4 Ways to Desludge Your Water Tank

When you invest in a rainwater tank, you invest in a future of cheaper water bills. How long that future will be will depend on how well you maintain your tank. One of the less frequent cleaning jobs, yet one of the most important, is desludging. This should be done every 2-3 years. However, depending on your environment, it may need to be done yearly. This guide provides you with 4 solutions to a sludge-free rainwater tank.

What Are You Removing and Why?

Sludge is the term for the sediment that settles at the bottom of water tanks over time. This sludge can be made up of plant material and general airborne waste. It can be a source of harmful bacteria making it a threat to your family's health. Your tank should be desludged every 2-3 years, or when your water appears cloudy and contains sediment. If it's not removed, you may end up with contamination of your water supply.

How Do You Remove It?

Here are 4 options for you to consider. Note: If your water is used as drinking water, make sure your chosen method is thorough—you want your water at its best.

By Emptying Your Tank

A thorough way to ensure that your tank is cleaned well is to empty the tank. This can be an arduous and potentially dangerous task, depending on your tank. You'll need to climb into the empty tank, sweep out the bottom and hose it out thoroughly. This method ensures that all the sludge is removed, leaving your tank thoroughly clean.

By Vacuuming Your Tank

This method offers an alternative to emptying the tank. You can purchase specialist water tank pumps, which allow you to vacuum out the sludge from the bottom of the tank. This can be an expensive option as you'll only use it very few years. However, you could put the cleaner to work cleaning other people's tanks to recoup the cost. It does require effort on your part and can be a tricky job.

By Installing a Self-Clean System

A self-cleaning water tank system will do the job of desludging for you. A construction of piping sits within your tank and creates a vacuum. When your tank overflows, the system automatically siphons off the debris and waste water from the base. These systems remove any sediments as they arrive—you can relax knowing that your tank is regularly cleared of threatening bacteria. These systems can be installed by you and will not require a power supply.

By Hiring Professionals

The very easiest way to desludge your tank is to hire a specialist to do the job. A water tank cleaning company will come to your property and de-sludge your tank for you. This may not be the cheapest option, but as it's a job that you only need to pay for every few years, you may find it worthwhile for the time and energy you'll save.  

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