Leaving our MH outside for a month - What to do, please?

[HKF]

Hi everyone

We'll be away from around 18th December to around 20th January, leaving our MH outside at home. What should I do before we go, please? The boiler empties itself if it gets too cold. Should we remove the cab battery? I'm only asking this as something seems to be draining it, even though we have B2B and LiFePO4 battery on solar. I know I need to empty the water tanks and the toilet cassette and leave the cupboards and fridge/freezer open. Is there anything else, please?

Thank you

 

[Puddleduck]

Can you put it on EHU?

Also make sure it is secure.

 

[Puddleduck]

I'd also leave some strong (but pleasant) smelling tumble drier softener sheets in cupboards and on seats, benches and beds to discourage mice.

Make sure ALL food removed, even if in tins.

 

[Googlebot]

Open all drain taps and take it for a run, this includes the taps in the kitchen and bathroom. Leave them open halfway between hot and cold and drop the shower head down too so that drains properly. Flush the toilet on and off a few times too so the valve opens and drops the water.

Leave the windows on vent for plenty of ventilation.

 

[HKF]

Can you put it on EHU?

Also make sure it is secure.

Unfortunately not, as we switch all our electric off when we're away. The local supply is very sensitive and trips easily in storms, sometimes even wind! Once, we went away and left just the circuit with the fridge/freezer and dishwasher on. We came back to a dishwasher with a fried circuit board after a local lightning strike

It's as secure as it can be.

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[Puddleduck]

Could a neighbour come in and plug it in for an hour or so a day then unplug it?

 

[HKF]

I'd also leave some strong (but pleasant) smelling tumble drier softener sheets in cupboards and on seats, benches and beds to discourage mice.

Make sure ALL food removed, even if in tins.

Thank you so much for this. I have some Dr Beckmann's laundry sheets, which smell quite strong, so I'll use those.

I will remove the couple of tins that are in there. Thank you

 

[HKF]

Open all drain taps and take it for a run, this includes the taps in the kitchen and bathroom. Leave them open halfway between hot and cold and drop the shower head down too so that drains properly. Flush the toilet on and off a few times too so the valve opens and drops the water.

Leave the windows on vent for plenty of ventilation.

Thank you for this I'm not sure about leaving the windows on vent Wouldn't that invalidate my insurance?

 

[Googlebot]

Thank you for this I'm not sure about leaving the windows on vent Wouldn't that invalidate my insurance?

No idea to be honest. Mine lock on vent and makes no difference as they aren’t secure anyway.

 

[HKF]

Could a neighbour come in and plug it in for an hour or so a day then unplug it?

We don't have any near neighbours. Those nearest are very old....I mean too old to bother them. We have a couple of English people nearish but they'll be in the UK for Christmas and New Year.

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[GeoffnDee]

I would drain the boiler and not rely on the automatic drain down opening if it gets very cold .

 

[HKF]

I would drain the boiler and not rely on the automatic drain down opening if it gets very cold .

I'm not sure how to do it manually

 

[Googlebot]

By the boiler there will be a black thing with a blue lever on top, just turn it. To reset, turn it again and push the button.

Some variations but generally, they are all similar. Alde have a yellow lever if I remember correctly.

Normally look like this.

 

[Brains]

I'd drain the tanks, main tank, boiler tank, gray water tank and with the valves all open take it for a quick spin around some sharp corners and a couple of roundabouts

Then park it up in 1st if manual, leave the handbrake off.

Close all the blinds, but leave a finger width at the top &/or bottom for ventilation
Open all the lockers
Open the floor hatches
Open up the loo, even the cassette flap
Put the fridge and oven on the latch
The idea is to have as few 'dead air' voids as possible.

Remove all food
Put all bedding in vacuum bags and sit on them to get out as much air as possible
Leave a few laundry sheets around

Make sure the gas is turned off at the bottle

Switch off the Electroblock, this will probably also switch off whatever is draining your battery.
(Which may possibly be alarm or tracker related)

Lock it and leave it!

(I can do all of that inside 10 mins, and the same time to reverse the situation)

 

[StillGoing]

Unfortunately not, as we switch all our electric off when we're away. The local supply is very sensitive and trips easily in storms, sometimes even wind! Once, we went away and left just the circuit with the fridge/freezer and dishwasher on. We came back to a dishwasher with a fried circuit board after a local lightning strike

It's as secure as it can be.

Consider installing something to protect the electrics e.g.
https://www.sollatek.com/products/avs30/

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[Jewellbags]

I’d drain it down as the water will only get stale anyway and put a drop of olive oil in the loo to keep the closed seal flexible. I also spray bleach under the van to deter the critters and some netting in the window screen gully to stop leaves building up

 

[HKF]

By the boiler there will be a black thing with a blue lever on top, just turn it. To reset, turn it again and push the button.

Some variations but generally, they are all similar. Alde have a yellow lever if I remember correctly.

Normally look like this.

View attachment 976870

I haven't seen anything like that in our MH. I have no idea where the boiler is

 

[Neilh]

If you have an external shower point, drain that too.

 

[Vikdikdok]

How about taking off the water filter bowl by the pump , I've had one split when temp dropped below freezing

 

[seasideBill]

deleted.

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[Googlebot]

I haven't seen anything like that in our MH. I have no idea where the boiler is

It’s big enough to find.

 

[CAB96]

I haven't seen anything like that in our MH. I have no idea where the boiler is

Probably under the seating or bed somewhere? Bench seat?

 

[CAB96]

Probably under the seating or bed somewhere? Bench seat?

Presumably there is a vent on the outside wall, a small round thing or something with a removable cover? Think it may be where that is.

 

[GeoffnDee]

I haven't seen anything like that in our MH. I have no idea where the boiler is

The boiler may be a the bottom of a wardrobe , along with its drain valve.

 

[HKF]

How about taking off the water filter bowl by the pump , I've had one split when temp dropped below freezing

Hmm, I don't know where the pump is

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[Tombola]

I haven't seen anything like that in our MH. I have no idea where the boiler is

Have a root in all the low down cupboards and nooks and crannies you will soon find the water dump valve

 

[HKF]

It’s big enough to find.

Maybe, but I've never seen anything that I've thought, "Hmm, I wonder what that is?"

 

[HKF]

Presumably there is a vent on the outside wall, a small round thing or something with a removable cover? Think it may be where that is.

We don't have anything like that on our MH

 

[HKF]

The boiler may be a the bottom of a wardrobe , along with its drain valve.

There's nothing in the wardrobe itself and underneath are two drawers and a hole for....whatever......

 

[HKF]

Have a root in all the low down cupboards and nooks and crannies you will soon find the water dump valve

We're not at home right now but I'll have a look when we get back next week

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