Hab inspection - what a waste of time/money!

[nicholsong]

I think a major consideration as to whether to have a damp check is how the structure of the MH is built, because those with double-aluminium sandwich have in itself the structure, as opposed to timber reinforcing. Also the walls an roof are bonded together, giving a more watertight seal.

The filling of the sandwich is non-absorbant so cannot retain water, and anyway AFAIK there is no damp meter that can be used on the aluminium skin.

We have this construction so have not had a damp check.

Geoff

 

[filopastry]

A mark one nose can usually detect the presence of damp/mold. If there are no requirements for the warranty a quick mooch around, sniff and wipe test probably finds any problems. Suspect many damp areas are a product of condensation rather than ingress. Works for us, but, each must choose the best way to dispose of cash.

 

[sylvester1954]

Two years ago l booked my van in for a habitation check, half thinking should l bother? However, the fitter was able to source a "small" gas leak from the underslung fitted tank. We never knew that there was a leak and with a reasonably poor sense of smell the leak could have got worse without us knowing resulting in a much worse scenario. We use our van abroad for 6months every year rattling up considerable mileage so the price of an annual survey is worth the peace of mind.

 

[PeteH]

I would say that having a hab check done is sensible, IF you are not feeling competent to carry it out yourself. However there are those amongst us that are "competent". And if you are comfortable with your abilities then Why Not?. As an "aside" I have yet to find anyone competent to do a proper "hab" check on an American R-V. there are maybe a couple of Companies but even they are questionable?

 

[Carolyn and Kev]

I would say that having a hab check done is sensible, IF you are not feeling competent to carry it out yourself. However there are those amongst us that are "competent". And if you are comfortable with your abilities then Why Not?. As an "aside" I have yet to find anyone competent to do a proper "hab" check on an American R-V. there are maybe a couple of Companies but even they are questionable?

I would think an RV requires a specialist. Someone who knows the in's and outs of all things RV.
Your average Coachbuilt or A class or PVC is something we could all have a go at i'm sure. Would I want to have a go at an RV? No.....too big and far too much weight to worry about! That is a specialist job I am sure!
It would be like expecting Halfords to check Air pressures on the breaking system of a truck! It cannot and should not happen!

Kev

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[PeteH]

I would think an RV requires a specialist. Someone who knows the in's and outs of all things RV.
Your average Coachbuilt or A class or PVC is something we could all have a go at i'm sure. Would I want to have a go at an RV? No.....too big and far too much weight to worry about! That is a specialist job I am sure!
It would be like expecting Halfords to check Air pressures on the breaking system of a truck! It cannot and should not happen!

Kev

NO "argument". But as you can apreciate. finding someone to do a full service /hab check etc; for one is Hard Work.

 

[Carolyn and Kev]

I would love the idea of an RV. My pockets would not be deep enough though to maintain one unfortunately.
You really do need some one who can maintain one though. There is only so much one can do!

kev

 

[MichaelT]

I take that you did not get anybody in to tell you to change your tyres and that it was a common sense decision made by yourself, and as such you sort of shot yourself in the foot regarding the need to pay for others to have a habitation check when on the whole common sense will tell most motorhome owners if something is amiss with their van.

I'm not against habitation checks and they have a place for those that don't have the know how or would prefer to pay for the professional to give them the all clear, but my gripe is the strong arm tactics by the converters forcing you to have a and pay for a hab check to keep your guarantee which to me says that they have no confidence in their product, after all you don't need an MOT for 3 years when you buy a new car or van.

No but you do have to have the car serviced to the manufacturers specs to retain the warranty

 

[Paddywack]

I'm happy paying for a damp check to keep the warranty valid, I also use the opportunity to get the dealer to grease the Alko chassis. The rest of the habitation check I can do myself.

 

[Flook]

Avery interesting post is this. One thing I have found to be missing though is this:-
Who do you have to carry out either your damp test if not yourself that is, and or your habitation check???

I have Marquise Northampton for service work
Missions Impossible (self employed) for habitation check
Peugeot of Wellingborough for MOT

I have the habitation check each year as I am the original owner, and the make and model is an Elddis Autoquest Prestige 175, as this has a 10 year warranty which is only covered by the original owner if the above is maintained.

My sister-inlaw always have second hand motorhomes, they do not, nor ever have had habitation checks as they do not believe in having these checks or servicing carried out on a s/h vehicle.

Flook

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[Steve and Denise]

I contacted Auto sleeper last week and asked why they insist on a hab check for the first 3years of their 5 years water ingress warranty,
Their answer was it’s required by NCC to keep in line with NCC recommendations.
Strange I said it appears to look after the dealers more than the customers.

 

[spongebob]

Does anyone know if the motorhome insurance they have require a yearly habitation check to comply with the terms and conditions

 

[Lenny HB]

r answer was it’s required by NCC to keep in line with NCC recommendations.
Strange I said it appears to look after the dealers more than the customers.

What do you expect they are a trade organisation funded by manufacturers & dealers.

