Plastic taste in water tanks

I found that lemon juice worked well and is more cost effective than Scotch.
Cheers, Tony

Cruiser,

We had the same problem - started to go off the lemon essence so we switched to vanilla - got sick of this too.

We always filled the camper tank using food grade hose (blue stuff) but used nylex 'click' fittings to attach same to the hose and camper.

Plan C involved placing a water filter inline in the fill hose - it is the large style with replaceable filters, approx 30x10cm in size.

Never had a problem since. I have a suspicion that the way I fill the camper in a closed environment (all click fittings) that the water treatment chemicals don't have a chance to escape - the filter stops all this. we don't have to use anything at all to mask any 'bad tastes'



Tim

Thats an interesting comment Cruiser. We have food grade hoses, but we notice if we fill the electric jug first thing of a morning, out tea or coffee has a plasticy taste. I've always put it down to the water sitting in the hose overnight.
Our practise now if connected to caravan park tap is to let a little bit of water run first (waste) & then fill jug, end of problem.
We have never had the problem if using water from the van tank, so not able to help in that regard. Cheers

Another idea is to use a 500 gram packet of BiCard Soda and dissolve it in a bucket of water then pour it into your tank then fill it chockas and leave it sit overnight then drain and refill a few times.

Make sure you pump some of it through the lines as well.

Gday Cruiser.
Notso is correct Bi-Carb is the solution and probably the cheapest solution. Also check that both the filler hose and delivery from the tank are not clear plastic. That will taint the water. Fill the tank with food grade hose not garden hose at all times. I removed the hose that goes from the filler point to the tank and replaced it with black plastic irrigation hose of the correct size. It needed a bend or two but did that with a heat gun and thick leather gloves. Put half a dozen turns of thread tape on the tank inlet then the hose. Buy a decent hose clamp or even two and problem soved. That stuff is abit stiff and needs decent claps to compress it. The line from the tank to the pump also needs to be drinking water grade. I have also fitted a tee in the line with a little tap to drain the tank when not in use. The local hardware should have the gear you need for that in the garden watering section. I actually removed the tank and had a better go at cleaning it than if it had remained under the van. Plenty of dirt and muck on top and had the breather blocked. A Hose fitting so that you can fix the hose to the drain pipe also works and a quick fill and rinse out works wonders.

Hi Cruiser,
I use a cup of white vinegar when i come home from a trip. Let it sit for a couple of hrs and make sure you pump it through the plumbing. Repeat a couple of times. Fixed it for me for years. Some people recommend a teaspoon of chlorine but i am reluctant to try this.
Cheers, Udo

Cruiser
Had a similar problem with a OL water bladder, added 100mL of bleach, filled bladder and drained then rinsed out with Bi Carb solution a couple of times and have had no problem since. All fittings were food grade
Mike

Gooday,
Have invested in a B.E.S.T. in lin water filter, click in line when filling tanks, seems to work well.
Here is the blokes Free Phone No 1800-240-822 give him a caqll and ask him about it.
Have NO connection, seem very honest to me .
Cheers,
Boroma 604.

Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to offer advice on this matter.

As stated, I already have a water filter to "click" into the fill hose, but have never used it.

With all the advice received, I have decided to use the existing filter in the future as well as at the moment I am in the process of filling the tanks after having put in some bicard soda. I will leave this in overnight and then drain and flush in morning and then refill. In addition to this, I will source and fit a small inline filter on the hose from the tank to the kitchen flick mixer.

All the help and advise is appreciated.

Cheers,

Cruiser

Not all food grade hose is good.

I found the Nylex brand braided light blue hose to be the best.

A also found the Pope brand light blue, soft, smooth hose to be the worst.

Since changing every hose (incl fillers and breathers) to the Nylex water hose I've had perfect water from my tank.

Go to your local home brew shop and get some Metabisulphate , , failing that go to your local pub and ask for a little bit [cpl of hundred ml] of beer line cleaner , and run that thru all of your hoses / tank , make sure you rinse well = no bad smell or taste.

Hi Cruiser,

If you have a Whitworths outlet near you, grab a 200gm tub of 'Tank Cleen' . Cost is around $14.95.

Follow the instructions.

Works on plastic tanks very well.

I initially had the same problem with my plastic tank in the camper trailer, and after using it , no problems.

As the other guys said , food grade hose is imperative as well.

i first used this product over two years ago now and still have no 'plastic' taste in the water.


Good luck

Richard D.