Sterilising water system

[Cathryn1]

Hi

Will be using the caravan for the firest time since October this weekend and are planning on sterilising the water system by running a milton solution through. It's something we've never done before.

Could anyone tell me if I have to leave the solution standing in the pipework for a while or will just running it through do the job?

Thanks

 

[RogerL]

Let it stand for an hour - then drain the complete system - then refill and drain system with plain water.
Don't forget to take out any filter elements if they're rechargeable or change the complete filter - not all caravans have filters.

 

[Cathryn1]

Cheers Roger, will do
Thanks for your prompt reply

 

[Damian]

When using Milton ensure you adhere to the makers dilution instructions, ie 1 Tablet or 30ml liquid, to 5 ltrs water.
Do NOT let it stay in the system longer than 20 minutes as the Milton can have an adverse effect on the stailess steel of the water heater.
Flush through with at least 2 full aquarolls of clean fresh water.

 

[RogerL]

When using Milton ensure you adhere to the makers dilution instructions, ie 1 Tablet or 30ml liquid, to 5 ltrs water.
Do NOT let it stay in the system longer than 20 minutes as the Milton can have an adverse effect on the stailess steel of the water heater.
Flush through with at least 2 full aquarolls of clean fresh water.

All of the cleaners recommended by Truma are chlorine-based, like Milton, so there should be no problem on stainless steel.

 

[Damian]

Quote "so there should be no problem on stainless steel."

What "should be" and what actually is are two different things.
Milton is Ok as long as the makers instructions are adhered to, which is 15 minutes to sterilise a system at the correct dilution.
Milton is known to attack the stainless steel water heater if left too long.

As a Truma approved engineer I "think" I know what I am talking about.

 

[Jennifer2]

Or use Puriclean, much safer.

 

[RogerL]

Or use Puriclean, much safer.

Puriclean is a stronger form of chlorine than Milton !!
It's what I use though.

 

[RogerL]

As a Truma approved engineer I "think" I know what I am talking about.

In Truma's case, there's conflicting advice.
The Operating Instructions for my Ultrastore from 2001 specify using wine vinegar to descale and recommends using "Certisil-Argento" for sterilising. As "Certisil-Argento" isn't available in the UK, I obtained written advice from Truma UK to use any chlorine-based sterilising product in accordance with it's manufacturer's instruction - despite the fact that the Operating Instructions specifically state "Other products, particularly those containing chlorine are unsuitable".
The instructions for my Puriclean state "leave for 1-12 hours". I therefore follow Truma UK's advice to follow Puriclean's instructions.
The British Stainless Steel Association recommend leaving Chlorine-based sterilisers in contact with stainless steel for no more than 24 hours http://www.bssa.org.uk/topics.php?article=38

 

[otherclive]

I use either Puriclean or Milton, but before dosing the system I always run a full 40litre Aquaroll of fresh water through, then drain and then fill and dose for an hour with the sterilising solution, followed by another full flush (40litres) this last one mainly to remove any aftter taste in the drinking water. Then I drain the system so that when I arrive on site it has to be filled with freshwater. I only sterilse once per season when the van comes back into life for the early spring (Feb that is!) .

 

[Brum1]

I once poured neat Milton into the caravan kitchen sink in the assumption that it would do away with any bacteria in the waste pipeline. I was horrified to find that on the next day the area around the plughole (where a little of the Milton had been left) had become discoulered and flakey.

 

[Brum1]

Quote "so there should be no problem on stainless steel."

What "should be" and what actually is are two different things.
Milton is Ok as long as the makers instructions are adhered to, which is 15 minutes to sterilise a system at the correct dilution.
Milton is known to attack the stainless steel water heater if left too long.

As a Truma approved engineer I "think" I know what I am talking about.

Parksy...You need to step in here. I can sense a "Harry Hill" How to solve a difference on the horizon.

 

[Dustydog]

Hi Cathryn
I've always used Milton for sterilising the pipes, aquarolls and inboard tank. However as Damien says , no more than 15 minutes because you don't want to risk damaging the Ultrastore water heater. Why take a risk??
Mind you what I've never understood is that some parties say you can drink the diluted Milton.

Mucky Pup bought us both a bottle of Maypole Premium Pipe Flush. This certainly fully descaled all his pipes. In fact it was quite amazing what came out! He followed the instructions to the letter.
As others have said always remove all the water filters before you start the sterilising process. Personally I like to change them annually anyway.

 

[Damian]

Just a point about water filters.
Once used for th first time, they need changing every 35 days , something which no one will tell you!
Filters left wet are perfect breeding grounds for bacteria, especially in warm weather.

Personally I never use a water filter, amd recommend to my customers to remove them for their own good health.

The water quality in the UK is exceptionally good and I have never suffered an upset stomach from drinking water from the van system without a filter.

PS, removing the filter also saves you money, and quite a lot depending which filter you have and removes a potential source of damage should a wet filter freeze and split.

 

[colin-yorkshire1]

Just a point about water filters.
Once used for th first time, they need changing every 35 days , something which no one will tell you!
Filters left wet are perfect breeding grounds for bacteria, especially in warm weather.

