Viscount Ambassador water tank... how do I drain it?

[Gidget]

Hi all, I've got a 65 Viscount and need to flush out the tank but for the life of me I can't find an outlet drain/plug?!  Was this the case with old van tanks?  I just assumed there'd be some way to drain the tank so I can give it a good clean with some kind of tank cleaner and then fill up with fresh water...  Any advise would be very helpful.  I've done a quick search here but no luck finding the answer.
Cheers,
Lisa

[Observatory]

Hi Lisa, 

Depends on the tank you have installed; is it metal or plastic?  If it's the black plastic one (like mine); just loosen the hose clamp on the bottom outlet hose of the tank itself to remove the hose - which goes to the sink tap (looks like a garden hose). Just be gentle removing it to not break the outlet by tugging on it.   Sorry, don't know about metal ones. 

Hope this helps,
Pete

[Gidget]

Thanks Observtory but it's the original metal one. There must be a drain somewhere but it's difficult to get underneath for a proper look... I thought I might add some vinegar & hot water to the tank, let it sit overnight then pump it all out via the sink...?

[Observatory]

Hi Lisa, white vinegar sounds good except I'd still be inclined to disconnect the bottom outlet hose and stick the garden hose in the water filler to try and wash out any sediment or gunk.  Good luck with it. 
Pete

[shesgotthelook]

Agree with Observatory. The hose that goes from the tank to inside, should have a hose clamp around it. Undo, Stick garden hose in filler hole & flush (somewhere the water can get away ) .You will get very sore arms trying to do it via the tap inside

[Don Ricardo]

Hi Lazy Glamper,

Because your tank is metal you should use Bicarbonate of Soda to flush your tank. If you google 'caravan tank cleaning bicarb of soda' or something similar you will find instructions on how much to use, etc.
From what I could read, vinegar will dissolve/corrode the galvanised coating on your tank (assuming it's made of galvanised iron, as many were back in the day), which is a result you don't want!

I had to clean one of the galvanised iron tanks in our van last year after the water began to taste tainted. I googled how to clean a tank and saw recommendations to use both bicarb and vinegar, however just before I was about to pour the vinegar in I googled the reaction of vinegar on galvanised iron, and discovered it wasn't a good idea! Vinegar is fine for a plastic tank. (Seeshell may be able to tell us more on this?)

It took me a couple of flushes to get the tank clean, and to remove the tainted taste. The first time I left the bicarb with water in overnight, then flushed it with clean water, another dose of bicarb, left it a few hours, then flushed again. Good result in the end though.

Don Ricardo

[Gidget]

Thanks everyone for you advice. I'll investigate further today and yes, flushing with bicarb sounds like a good, safe solution. Getting under the van to remove the hose will be the tricky bit but that's what teenagers are for right? and I've got a few of those staying the weekend
Cheers,
Lisa

[firefighter]

Check out this link on the caravaners forum re cleaning out water tanks

caravanersforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=56737

cheers

f/f

[Gidget]

Thanks f/f. I'm assuming they're talking about a plastic tank as the van is only a few years old. However, I like the idea of adding bicarb or similar (I wonder if the Milton tablets would work?) before we head off on our trip on Tuesday then emptying it and flushing when we get to our destination... assuming we can empty the tank!
Lisa

[jdazzle]

Hi all - I know this is an old thread but I started messing around with the water tank of my 50s caravan, and got a leak on the other side rear of the van.  After some fiddling I found the drain plug, unscrewed it and drained it properly. I am a bit concerned about the leak though and what it might do rust wise to the bottom of the caravan? @gidget any ideas on how these vans were commonly plumbed? Photo for context, With thanks 🙏