.)so it's a good idea to remove this and prevent it ending up in your system. As for covering tanks with ply- yes it will work but ideally the ply should be painted with oil-based paint or I prefer to wrap the ply in heavy gauge polythene (DPM), secured with staples on the reverse face. This protects the ply from condensation and prevents mildew. No harm to add a little Milton to the tank and let it sit for a couple of hours.

listermint · 08-01-2019 12:30PM

I just pulled mine out last year, backgarden. Sprayed it out with the pressure washer and cleaned it down with milton then reinstalled it.

Can be dealing with cleaning it out in a stuffy attic.

Doctors room ghost · 08-01-2019 06:59PM

jack of all wrote: »

I've cleaned out a few storage tanks over the years, it's not a particularly difficult job, most times the hardest part is access and working in confined attics! Apart from scale I've often find plenty of plastic swarf in the tanks (left by original installer when using tank cutters etc.)so it's a good idea to remove this and prevent it ending up in your system. As for covering tanks with ply- yes it will work but ideally the ply should be painted with oil-based paint or I prefer to wrap the ply in heavy gauge polythene (DPM), secured with staples on the reverse face. This protects the ply from condensation and prevents mildew. No harm to add a little Milton to the tank and let it sit for a couple of hours.

That's a great idea considering plywood is prone to mould and mildew when it's wet.fair play for sharing it.i have my one covered with a few election campaign posters I acquired and lats left across them so a mouse won't be rooting at them

my3cents · 08-01-2019 07:09PM

Doctors room ghost wrote: »

That's a great idea considering plywood is prone to mould and mildew when it's wet.fair play for sharing it.i have my one covered with a few election campaign posters I acquired and lats left across them so a mouse won't be rooting at them

Exactly a decent sized election poster makes a great cover.

celticbhoy27 · 09-01-2019 09:58AM

Doctors room ghost wrote: »

We do be plagued with the limescale. I do take a bucket of lime chips out of the tank every couple of months.clean it down then and cover it.v hard water and couldn't be bothered to fit a softener at the moment

Get a water softener. Had terrible time with limescale - 3 washing machines in 8 years. Countless kettles. Got softener last year. Zero limescale. I still open the kettle lid and look at the clear element in awe

Attic Water Tank Sterilisation

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