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We cleaned out a water tank
Even with filters, the tanks need cleaning.
It is important that the tanks get cleaned out about once per year. We just cleaned the small tank by the shed. Tina had just used most of the water while pressure washing, so it was the perfect time.
The lid comes off and Glenn goes in.
The water has a screen to trap any big items from getting in but there is still fine silt that deposits itself on the bottom. Water is pulled from slightly above this level and then it passes through the filters before we drink it. But we can't let the silt get too thick as it easily stirs up when the water is disrupted.
So to clean it out we started by siphoning out as much of the water as possible. During this part of the process the water is mixed up to cause the silt to lift off the bottom and get sucked away. When we get to the last little bit, the siphon stops working and we use a rag to sop up the last of the water and wipe down the bottom and sides of the tank.
As Glenn scooped and sopped the water out of the tank, the bucket got handed out to Tina and she dumped. The bucket went back in and the process continued until the tank was nice and clean. Now we just need a little rain to fill it back up.
The process is a little time consuming, but it is pretty simple. Getting in and out of the tank is a little difficult. When we clean the larger tanks, we will lay them on their side rather than trying to climb in with them in-place. This should make getting all the water out easier and make getting inside a lot easier too. But for the small tank by the shed, it was easiest to just climb in while it sat in-place.
| Our boat almost sank today! Published 28-Aug-2025 |
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