Odd substance in header tank.

[amfisted]

Morning all, bit parky innit?

Just been up in the loft to check that my HW system refill and CH header tanks hadn't been affected by the frost. All well, by the look of it. However, when I put my fingers in the CH header tank, I found that the surface of the water was covered by a thick, gelatinous scum of some kind.

In the absence of any other explanation which comes easily to a layperson, would I be correct in assuming that this is something to do with the rust inhibitor in the system?

 

[footprints]

It is almost certainly bacterial growth inhibiter's can encourage it, have a google "bacterial growth central heating" to get more info.
One thing that makes it worse is adding chemicals to the tank but not flushing them into the system, ideally you put the chemical in an empty system via the tank and by the time the system is filled all the chemical has left the tank. Trouble is some old systems have problems that cause some interchange of water between the tank and the system so the chemicals return and have access to cool water and air at the surface.
Don't worry the chances of your system being full of the same gunk are remote. Just clean the tank out taking care not to let any loose muck go down the feed pipe.

 

[amfisted]

Thanks very much for that. Since posting my original query I've found this old thread on the same topic, which has also proved very interesting. https://www.diynot.com/diy/threads/bacterial-growth-in-header-tank.161885/

Its not so Arctic in the loft as it was earlier on, so I'll pop up there shortly and clean out the tank, then monitor.

 

[Nige F]

Best wear gloves when you do it - I cleaned one out once ( no gloves) and got a bacterial infection round my goolies

 

[amfisted]

Too late, I'm afraid. I've just baled the muck out using a child's fishing net, then removed most of the mucky water, let the tank refill and put a drop of bleach in as a temporary measure. All with bare hands (except the bleach, which I did straight from the bottle).

Oh well, lets hope hospital food has improved since my last stay.

 

[footprints]

Best wear gloves when you do it - I cleaned one out once ( no gloves) and got a bacterial infection round my goolies

That might be an STD "Slimy Tank Danglers" hope they recovered OK.

 

[Nige F]

 

[JohnD]

bleach will help in the short term, though I think it is best to clean out the tank thoroughly first then sponge the inside of the tank and of the lid, and the float valve, with bleach before refilling. When bleach degrades it forms salt which may encourage corrosion.

Fernox AF10, added to the tank after cleaning, is a longer-term solution. It is not widely stocked and you may have to order it.
https://www.fernox.com/bacterial-control/af10-biocide-500ml

The tank must have a lid to keep dirt and wildlife out, and should have an insulated jacket to prevent it getting too warm in summer.

 

[oilboffin]

Don't touch that stuff with bare hands if you watch it you'll see it moving it is a bacteria sludge
and it is alive and dangerous stuff wear a mask and throw away suit and scrub everything with neat bleach or a strong anti bacteria chemical. Please take care what you are doing.Bob

 

[ReganAndCarter]

Best wear gloves when you do it - I cleaned one out once ( no gloves) and got a bacterial infection round my goolies

That will teach you not to pee in people's loft tanks when you've finished the job.

 

[Nige F]

Yeah but I only did it in the F+E or in the old galvy one abandoned in the corner of the loft

 

[HERTS P&D]

Best wear gloves when you do it - I cleaned one out once ( no gloves) and got a bacterial infection round my goolies

Morale of this story is:

Don't dip your goolies in the expansion tank.



Andy

 

[HERTS P&D]

Or is this is what you told the wife after the 'boys night out'?



Andy

 

[durhamplumber]

got a bacterial infection round my goolies

Itchy nads at work...... Sods law init! you sure thats all it was???

 

[amfisted]

Don't touch that stuff with bare hands if you watch it you'll see it moving it is a bacteria sludge
and it is alive and dangerous stuff wear a mask and throw away suit and scrub everything with neat bleach or a strong anti bacteria chemical. Please take care what you are doing.Bob

Must admit, my first action was to innocently dip my bare hand in the tank to check whether it was iced over, and I brought it out with a handful of the stuff in my palm. Never expected to find anything like that in there, so didn't anticipate the need for gloves. Didn't touch it again after that, but I'm worried that I might have transferred the pathogens to my mouth at some point. Oh well, if my head starts to glow in the dark, at least it'll light the way to the toilet when I'm puking up during the night.

I put a squirt of bleach in there yesterday, then had a think and gave the whole tank, lid included, a good douse with mould and mildew killer. Hopefully it'll make a difference to the infestation in the short term and then when the weather is better I can drain the tank and give it a good clean. Space above it is limited, with the tank having been placed at the highest possible point in the loft for obvious reasons. So there's barely enough room to see over the edge into the tank, or to reach into it to clean.

It does have a lid and jacket, so at least that side of things is as it should be.