Water Hygiene Company – How Often Should I Call?

Water hygiene companies emphasise that clean water is something often taken for granted in the modern world. However, there are still many ways your otherwise pure water could become contaminated. It’s a good idea to regularly inspect your water and to clean your water tank if you wish to prevent disease and poor health. Even a water filtration system can become contaminated if it’s not looked after and disinfecting water tanks won’t help if the rest of your system is dirty.

For most people, the water they drink isn’t dangerous. However, sometimes it is contaminated, and you would never know unless you tested it. You may become ill from what’s in your water and never realise that was the cause. This is why water testing is so essential.



What Happens If You Don’t Clean Your Water Tank?

It may seem odd that you need to clean a tank that holds water which you’d assume should be clean but it’s a very necessary part of staying healthy. Poorly maintained tanks may end up with contaminated water, which could lead to all sorts of health issues. Ideally, you’ll have tank cleaning companies available to clear out the tank from time to time.

The Risks of poor Water Hygiene

Bacteria: 

Bacteria may grow and flourish in water tanks that are not regularly flushed out and disinfected. These can cause you to get very ill. The worst part about bacteria growing in your water is that it’s invisible, so you won’t notice if it’s in there until you’ve already used the water.

Contamination:

Water-borne illnesses including Legionella, Coliform, E.Coli and other diseases can end up in your water if the tank is not properly sealed and cared for. Like bacteria, you won’t know these diseases are in your water until they are making you sick. Learn more about the importance of proper water hygiene in our helpful article to avoid contamination and prevent illnesses.

Biofilm: 

This may develop on your water tank and cause your water to taste very unpleasant. Biofilm is made up of microorganisms that attach to the walls and form extracellular polymers.

Algae: 

In warm water tanks, it’s possible for algae to begin growing. While it isn’t necessarily harmful, it does indicate that the tank is a potential host for more malicious things. Ensuring water hygiene is crucial, as in addition to health concerns, algae can be quite unpleasant to taste.

Sludge: 

Over time, sludge begins to build up in the tank, particularly if you don’t have a particulate filter on incoming water. Sand, dirt, and other bits may end up in the water, clogging up the system and causing the water to become murky.

Rust: 

Red-orange water or brown water can be quite disgusting to look at, but often this is simply due to rust in the pipes or tank, depending on the age of the water system. While rust is not a danger to your health, it means there is deterioration in the tank that could allow other organisms in. Even if you have a water filter on your system, which is meant to prevent anything unpleasant from getting through, you should be aware that these can easily be clogged up with debris which may render them non-functional. It’s best to be certain that everything is clean and that your water is safe.

Should You Chlorinate Your Water to improve Water hygiene?

In some cases, where water quality is not great, you will need more than just cleaning your water tank to keep things sanitary. Your water hygiene company can test the water for you and if they find that it’s contaminated, you may choose to chlorinate your water. Chlorination means adding chlorine to the water to kill off bacteria and diseases that may lurk in it. While this can give the water an unpleasant taste, it also dissipates rather rapidly so you can enjoy safe, potable water. It’s one of the advantages of living in a country where these advances are readily available, even in your home water tank.

The chlorination should be handled by water engineers to ensure the right amount is used. It’s easy to use the wrong amount and cause issues, either too much or too little. This is why an engineer is best, as they can do the calculations and have the necessary experience to set up the entire system. Once they’re done, your water will be safe to drink.

How to Clean a Water Tank

Disinfecting water tanks is a big job and one that most people are not eager to do. The simplest method is to hire one of the several tank cleaning companies that make this task their speciality. Their water engineers can test the water in your tank to determine if it has anything dangerous, as well as clean the tank.

If you plan to clean the tank yourself, you need the appropriate equipment and disinfectants. You’ll need to empty the entire water tank after turning off the incoming water, then sweep out the sludge or any debris that remains. This can be a long task, depending on the size of the tank. Not all tanks can be accessed this way, so you may need to use a long-handled broom to sweep through the access port, or you can hire a cleaning pump that will suction out the sludge at the bottom of the tank.

Once the junk has been cleared away, you will need to scrub out the entire tank and rinse, then disinfect it and rinse well until the disinfectant is gone. This can take quite a bit of time, so plan to be occupied for the entire day. Finally, when you’re certain that the last traces of disinfectant and soap are gone, check for leaks and refill the tank. This is also a good time to replace your filters if required.

How Often Should Your Tank Be Cleaned?

It’s recommended that your tank be fully cleaned and disinfected at least once a year. However, on some occasions, you may need to take steps to clean it more often. If you notice:

●     A bad smell coming from the water

●     Oddly coloured water

●     Particles or grime in the water

●     GI tract issues with no other causes

●     Something has fallen into the water tank

●     Algae is growing in the tank

If you think the filter or tank may be dirty or contaminated, you should immediately plan to have it cleaned out. It’s a good idea to regularly inspect the tank, as well. Check inside with a torch to be sure nothing has got in and look for leaks, discolouration, or anything similar. The water should be tested if you suspect anything is off.

Why Should You Hire Tank Cleaning Companies?

Cleaning and disinfecting water tanks is a long, drawn-out process. To do it correctly requires plenty of time, hard work, and equipment that is designed for the job. While you can do it yourself, it is always simpler to hire someone to do it professionally.

A tank cleaning company has the experience to work with any type of water tank and to make the process relatively rapid and pain-free. If you have other things to do with your time, then it’s well worth spending the money to have someone else manage it all for you. They’ll clear out the sludge and ensure that the tank is clean and ready to go. If you want to be sure that your tank is always in good condition, you can schedule the cleaning ahead of time so the company comes around once or twice a year to handle all your maintenance needs.

Are you in need of water tank maintenance in London, Rochester, or the South East? Go ahead and get in touch with us here at H2O Comply!