Winter drain down

[Thornebt]

I'm just reading my C&MC magazine and seen an advert for Floe drain down tool. This is my first winter coming up with my Autosleeper and although I have read stuff before about draining the boiler it had slipped my mind.
I always drain the grey and fresh water tanks but I don't know how to drain the boiler.
Is the Floe tool (which uses compressed air) a good product? Advert includes a 5% discount code but unhelpfully they don't quote the price in the advert.

 

[Norfolk Nige]

There should be a small tap, usually yellow near your boiler. Flick that up to dump the water out of your boiler. Living in Norfolk with our hard water I usually do that after most trips rather than just winter. Open your hot taps when you do it and it should pretty much fully drain out.

 

[Kayak Kid]

I previously drained down my system including the Truma boiler - opening the various taps etc, and have done so with all of our previous motorhomes. This year I bought and fitted a Floe system. Simple to fit and surprising how much water came out of the pipework and boiler using the Floe - after I did my ‘normal’ drain down. I use my electric inflator to pump up to the 1 bar pressure as recommended and very easy to do. It comes with a helpful video which can also be viewed on YouTube. Very impressed and probably worth the money if it saves a ‘burst pipe’ or damage to the boiler.

 

[Thornebt]

Thanks Norfolk Nige. That's what I will do. Seems much easier and cheaper than fitting the Floe Indurate 636 which costs £200+. Presumably the boiler will automatically fill back up when I next fill the fresh water tank.

 

[Brains]

Thanks Norfolk Nige. That's what I will do. Seems much easier and cheaper than fitting the Floe Indurate 636 which costs £200+. Presumably the boiler will automatically fill back up when I next fill the fresh water tank.

It should, but make sure you run the hot water tap until water flows out, as 20 liters of air needs to come first!
Once you have H&C water coming out of all the taps, the boiler should be full, then you can start heating it up.

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[varaizian]

In theory there is that device that is supposed to open automatically at around 4 degrees C and let the water out of the boiler but I don't trust it and open it manually when there is any risk of frost. My gripe with our Pilote is that, to drain the fresh water tank, I have to get access to the tank under the seat, stick my arm in and pull out the sink plug in the base. I leave the taps open all winter because the valve inserts are only plastic, very fragile and quite expensive. I believe that the pump drains down along with the boiler

 

[SpitzTM]

We have found this video to be helpful with our Truma based system;

 

[PaulC70]

You gotta remember though that not all truma systems have this fitted, mine doesnt

 

[heliart]

Interesting discussion this. I plan to carry on using my motorhome, maybe monthly over the Winter.
When on hookup at home I have the Alde heating on low.
There's a double floor, so the tanks get some protection.
I assume I don't therefore have to worry about draining everything down.

Steve

 

[berni109]

heliart as long as the interior pipes are above 0°c u should be ok.
Might just as well leave the grey tank drain open but sound like it's in the double floor so again ok.

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[the1andonly]

Diy version for drain down

DIY Water System Forced Drain Down

DIY Water System Forced Drain Down

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

My version
Either pressurise the system via the bike valve or remove it and use a low pressure air bed pump to evacuate the water lines.