Methods for Cleaning Water Tanks at Home

Water is the quintessential fluid to maintain life. Thus, its preservation from impurities becomes an absolute need. The term impurity includes not only particulate matter and colloidal suspensions, nor does it pertain to only chemical pollutants or pathogenic microorganisms.

The impurity also constitutes one among the sharp edges of a blade, rust of every kind, spoilt infrastructure of life - the deprivational - and dearth of wholesome services that make life succumb to an animal's existence.

Hence, avoidance, removal, and control are needed for ensuring completeness or good health in liquids using it. This regain to purity, the procedure, can be an activity like disinfection of air in hospitals and industries.

Types of Water Tanks and Their Cleaning Requirements

Water tanks being used presently may broadly be categorized into 3 categories – 1) underground water tanks, 2) overhead tanks built into the roof structure of buildings, and 3) day tanks and other water reservoirs installed in basements, underground storage rooms, etc.

The type of tank and the water supply situation largely determine the cleaning requirements of each tank. If the water supply is contaminated, the filter and boil method or an intermittent use of chemical treatment will need to be resorted to. Tanks need to be cleaned at the time they are installed, during repair of leaks, and whenever new materials used in plumbing have contaminated the water supply. Tanks should, in general, be cleaned chemically whenever they are drained for repairs, for cleaning chlorinating, or the addition of other chemicals.

Tools and Materials Needed for Cleaning

If you are planning to clean your water tank, you must get the following tools and materials ready:

- Ladders and stools for climbing and cleaning - Brushes that can be used to scrub the sides and corners - Cleaning agent - Rubber gloves - Mask to protect the nose from the smell - Glass helmet for the head to protect it from untoward accidents - Clean and aroma-free drinking water - Clothes that can be thrown away after cleaning - First aid box in case someone gets hurt - Emergency power supply, in case there is a power cut during the process

Cleaning tools that the supplier should get ready: - Containers - Bucket - Measuring mug – 100 ml - Soft brush to clean electric motor - Ladder

Materials – Cleaning agents: You are required to buy chlorine-based disinfectants. You may buy readymade disinfectants from the market as it is easy to use. However, the following should be verified. - It should contain chlorine - The percentage of hypochlorite content - Drinking water approved by relevant authorities (WHO, US FDA, EPA (USEPA), NSW Public Health) - You should not produce a harmful product after applying the disinfectant.

Step-by-Step Guide to Cleaning a Water Tank

Cleaning a water tank is not necessarily a hard task, and it can be done in an organized step-by-step manner. There are a few different things that you need to do at each stage of the cleaning process, from emptying the tank to scrubbing, disinfecting, and finally refilling and restarting the pump.

Close the tap on the bottom of the tank so that water no longer filters into the house. This can be done the day before cleaning the tank, so that the tank has time to empty entirely. Then open all the taps in the house, especially the hot water and cold water taps, to empty out the rest of the water system.

Wait for all of the water to drain into the sewage drains in the floor before starting the next steps. After a few minutes, it won't feel like water coming out of the tap anymore; it will feel like air gurgling. This is good! Close the taps after you've allowed all the water to drain.

Maintenance Tips to Keep Water Tanks Clean

Since a clean water tank can prevent health risks, it’s important to perform regular maintenance on it. It is said that experts generally recommend water tank cleaning every two years. There are no specific rules about cleaning water tanks. The most important thing is to have a clean water tank. In order to have a clean water tank, it must be maintained.

Before opening and cleaning a tank used for drinking water or cooking, it’s best to remove its contents. Be sure to close the valves inside the tank before doing this, to stop any new water flow from the original source. Pressure can also be relieved by turning on the kitchen faucet.

Water drains naturally without impurities if the tank drain is the highest point in the system. Clean the tank and pump screen and reinstall them afterward. If they’re permanently damaged, you may need to repair or replace them. If you notice sediment on top of the pump screen, it is a sign that the pump has shifted out of place, which could cause misalignment and noisy pump operation.

While a water tank can last for many decades if well cared for, the inside can still accumulate rust or other solids. Therefore, periodic inspections should be made and the tanks cleaned out as necessary. Homeowners Milind Sohoni and Brad Bequette also provide tips for sediment removal and leak detection.

Besides cleaner water, the flush valves and the anodes in glass-lined tanks generally last longer when tanks are flushed regularly. If you still have a non-blended water heater, it is even more important to flush the tank to remove sediment, because a layer of sediment inhibits heat transfer to the water.

Replace the anode every five years. If the lead latch handle isn’t full of water, the bladder tank has a leak and should be replaced. If your pressure tank needs to be drained or has an air bladder, close the house shut-off valve and drain your system before working.

resources and references

• https://www.masa7.com/clean-jeddah/
• https://www.masa7.com/cleaning-tanks-jeddah/
• https://www.masa7.com/clean-makkah/