Does anyone know if the motorhome insurance they have require a yearly habitation check to comply with the terms and conditions

Never seen anything in any policy.

 

[Lenny HB]

r answer was it’s required by NCC to keep in line with NCC recommendations.
Strange I said it appears to look after the dealers more than the customers.

What do you expect they are a trade organisation funded by manufacturers & dealers.

Does anyone know if the motorhome insurance they have require a yearly habitation check to comply with the terms and conditions

Never seen anything in any policy.

 

[Aly1]

My 2014 Auto Sleeper Broadway was riddled with damp in the rear at 2 1/2 years old had it fixed under warranty and got rid of it.

John.

My 2011 Autosleeper Broadway was riddled with damp at the rear at 5 years old. Luckily it had a warranty and I had had it checked the year before otherwise it would have cost £1000s.

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[Flook]

Does anyone know if the motorhome insurance they have require a yearly habitation check to comply with the terms and conditions

Give your insurance company a call and ask. That is the fastest way to find out.

Regards to the NCC I think you will find there is a contractual agreement about that with Motorhome manufacturers that their agents and any other electrician who is qualified with them should check the electrics at least on a Hab check. Gas, that will be covered by a GasSafe certified company that may well have the NCC qualification as well. NCC is not funded by any manufacturers & dealers, they are an independent Electrical section. To have your house/work checked you will need an electrician, and they would belong to either the NCC or NAPIT.

I know fact to qualify for GasSafe costs a lot of money, also you have to be re-tested every 5 years, and believe me guy's that is tough, for me it was as I only repaired gas cookers/hobs, but I had to have knowledge of everything else to pass. I have been informed the same applies to NCC and NAPIT.

I hope this sorts this out. Neither of these cover failed motorhome insulation, or even poor insulation.

Flook

 

[PhilandMena]

After owning our m/h for 3 years I was persuaded by someone "with experience" that we should have a Hab inspection done as we hadn't already done so. The van is 2004 and as far as I was aware had no problems. So, £120 later I am in possession of a form that says there's no damp, all the appliances work, all the window blinds etc work, there are no gas leaks, the boiler draws x amount of amps and the fridge draws y amount of amps and another numberof other realitively useless facts. I have my own damp meter and a basic multi meter and together with the fact that there has never been a smell of gas I knew all this already!

I'm not saying that the inspection chap did anything wrong but I just feel like an idiot for commissioning the test in the first place. Unless you have to have this done for a manufacturers warranty then I simply don't see the point ( unless of course you cannot be bothered to buy a £15 da mp meter and a £5 multi meter).

Lesson learned though and I won't be bothering again.

Spot on. Only worth doing to maintain warranty or prior to selling. A total waste of time and a rip off.

 

[tonyidle]

Sometimes prevention and piece of mind is better than curing problems later.
I think that a gas and electrical safety test every year is worth having. A lot of movement and vibration on the road can cause all sorts of issues.

If you understand how a gas leak test is done, and what is actually done to ensure electrical safety, both can be done yourself, conscientiously, and for nil cost. I would need to know the person doing safety checks on any of my vehicles very well indeed before I would blindly assume that it was actually safe. Which is why I have never visited a garage or service centre for any vehicle and apply the same approach to habitation servicing. I'm aware not everyone feels able to do their own servicing or safety checks - but how do they know what has been done or whether it has been done correctly? I'm at or approaching an age where I would sometimes prefer to leave more arduous tasks to someone else - I am however genuinely worried at the thought of a stranger of unknown enthusiasm and competence being responsible for our safety.

 

[tonyidle]

NCC is not funded by any manufacturers & dealers,

I think you'll find that is exactly how they are funded.

About the NCC

The NCC is the UK trade body for the tourer, motorhome, caravan holiday home and residential park home industries. We represent the collective interests of our membership base, which spans the entire supply chain: Caravan manufacturers, motorhome manufacturers, caravan holiday home...

www.thencc.org.uk

 

[SteveJulesMontycame2]

Should the MoT test include gas and electrical installations too? TÜV test (MoT equivalent) in Germany does. Due from year 2. Much stricter than a hab check. Applies to caravans and trailers too.

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[BobtheBass]

Strange that no one seems to have twigged that there might be a potential market offering habitation checks for peoples houses? Check your roof for leaks, your pipes for dodgy joints, your boiler, fridge and cooker for problems and worst still, check for soggy bricks. You never know, Bovis Homes and Persimmon might read this and think it's a great idea to screw more money out of you when you buy a new house if you want your NHBC guarantee to continue..........

 

[M-J]

Strange that no one seems to have twigged that there might be a potential market offering habitation checks for peoples houses? Check your roof for leaks, your pipes for dodgy joints, your boiler, fridge and cooker for problems and worst still, check for soggy bricks. You never know, Bovis Homes and Persimmon might read this and think it's a great idea to screw more money out of you when you buy a new house if you want your NHBC guarantee to continue..........

