Do you drain hot water tank before travelling

[Pagen]

Probably a silly question but I understand the payload issue etc re travelling with full fresh water tank. However is it ok to travel with the hot water system full to save bleeding and refilling at next stop?

 

[Ian Bosman]

Only gets drained if its likely to freeze when not using the van.
Always travel with the fresh tank full, never know when you are going to be able to get water next.

I hope you remember that a litre of water weighs one kg so beware of not overloading

 

[Two of usI]

Absolutely. Also travel everywhere with freshwater tank as full as possible as I never know where or when I'm stopping and might need it.

Why dump fresh water, only to fill up at the next location

I would be very aware if we every are allowed / or want to go back into France......... the French police have started stopping M/ Homes and weighing them !!!!

 

[Lenny HB]

I hope you remember that a litre of water weighs one kg so beware of not overloading

Yep, only 160 kg of water fully loaded for a 6 week trip with full fuel as well we still have 300 kg of spare payload.

 

[Reallyretired]

Always travel with full water. Never even thought about draining the hot water, what a waste of gas and water.

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[pat100]

Thanks to the OP for raising this issue. Old posts are useful! Having just bought a MH, I was puzzled to read this instruction in my Elddis handbook. It is not repeated in the manual for my Whale water heater. It seems, from the comments here, that it is just plain wrong - unless Elddis have mounted the heater in a weird manner that makes it fragile when full in this specific MH.
Though I still don’t understand the “if not used for 3 days” warnings that I see in all instructions about both hot and cold water. If I don’t have a shower for 3 days or flush the loo (using campsite facilities) for 3 days am I risking cholera unless I drain and refill the system? Oh, and should I fire in purifying tablets each time I fill?

 

[Old Gibber]

Who throws away good water ?

God has been doing a fantastic job of this in the last week.

 

[Coastal Cruiser.]

Nope not in 2 years so far don’t even know where the tap is
Often travel with 360ltrs water as you never know when you are going to get stuck for it.
I doubt if it affects mpg as much as what some think…

 

[Lenny HB]

Nope not in 2 years so far don’t even know where the tap is
Often travel with 360ltrs water as you never know when you are going to get stuck for it.
I doubt if it affects mpg as much as what some think…

You trying to make me jealous I've only got a tiddly 160 Lt tank.

 

[Lenny HB]

Only ever drain our boiler down if the van is sitting on the drive at home and there is a chance of it freezing

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[pat100]

OK, I’m slow on the uptake. After a week of wondering about this stuff, I found the website Article:
“Fresh Water in Your Motorhome. The Basics. Author Siân Brown Publish date Aug 5, 2022 Article read time 9 min read”
It answered so many of my questions in a rational, balanced way. Many thanks!

 

[Coastal Cruiser.]

You trying to make me jealous I've only got a tiddly 160 Lt tank.

that’s only 1 shower for Mrs CC

 

[maison]

Not a problem, if it needed draining down it would be in the operating manual.

Our last motorhome was an Elddis and its owner‘s manual specifically stated that the water heater must be drained before every journey. I assumed that it was because it was mounted externally under the floor and so might freeze in cold weather due to slipstream etc.

We didn’t drain it down but didn’t keep it for very long either.

 

[68c]

Perhaps the hot water heater is not very well supported and they are worried any bouncing around will damage something. Cannot see it being a problem in a well built van. Perhaps Lieganaires disease?

 

[maison]

Perhaps the hot water heater is not very well supported and they are worried any bouncing around will damage something. Cannot see it being a problem in a well built van. Perhaps Lieganaires disease?

Perhaps that is the problem.

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[Pausim]

Perhaps the hot water heater is not very well supported and they are worried any bouncing around will damage something. Cannot see it being a problem in a well built van. Perhaps Lieganaires disease?

Legionella bacteria multiply where temperatures are between 20-45°C. Just as likely to find those temperatures with an internal heater as an external one.

I think lack of support is more likely. As the Whale instructions say nothing about draining down for travel I guess this one is down to to the motorhome constructor not having confidence in his installation. I would be inclined to look for the installation instructions and then check that the heater has been installed with the correct fixings and the floor opening has been reinforced as specified. If not putting this right might be less hassle than draining down every time you move on.

 

[Bailey58]

OK, I’m slow on the uptake. After a week of wondering about this stuff, I found the website Article:
“Fresh Water in Your Motorhome. The Basics. Author Siân Brown Publish date Aug 5, 2022 Article read time 9 min read”
It answered so many of my questions in a rational, balanced way. Many thanks!

Our very own Siân or did you realise that?

 

[ambo2camper]

When getting my system fixed at Alde, their engineer showed me a heater with the hot water jacket split (very expensive repair) and suggested that it is always a good idea to operate the dump valve for maybe 5-10 seconds every month or so to prevent hydraulic effects and ensure that there is an air gap at the top. I always drain down the fresh water if not using the van for a few weeks but only the whole system in the winter

Isn't that what a 'pressure relief valve ' is for? Some ( incl' mine also has an expansion vessel.

 

[ambo2camper]

When getting my system fixed at Alde, their engineer showed me a heater with the hot water jacket split (very expensive repair) and suggested that it is always a good idea to operate the dump valve for maybe 5-10 seconds every month or so to prevent hydraulic effects and ensure that there is an air gap at the top. I always drain down the fresh water if not using the van for a few weeks but only the whole system in the winter

Isn't that what a 'pressure relief valve' is for? Some also (incl' mine) have an expansion vessel.

 

[ambo2camper]

Isn't that what a 'pressure relief valve' is for? Some also (incl' mine) have an expansion vessel.

Sorry about the duplicate reply, my app isn't working correctly. I also have no idea how to delete it.

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[DuxDeluxe]

Isn't that what a 'pressure relief valve' is for? Some also (incl' mine) have an expansion vessel.

Yes, the pressure relief valve operates but the Engineer at Alde said always to do this once a month to maintain that slight air cushion which helps to mitigate any hydraulic shock. He show me a couple of caravan ones that had failed

 

[pat100]

The padlock jammed on my wallet so I couldn’t subscribe for a while but now I’ve taken the plunge at vast expense I can post and report that I emailed Elddis and they replied that it’s not necessary to drain the water heater when travelling.