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quoteIt’s a good idea to sterilise your caravan water system a good a few times each season to prevent germs and bacteria growing and to get rid of any build-up of bio film. This includes the taps, pipework, water rollers, water tank and toilet cassette.
In this video, caravanner Dan Trudgian explains how to sterilise your caravan’s fresh water systems using Puriclean.
Step 1
First of all fill your water carrier with water and add Puriclean. The packaging says you need one teaspoon per four-and-a-half litres of liquid. Give the carrier a good shake and leave to rest for a few minutes. Remove any charcoal water filters from the water system and then attach your water carrier to the caravan as if you’re going to fill up your caravan water system from dry.
Step 2
Close the showers, taps and drain down taps, then turn on the water pump and open up your taps to let the water solution to go through the system, running it through the hot water tank, cold water tank (if installed) and into all the taps and the shower.
Then shut them off again so the water and Puriclean mix can sit in your system for up to 12 hours.
Step 3
Once you’ve let the water system rest for a few hours you then need to flush it through. Open all the taps in the caravan so it’s pulling water through them all, not forgetting the shower, until all the solution has been used from the water carrier.
Step 4
Re-fill the water carrier with fresh water to flush through the system and repeat this process two or three times. By connecting your waste water container you can also clean the waste water pipes and system too.
Step 5
Test the water by pouring a small glass and smelling it to see if it smells of the cleaning chemicals. If it does run some more fresh water through the system until this smell has gone and have a little sip to check if there’s any taste of chemicals. Continue to put more water through the system if the water tastes acrid.
Step 6
Finally, drain down your water system and replace the charcoal water filters before replenishing your water supply.
In a separate article we go bring you five cleaning and sterilising tips for the inside of your caravan. Click here for more information.
Over to you
Have you got any water sterilising tips to share. Feel free to add them in the comments box below.
I had a stainless steel Thermos flask which I used every day for work containing coffee. Every night washed with hot soapy water rinsed and left to dry. Friday night washed with hot soapy water,rinsed and then filled with cold water and a couple of drops of miltons added and shook to mix the solution and left to stand till Monday morning. Same routine for about 3 months. Then one morning filled with hot water and coffee put the flask in the car arrived at work and almost burnt my hand on the flask. The inner had corroded, complained to Thermos under the guarantee no problem they replaced without question but asked for the damaged one to inspect. Asked if I had used a miltons type steriliser to which I answered yes. The problem was the weld joints on stainless it eats through the weld because of the different properties. Than asked to please do not use solutions just hot soapy water and rinse.
Thanks for sharing Mario
can you sterilise our motorhome the same way
The Milton is only corrosive to metals if undiluted, this is not the case when used as directed.
Always used Milton, again needs to be flushed well after use.
Can I use Camden tablets or Sodium Metabisulphite, the same as I use for my brewing equipment?
Hi Rob, it’s best to check the instructions to see if they’re suitable for use in your caravan water system. You’d just need to be careful that they won’t potentially corrode any metal parts.
I have noticed that some dealers stock “PURISOL liquid – Advanced Cleaner for Water Storage Tanks”. Is this the same product as PURICLEAN powder, just in a liquid form? Is it safe to use in a Lunar Steller instead of PURICLEAN powder?
Hi Pete, Purisol is supplied by the same company. I would contact them to check if it’s safe to use in your caravan: http://www.cleantabs.co.uk/contact.php
I really enjoy all the video tips, but I have a query on this one. After connecting the water up from the Aquaroll “as if starting from dry” he then said “Close the drain down tap” (which I understand) but pulled up to vertical the yellow lever drain down tap. On my Lunar Stellar a vertical yellow lever empties the tank. Is it me or is it the model of caravan being used or was there an error in delivery on the video? If I’m wrong please put it down to age!
Hi Ken, you’re correct the tap was opened not closed. It was for illustration purposes only to show which tap to close. Sorry for any confusion caused.
Top tip – don`t forget to remove your water filter. I put a new one in after the winter break, forgot to remove it and ruined it!
Yes, great tip Pete.
If you remove your charcoal filter how can you still run water through the system.
Depending on the water system you have, many of the charcoal filters are replaceable items (Such as the Truma UltraFlow).Simply removing them from the system will allow water to circulate the void that they once occupied. Some older systems require the filter to remain in place, in this instance sterilise the water system with the filter in place but replace the water filter after the system has been sterilised as the charcoal filter will breakdown.
I have always used Milton and never had any problems
Thanks Diane. Many people do use Milton but it can be corrosive to heating systems.
I use Milton sterilising fluid