Get Your Caravan Ready: Essential Tank Maintenance Tips!

As we head into the holiday season, starting with Melbourne Cup Day and continuing all the way to Easter, it's a great time to talk about tanks – especially when it comes to maintenance and cleaning in preparation for your upcoming travels.

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Pre-Trip Water Tank Checks

Let’s start by looking at the systems connected to your water tank plumbing, which includes the filler inlet, breather hose, and outlet hose leading to your hand pump or 12-volt pump.

Here are some key things to check:

• Are the water inlet hose clamps tight? This will help prevent leaks while filling the tank, which could lead to water entering your caravan, depending on how the hose is routed.
• Is the breather hose secure and free from kinks? Blockages in the breather hose can cause water to back up and overflow from the filler pipe during filling.
• Inspect the hose that connects the tank to the pump. Any tight bends or kinks could result in water cavitation, leading to poor pump performance and causing the pump to pulse even when the taps are off.

These are simple checks that can be easily overlooked but make a big difference.

Water Tank Storage and Preparation

When your caravan has been in storage, a bit of preparation will ensure your water tank is ready for use on your next holiday. Food-grade plastic water tanks don’t require complicated maintenance, but here are some useful tips:

• It’s advisable to keep your water tank full while in storage. Some prefer to drain their tanks when not in use for extended periods, which is fine, but if you do this, leave the drain plug off to allow the tank to air out. If the tank is full, airing is not required.
• If the tank has been stored with water for a long time, the first step is to drain it completely, then refill it to about 75% with fresh water and add the recommended amount of tank cleaner. Take the caravan for a drive to agitate the cleaner in the tank. Alternatively, you can manually shake the tank, but this can be quite challenging due to the weight. Once complete, drain the tank fully, flush it with fresh water, and refill it – and you’re ready to go!

Waste Tank Maintenance

Cleaning your waste tank is a slightly different process. After emptying it as usual, fill and flush the tank once with fresh water, then add a probiotic agent in the correct measure before sealing the tank. The probiotic will break down any bacteria inside, leaving your waste tank clean and almost odour-free for your next trip.

Toilet Cassette Maintenance

For those with a toilet cassette in their caravan, cleaning is straightforward. There are several brands with clear instructions on how to clean the cassette, so follow the manufacturer’s directions. Finally, don't forget to lubricate the main seal on your toilet cassette so a proper seal is formed between the cassette and the toilet base when the cassette is pushed into position and ready for your trip. Please note: we only sell the below Seal Lubricant in-store, as we cannot ship aerosols per post.

The products mentioned in this tutorial are available from Carac as regular stock items and there are plenty of knowledgeable and helpful staff there to guide you through any of these processes.

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Wishing everyone happy and safe caravanning!