Is it time to drain Van (1 Viewer)

[Howard B]

Drained my tanks on Sunday after we came back from a few days on the East Coast. Was hoping to use it again before christmas, but we are quite busy and probably wont get the chance so have SORNed it as well.

 

[L' Hobo]

Drained my tanks on Sunday after we came back from a few days on the East Coast. Was hoping to use it again before christmas, but we are quite busy and probably wont get the chance so have SORNed it as well.

Just because it's drained down doesn't stop me from using my van, I just use a couple of water containers, site EHU & showers and a 4season sleeping bag.

Van life is slightly different but variety is the spice of life

 

[B-well]

All drained , both boiler and water tank, rat/mouse bait strategically placed around no peanut butter as yet. If needs be ican always purchase water bottles to take away on small trip.

 

[Speve]

I put a small thermostatic tube greenhouse heater in mine when it’s forecast to be extra cold for longer period seems to keep the van aired as wellvery cheap to run

 

[Tombola]

I use mine regularly through the winter and keep an eye on temps..when it's gonna hit 2 I make sure I've switched off the pump as normal . Open all taps and always have it plugged in in drive at 5 Deg.
Could easily just drain and leave heating off but I've got used to this way now and it's nice and "aired out" when I use it...at least weekly.

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[JockandRita]

Drained, and blew out, mine last week and I live in Devon!

Ditto, and every time we come back from a trip at this time of year.

Cheers,

Jock.

 

[cyberyacht]

I had to turn my aircon on my way to silves today…

You are starting to get annoying now. Spare a thought for the sensibilities of those of us stuck in the UK.

 

[bobnick]

The header tank in the wardrobe contains antifreeze for the Alde heating... Never top that up with water. Refilling the tank is easy and then the pipes and boiler to expel air

So the Aldi heating system's water is a different system to the fresh water yes/no. Two seperate systems??

 

[tonyidle]

That's how i used to do it with my pvc. But with a small electric fire inside on frost plus a few degrees. The auto dump would work at about 5 degrees, but we haven't got that on the present van. It would occasionally dump while we were travelling, so you could arrive with an empty tank. How do you northerners get on with camping in winter with auto dump?

Don't have one.

 

[tonyidle]

So the Aldi heating system's water is a different system to the fresh water yes/no. Two seperate systems??

It is. The heating circuit passes through a cylinder within the boiler. The cylinder is heated by gas or electricity. The electric elements are inside the cylinder and in contact with the water/antifreeze of the heating circuit.

Hot water is contained within a cylindrical jacket around the heating cylinder and therefore heated indirectly.

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[bigtwin]

So the Aldi heating system's water is a different system to the fresh water yes/no. Two seperate systems??

The Alde heating system is like your (water filled) central heating system at home. There is no requirement to do anything with this in preparation for winter as it contains anti-freeze.

The heat input to the central heating system is generated in the Alde boiler. The Alde boiler also heats the domestic hot water system. The Alde boiler can be run to heat the radiators even if there is no water in the boiler.

The reason that it’s important to drain down the freshwater system is to empty the Alde boiler to prevent damage to the boiler in the event that the water were to freeze.

Ian

 

[bigwood]

All drained and plugged in now we have had our last trip. The bedding is washed and stored away.
Unless we have a day out the next time we need to go anywhere in the van will be MOT and service on the 4th of January.

 

[L' Hobo]

You are starting to get annoying now. Spare a thought for the sensibilities of those of us stuck in the UK.

How much better to come in from the freezing cold to a pub with the roaring fire, sit down with friends over a nice pint of wallop, instead of going into an air-conditioned bar! Cheers!

 

[Clive Mott]

You would be suprised at the number of owners who never think of purging the pioes, water pump, shower hear, nature pure, surge damper and the like and par the price.

 

[JaG]

If not using in the next week we drain after every trip, even in the Summer. In the Winter it is drained after every trip, even if going out next week. I just feel it is a good habit to get into and only takes 30 minutes to get it all filled and purged again.

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[Camper Sue]

Always worth running for a short time regularly, whatever the weather!

