How do you Unblock a Water Tank Pipe ?

[monte]

Hola
I have 2 water tanks on my new lagoon 380
when I switch to tank one the water comes through good at first till the pressure drops off and then it slows to very slow. It used to be like tank 2 which has good constant pressure. I'm guessing theres something in the pipe obstructing it between the pump and the tank.
Whats the best way to unblock it? I dont think I can access it at the tank end to flush it with a garden hose. I did see some small plastic bits in the strainer under the sink the sink so I think its some refuse from a hole added to the tank for the watermaker.
Any ideas/advice greatly appreciated.
Monte

[Nemo55]

you can back blow it with compressed air or from a hand pump,,but whats to stop the same flotsam from plugging up the works again??

[carstenb]

It might not be the tube from the tank to your faucet. If it runs well at first and then slows, I could be the ventilation hole that is plugged. If the tank is not ventilated then a vacuum will form in the tank and that will slow the flow down. Try leaving the fill cap off and let the water run. If it doesn't slow down then a plugged ventilation hole is your problem.

If it is the tube from the tan - empty the tank, remove the tube and blow air through it - if nothing comes out, then the problem is residue in the tank and you will have to do a major flushing job.

good luck

[monte]

thanks..its not ventilation as it still does it with the tank lid open. Ill keep using it and see if the blockage comes through to the strainer I guess. I suppose it goes tank > hose > strainer > pump > pressure uniit > tap ?

[carstenb]

Yeah, but you should be careful about letting residue go through your pump. Hard plastic& metal can tear it up. If the residue is long (like string) it can wrap around your pump shaft and then it will be good-bye pump (hopefully the strainer catches it)

[hellosailor]

Place cheese in tank. Place rat in faucet, open all valves. Not to worry, the rat will clear out the obstruction.

If you're short of rats, you may need to place hand and eye on the pipe, follow it from here to there, open a fitting halfway through, see which side is blocked. Close that fitting, proceed halfway down the line, try again.

If teflon tape was used to seal any of the threaded joints? That can tear loose and clog things downstream of it, too.

[Cruisingscotts]

Wet/dry shop vac with a piece of PVC pipe you can manouver around the tank thru the inspection hole. Doesn't have to be big enough to suck the blockage thru just to get ahold of it. Obviously the tank needs to be mt first.

[monte]

thanks for the tips, i'll try it for a while and see if it dislodges, otherwise try the above suggestions