Hi all, not had a water tank before so unsure if this is normal. We have a 23000lt tank. Now the weather is getting cooler we have started lighting the wood fire. A friend had a drink of water and said the water tastes of smoke. Is this safe to drink? Anyway to stop it happening?
looking forward to your answers.
Lorri
Smoke taste in tank water.
(3 posts) (3 voices)-
lorri
MemberPosted Saturday 19 May 2018 @ 8:39:07 am from IP # -
hapy
MemberPerhaps ash and smoke from your fire is settling on the roof and then, after rain, it gets washed into your tank. That raises the possibility that your fire chimney is not installed correctly because it should disperse smoke and ash away from the house and not permit it to settle on the roof.
This is my routine for rain water tank use (that's all I've had for 30 yrs):
- I keep gutters clean.
- I ensure the tank is sealed against ingress by animals and insects.
- the tank is only ever connected to the roof AFTER a decent downpour of rain to clean the whole roof. This is at all times of the year. Even in winter if it does not rain for a few days I disconnect the tank and wait again for a cleaning downpour before I connect it again.Consider installing a water filter on the cold water tap in the kitchen or wherever you take drinking water from. (I have never bothered.)
Posted Saturday 19 May 2018 @ 11:13:48 am from IP # -
moblet
MemberI also have a 23,000 litre tank (that's always full through winter) and use wood heating. My water doesn't taste of smoke that I or anyone else has noticed. Some of my neighbours (who burn a lot more wood than I do) have removed the cap on their flue to alleviate or eliminate this issue.
Some people use a "first flush diverter" that automatically diverts the first litres of inflow from entering the tank. Usually it's dust that they're trying to keep out of the tank but it should also work for ash. There are many such devices on the market.Posted Sunday 3 Jun 2018 @ 5:15:12 am from IP #