HOW CAN WE FLUSH OUT THIS PROBLEM?
QMy 2011 caravan has a Thetford cassette toilet, but recently when I’ve been flushing it, a load of black bits have come through into the toilet as well.
We usually use the specialist pink fluid you can buy online, but I’ve also tried flushing it through with plain water, and this doesn’t seem to have helped much. Could you advise on what we can do to clear it, and prevent this from happening again?
Chris King
Sarah Wakely answers…
You’ll be pleased to know that this isn’t too much to worry about - it’s something that many caravan owners have experienced. The black particles are due to algae formation in the flush tank; water often sits in there for long periods.
You could try switching to a different brand of pink fluid – some users have reported issues with certain brands. Another option is to drain the flush tank and refill it with a mixture of water and white vinegar. Leave it for a while then flush through to clean it.
A further alternative is to stop using the pink flush product altogether and simply use water – although this is down to personal preference.
Finally, if you’re planning to leave the caravan for any length of time – particularly during warmer weather – it’s
| SEPTEMBER 2020 advised to empty the flush tank altogether, to allow it to fully dry out.
DO WE NEED EHIC WHILE ABROAD?
QI’ve been reading about the EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) and I’m a bit confused – we have travel insurance, so does that mean it won’t matter if we do not carry an EHIC too? Could you please explain what the card entitles us to while we’re touring abroad?
Emma Taylor
Paul Critcher answers…
We’re all hoping this useful European reciprocal healthcare scheme will be retained by the UK after the transition period for leaving the EU – during which our Government and the EU negotiate our relationship – comes to an end. Transition finishes on 31 December 2020,