A new tip came up on here recently and I tried it. Brilliant. I got a strong celebration balloon from the local card shop. Blow up. Put mouth of balloon over tap. Gently push air out. Wow. Couldn't believe how effective. All the taps let out a dribble of water to final one in the pipe run, the shower. GREAT. Nothing in my taps so that nasty little lurking drop or two - GONE. thanks to whoever it was for the tip.

 

[Tombola]

A new tip came up on here recently and I tried it. Brilliant. I got a strong celebration balloon from the local card shop. Blow up. Put mouth of balloon over tap. Gently push air out. Wow. Couldn't believe how effective. All the taps let out a dribble of water to final one in the pipe run, the shower. GREAT. Nothing in my taps so that nasty little lurking drop or two - GONE. thanks to whoever it was for the tip.

Good shout. I guess it could go one step further with this too and a decent pair of lungs
Amazon product ASIN B09Q32H1JD

 

[JamesT@Dundee]

With this cold spell has anybody drained their van of water to protect against frost/ice damage.
I have been putting off draining mine as I intended to use it in the next few weeks but now the nights are getting below - 0C should I be taking action.

I now drain the entire water system every time we return from a trip. Saves forgetting and getting expensive tap and boiler damage.
All UK seems to be forecast sub zero over next few days.

 

[Emmit]

I use mine regularly through the winter and keep an eye on temps..when it's gonna hit 2 I make sure I've switched off the pump as normal . Open all taps and always have it plugged in in drive at 5 Deg.
Could easily just drain and leave heating off but I've got used to this way now and it's nice and "aired out" when I use it...at least weekly.

Open all taps!!!

 

[Mel68]

Still filling mine in Portugal…

What's the weather like there, thinking about next year.

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[L' Hobo]

A new tip came up on here recently and I tried it. Brilliant. I got a strong celebration balloon from the local card shop. Blow up. Put mouth of balloon over tap. Gently push air out. Wow. Couldn't believe how effective. All the taps let out a dribble of water to final one in the pipe run, the shower. GREAT. Nothing in my taps so that nasty little lurking drop or two - GONE. thanks to whoever it was for the tip.

I use a piece of hose pipe, works just as well and excercises the lung muscles. Win,win!
EDIT: Just seen post #47

 

[Albacore]

Mine had been drained down but then refilled by the dealer for the habitation check. Did they drain it when finished considering the weather - what do you think!! I only remembered late at nght when the frost was about to hit and too late to get to the storage facility. Being the first time I had been in for a habitation check after switching from a caravan the need to ensure the onboard tanks had been drained didnt really enter my mind. It will now!!!

Exactly my issue... Did they drain it. Will check.

 

[L' Hobo]

Open all taps!!!

After one has expelled the water/air!

 

[bobnick]

Good job we have all been draining.
Weather here this am -7c according to my garden temperature machine

 

[Crazyj]

No sign of frosts here yet but think
I’ll do mine anyway, don’t want to get caught out

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[P4GGC]

Yes, I've done ours - even though we'll be using it again next week. Used the Floe gadget to get the last bits of water out. I've used it for the past 3 or 4 years. Not essential I guess, but added peace of mind.

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[Peterd82]

Glad ours was drained yesterday morning as -6 C here in sunny Lancashire. Had to go out and scrape ice as MH booked in for MOT at 08:30 4 miles away. Shivered at a bus stop for 20 minutes to get home but then found out when I collected it at lunchtime that although they did the cambelt and water pump in summer they struggle to do MH MOTs and sub-contract them ……… to the garage round the corner from me. Yes, 16 miles to do 800 yards. If only they had told me this minor detail !

 

[TheBig1]

We had a tiny dusting of snow locally last night

 

[L' Hobo]

Glad ours was drained yesterday morning as -6 C here in sunny Lancashire. Had to go out and scrape ice as MH booked in for MOT at 08:30 4 miles away. Shivered at a bus stop for 20 minutes to get home but then found out when I collected it at lunchtime that although they did the cambelt and water pump in summer they struggle to do MH MOTs and sub-contract them ……… to the garage round the corner from me. Yes, 16 miles to do 800 yards. If only they had told me this minor detail !

You'll know next year, possibly save yourself 10%.

 

[Two on Tour]

Never drain ours down, as our diesel heater has a frost guard mode which does as it says and by leaving the internal lower locker doors open the heat permeates thought to stop the water pipes freezing.

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