Heat in the van

[POH]

Hi do you put any heat in your van during this cold spell !!! when parked at home or do you leave it alone .

 

[POH]

Also don't forget the toilet supply, if it's an electric pushbutton push the button to empty the flush hose, to save it freezing and cracking the solenoid valve.

Opps !! That is the one thing I forgot

 

[CazPaul]

No problem for us now it’s in here

 

[Peppadog]

Now that’s a shed.

 

[VXman]

We have very recently bought a PVC which has a gas/electric combi. I have drained the tanks and left it on electric heating at 10 degrees to stop it freezing up. We bought it privately, so didn’t trade in our Hymer. So thats waiting to go up for sale shortly. That has a gas only Truma so a small oil filled radiator is stopping that from freezing up inside.
There’s a price to stop them freezing, but there is also value!

What's going to freeze up if there is no water in it?

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[Peppadog]

Nothing if I keep it above freezing inside.

 

[GMLS]

Nope not previously.Drain it down then nothing in it that needs to be kept warm.

 

[scotzsue]

Been to check the van in storage today, batteries fine, solar flashing away nicely, interior van temperature was 0, John wanted a jumper bringing home, there was a thermometer in the cupboard -3.5 jumper was very cold but dry.

 

[Captain Yoghurtpot]

Ok, so hears a twist on this heat or no heat.
Was in the garage at home over the weekend and it had been all the week previously, below zero, often at -3 degrees..
Have just been in today, and all work surfaces, tumble dryer casing and lots of metal or plastic objects and casings for tools etc are covered in condensation.
Temprature has gone from -3 to plus eight overnight and garage has no heat but is watertight from rain.
Motorhome has been at around -1 this past week and is fully drained down, but I did apply a small bit of heat from an electric fan heater just to take the severe chill off for a couple of hours over a few days, whilst the temprature eas as stated fir about 8 days.
Motorhome also has mild condensation on the ceiling and locker doors but is completely empty of all stuff, and fully drained.
So, one area without heat gets condensation, and so does one with heat?
I am of the opinion that the severe cold air and weather rapidly being replaced by a very sharp rise in temperature will cause condensation wherever, heated or not.
Motorhome is perfectly ok, but it is as if we had been sleeping in it without any form of ventilation on site.
Strangely, no condensation to the windows though.
Oh, and it has thermal blinds on the inside.
Weird

 

[pappajohn]

Found tap in bathroom had frozen this morning

POH Keep an eye on that tap when you refill and bleed.
Plastic taps crack easily when frozen, even a bit.

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[Dorwyn]

leave it alone it will cause condensation in the van

No it won't if you use the frost setting. Done it for years.

 

[Phill D]

No it won't if you use the frost setting. Done it for years.

Your entitled to your opinion

 

[Captain Yoghurtpot]

Never heated any of my vans, don't see them heated on dealer forecourt.

You dont, that is true.
But I wonder how many vans are sold having been exposed to long periods of sub zero tempratures during the “closed” season ie winter, only to be fully opened up at the start of the selling season and will have had an exposure to condensation, which the buyer will not have seen as they are only seeing the van in the reasonably mild and frost free conditions. A van may well have stood for several months and been exposed to such condensation at times, possibly to cause damp issues later, and the buyer would never know.
Just a thought.
Its got me wondering about how these dealers look after their “ precious” stock during these very cold months.

 

[Captain Yoghurtpot]

No it won't if you use the frost setting. Done it for years.

Think I tend to agree with you on that.
Last year was a bit more liberal with the heat in the van on extremely cold periods, but this year have been less cavalier in my approach due to fuel costs, especially electric and running a small fan heater at home on EHU for shorter than normal periods, and I think that has been my possible problem with condensation due to fluctuating extreme tempratures.
Have reverted to van heating and sod the expense, our van is too precious to us, and an putting it on a thermostatic setting once again.

 

[Dorwyn]

Your entitled to your opinion

Fact

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[Phill D]

Fact

YES Sir !

 

[POH]

POH Keep an eye on that tap when you refill and bleed.
Plastic taps crack easily when frozen, even a bit.

 

[Stealaway]

I don't understand how you can create condensation without heat.
No heat no condensation surely.
It won't come to any harm if it's just cold.

 

[Landy Andy]

Everything in my garage (at home) is dripping wet today, as was where I was working today. Neither place has heating.

 

[Stealaway]

Isn't the lasted scandal about fungal growth in flats due to heat and a lack of ventilation. People won't open windows because of the cost of heating and they are trying to survive on stale air in airtight double glazed rooms

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[POH]

I don't understand how you can create condensation without heat.
No heat no condensation surely.
It won't come to any harm if it's just cold.

My shed has no heat on the inside was wet all last week, the only thing I can think of is the sun on one side warmed it up slightly.

 

[DuxDeluxe]

Found tap in bathroom had frozen this morning but put a fan heater on low to defrost it only took 10 minutes think it was only the top of it but there was ice in the fresh and grey tanks but I had left the two drain outlets open that's why I asked about putting heat in the van .

I had drained mine down and blew the system through using the pump and left all the taps open. Checked the van the other day when it was about -5°c and found that the shower tap was shut and frozen up. Stuck the hook up on and heating up to +8°c and prayed. Filled the van water tank full and tried it. Fingers crossed but seems ok

 

[The Artilleryman]

This is what happens when you forget to leave taps open after draining down.

Does the retaining collar just unscrew (no sign of a grub screw) ?

 

[Phill D]

.

This is what happens when you forget to leave taps open after draining down.
View attachment 698831
Does the retaining collar just unscrew (no sign of a grub screw) ?

cant remember how the collar comes off but be prepared for the intrernsls of the tap to be damaged.
My similar tap has ceramic inside and it cracked when it happened to me a few years back

 

[The Artilleryman]

Just seen Prima leisure's over inflated price for a new one £95 No thanks.

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[Peppadog]

Just seen Prima leisure's over inflated price for a new one £95 No thanks.

You might think thats cheap in a year or two!

 

[BouncyBoatFolk]

Everything in my garage (at home) is dripping wet today, as was where I was working today. Neither place has heating.

+1, in my garage the labels have all fallen off my Xmas pickle jars , good job I know my onions.