Many homeowners rely on water tanks for everyday use. These reservoirs come in handy when storing water to be used for cleaning, bathing, drinking and other important household chores. However, many people simply forget to properly maintain their water tanks. With poor cleaning and maintenance, the tank may accumulate harmful algae, bacteria and other foreign items that can contaminate your drinking water.
To avoid falling sick due to a contaminated water supply, here are 5 important maintenance tips you should consider.
1. Start with the top and outside of the tank
Contamination of a water tank typically begins on the outside surface. The top, outside walls and surrounding areas of your tank can easily become soiled and damaged over time.
Therefore, you should develop a habit of cleaning around the tank and removing all foreign debris. This could be done using a water hose to ensure that you dislodge all tough-to-reach items that are soiling the tank's exterior.
2. Inspect water levels and ensure no foreign items are floating inside
Next, make sure water levels inside your tank are at the expected height. Very low water levels can be easily contaminated with debris that has accumulated at the bottom of the tank.
As you check the water levels, also ensure that no foreign items are floating inside your tank. Unfortunately, it's not uncommon for insects to gain entry and end up drowning inside your water supply.
You need to pay close attention to any dead bodies that are floating in the water. Corpses of insects and rodents can begin to decompose and significantly contaminate your water supply. If this is the case, the best approach is to have the tank professionally drained, cleaned and refilled.
3. Check if the water is clear or cloudy
Another important step to take is to check on the cleanliness of your tank water supply. Ideally, you should be able to see the bottom of the tank when looking from above. Very cloudy water may point to a contaminated supply that needs to be cleaned and purified.
4. Keep your gutters clean
In most homes, gutters collect rainwater and channel it into your water tank. If your gutters are dirty, the same debris will enter your tank and contaminate the water supply. Make sure you regularly clean your gutters to prevent this problem from occurring.
5. Have the tank professionally drained and cleaned
Finally, make sure you have your water tank professionally drained and cleaned at least once a year. This is the best way of preventing physical damage to the tank itself and avoiding contaminated water.