Personally I never use a water filter, and recommend to my customers to remove them for their own good health.

that is a good point Damian, I have had to change the filtre housing twice since we bought the van, once because I over tightend one and the second when it froze after I had forgot to remove it over winter.
if you only use the van in the uk you dont need a filtre we tend to use water out of a bottle for drinking (after having black bits comming out of the taps) but its filled from the same tap as the vans supply.
we have the truma one with the canister element a modification I made was to cut an old canister around the ends where the slots are with a hacksaw the filtre then comes apart leaving the screwed end as a plug. it still has to be removed over winter while the van is stood though because water gets trapped behind the plug.

regading Milton fluid, it is what I use every year when getting the van ready for the season but only use the recommended dose and time scale I have never had any problems doing this however my niece who had a baby found that the serilising fluid stained her kitchen sink (stainless steel) after desposing of the used fluid after bottle cleaning, so I can see where the warnings come from.
colin

 

[marlot]

We never sterilise our system. But we don't drink from it. We buy a 5 litre bottle of water from the supermarket (less than £1), then refill it on site. We buy a new bottle each holiday away.

 

[Parksy]

Quote "so there should be no problem on stainless steel."

What "should be" and what actually is are two different things.
Milton is Ok as long as the makers instructions are adhered to, which is 15 minutes to sterilise a system at the correct dilution.
Milton is known to attack the stainless steel water heater if left too long.

As a Truma approved engineer I "think" I know what I am talking about.

Parksy...You need to step in here. I can sense a "Harry Hill" How to solve a difference on the horizon.

I've always been led to believe that Milton is corrosive to stainless steel and agree with Damian who has seen more caravan water systems than you or I have had hot dinners

I sterilise our system using Puriclean at the start of the caravanning year (Feb for us) but we never drink from the caravan system which is used just for washing up and showering/ hand washing.

 

[Cathryn1]

Can I thank everyone for their contributions to this thread.

Job done - this morning (once we thawed out after being -7 throughout the night). I used Milton, leaving it for 15 mintues with a good swill through afterwards. Like many others here, we don't drink the water from the taps but do use it for washing and toothbrushing so after having the van for three years thought it time to give it a good clean!

Once again thanks for all your advice and experiences

 

[SirRogerFFS]

On the subjectof steralising your water system Ive just bought wilkos own steralising tabletsc as we dont use the Aquarol for drinking water I refer to steralising the Aqua rol and have worked out you need 17 tablets for standard aquarol and follow instructions from here and follow all instruction for stealising water system on the van
Sir Roger

 

[MrBell]

Hi everyone i have been reading this post and just wondering about water filters? how do you know you have one?? i have a Bailey Ranger 460/2 yr 2000, i have looked for a filter but cant really see anything??? i have a pressurised system and just bought a new pump for the outside which goes in the aqua roll. Is the filter the part at the end of the pump?
I have just bought Aqua clean tablets from go out doors near mine, dont seem to be very expensive. I never done this before and thought would be a good idea this weekend.
With what i have read it sound like i need to fill the hot water container and then leave for around 15/20 mins then clean/flush out the water with around two aqua rolls. Am i saying this right?
Surley once you have sterlised the water system in the caravan you can then use the water from the tap? i use the water for cleaning my teath and also drink once boiled, i havent drank straight out of the tap yet but if i do this then i might start doing this.
The only thing i can see where there will be problems is the stail water in the aqua roll as you cant never get all of the water out, but if you rinse well surley this will help.

 

[Parksy]

You need to fill the system to sterilise it Mr B.
Mix the solution in the Aquaroll and open the cold taps until the water is flowing freely then turn off the taps to leave the sterilising solution in the pipework. Next, do the same thing with the hot taps, make sure that the air is out of the system which will fill the boiler.
Don't forget the washroom taps and the shower.
Allow the mixture to stand for 15 minutes or so (according to the instructions) and flush with clean water.
It's up to the individual to decide whether or not to use the onboard taps for drinking. Personally, having seen what the inside of caravan pipework when it's cut open looks like I wouldn't, but it's up to you.
Don't forget that even if you drain down after every trip there is always some residual water left in the system.

 

[rangergt60]

sorry

 

[rangergt60]

mr bell we have a rangergt60 510/4 yr 2009 no water filter fitted we drink staight from the tap
i use tesco own sterilizing fluid

 

[TD42]

I do not know if the Ranger series have a filter or not BUT in my Pagent the inline filter is under the work top to the side of the kitchin sink,but you have to remove the 2 drawers over the fire to gain access

How ever Its been suggested that the filter is removed during the sterilising process My question is what do you replace an inline filter with. a section of hose will not fit with out cutting off the snap connecters?? Is it ok to leave the old filter in place & renew it after the sterilisation is done??? or will the filter actually filter the solution making it useless

 

[otherclive]

TD42 I have a 2005 Pageant with exactly the same fitment as you. I leave the old filter in, sterilse the system then fit the nw one. It's only activated charcoal in the filter and it will not reduce the effectiveness of the sterilising fluid.