But your average house doesn’t drive around shaking your plumbing, windows, panel joints etc!

Boilers have moving parts and temp changes and are also a dangerous thing unserviced which is why home boilers also have to be serviced to keep the warranty valid.

 

[nicholsong]

Should the MoT test include gas and electrical installations too? TÜV test (MoT equivalent) in Germany does. Due from year 2. Much stricter than a hab check. Applies to caravans and trailers too.

The British MoT is designed to test the vehicle to see if it fit to be driven on the road and not be a danger to passengers and other road users.

MoT test does not include a car's heating, ventilation and radio or other non-roadworthy items.

 

[Servo]

The more I read the more I get despondent we will have legislation raining down on us before long god bless the internet.

 

[Spriddler]

However, the fitter was able to source a "small" gas leak from the underslung fitted tank. We never knew that there was a leak ......….

After diving to clear a rope from my sailing boat prop in Alderney harbour a chap nearby asked me if I would check his, which I did as a good turn. During the afternoon a motorboater asked me to check his (there are lots of off-lying pots and nets around the Channel Islands). I charged him a fiver each prop. One prop was fouled with rope.
A couple of days later, after arriving at Guernsey I was in St Peter Port Yacht Club bar when another chap asked me and sure enough another piece of rope and another fiver, and I did two more for other boaters.
Strange how the same piece of rope got entangled on different boats' props.

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[Wagoneer]

I think a major consideration as to whether to have a damp check is how the structure of the MH is built, because those with double-aluminium sandwich have in itself the structure, as opposed to timber reinforcing. Also the walls an roof are bonded together, giving a more watertight seal.

The filling of the sandwich is non-absorbant so cannot retain water, and anyway AFAIK there is no damp meter that can be used on the aluminium skin.

We have this construction so have not had a damp check.

Geoff

Carthago's have the same type of construction but one owner had water ingress from the joint between roof and side wall. It was fairly obvious though, as he had staining on the inner fabric side wall.

I've never had a habitation service in over 30 years. Any gas leak is detected using my Gaslow pressure gauge - checked on a regular basis. Internal plumbing leaks are investigated if the diaphragm pump keeps recycling. All other matters are dealt with, as and when necessary.

The beauty of this approach is, you learn very quickly about all the essential systems in your van. And, you've got a better chance of resolving problems whilst on tour.

 

[Flook]

I think you'll find that is exactly how they are funded.

About the NCC

The NCC is the UK trade body for the tourer, motorhome, caravan holiday home and residential park home industries. We represent the collective interests of our membership base, which spans the entire supply chain: Caravan manufacturers, motorhome manufacturers, caravan holiday home...

www.thencc.org.uk

I used to belong to an Association, and had similar arrangements, however we were an independent Association.

If you want an electrician to come round to your property, you will have the choice of NAPIT or NCC, does going by what you have commented on, say your house is among that group!! you mention.

I appreciate you have taken the time and trouble to check this out.

Flook

 

[SteveJulesMontycame2]

The British MoT is designed to test the vehicle to see if it fit to be driven on the road and not be a danger to passengers and other road users.

Not worried about minor ancillaries, more about gas and electric systems. Leaks of either LP Gas and/or mains electricity could pose a danger to others, even off grid with the inverter in use. Car heaters run off the engine coolant, not by burning gas as our heaters do. The integrity of the vehicle’s exhaust system is tested because the gases present a danger to life, as do the van heater’s exhaust gases.

 

[Campervan_man]

As a self employed Caravan & Motorhome Engineer I had to pay £720 inc VAT in Birmingham to do an ACOPS LPG 5 day gas course and test { now called STGW }. This qualification is valid for 5 years. After 5 years you have to take a 3 day refresher course to renew. The trainer was a very knowledgeable Ex-British Gas Engineer.
This qualification allows Me to work on 'Not for Hire or Reward' caravans, motorhomes & horseboxes. If the Leisure Vehicle is for Hire or reward then a Gas Safe qualification is required.
A tech can work in the leisure industry without ACOPS but must be supervised by a competent person that is qualified.
I have also been trained at Travelworld on a leisure vehicle electrical course training costs +£500.
Travelworld is a good place to work and learn because it is so busy you are carrying out PDI's, Habitation Checks, fitting aerials, gaslow, rear view cameras, awnings, bike racks, BBQ points, outside shower points, damp checks etc on a daily basis.
I own a motorhome and have fitted a Snipe3 Satellite, Thule Hab Door Extra Lock, Vision Plus Ranger twin Rear View Camera system , Chinese Diesel Heater, Streetwize Tracker, BBQ point, Inverter, and Gaslow system to it.
A Habitation Check can be deemed a waste of money by some people if it passes but most van's have things wrong with them both New and Used.
Most Dealership Warranty Claim departments are usually very busy.

 

[Beltie]

Flook,

NCC stands for National Caravan Council. I am not sure what that would have to do with electrical work on your house. Perhaps you are confusing it with the NICEIC.

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