Winterisation - Sense check please

[Jim]

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[Pocket Rocket]

Really useful info, in both the article and the above posts.

Couple of questions from a “winter newbie”

We’ve just emptied the grey water, fresh water (completely not leaving the minimum amount), and flicked up the yellow switch to drain the boiler.

Do we leave the waste drain open? Leave the fresh water pushfit drain plug off (so that is also open)? Leave the boiler switch flicked up?

Should we do anything to try to blow any residual water out of the pipes?

We are planning on using the motorhome about once a month over winter, for a couple of nights at a time. Should we refill all the water systems and drain down each time? Or run the van “dry” and carry a couple of water carriers? (We can use a small oil filled radiator for heating)

Anything else we should do to ensure it’s OK for winter, but with occasional use once a month?

 

[L' Hobo]

All,
Moho going into storage over the winter, I have done the following - Have I missed anything:

Gas off, disconnected from bottles and tap under sink (Frost one) opened
Water tank drained and tap left open
Hot Water Drained and tap left open
All Taps left open
Shower hose laid down in tray and tap open
Fridge Open
Grey Waste Drained and left open
Toilet emptied
Habitation power isolated

Anything else?

You have opened the fridge, but what about the drop-down freezer compartment (if it has one) put a small wedge to leave it cracked open.

 

[poppycamper]

Really useful info, in both the article and the above posts.

Couple of questions from a “winter newbie”

We’ve just emptied the grey water, fresh water (completely not leaving the minimum amount), and flicked up the yellow switch to drain the boiler.

Do we leave the waste drain open? Leave the fresh water pushfit drain plug off (so that is also open)? Leave the boiler switch flicked up?

Should we do anything to try to blow any residual water out of the pipes?

We are planning on using the motorhome about once a month over winter, for a couple of nights at a time. Should we refill all the water systems and drain down each time? Or run the van “dry” and carry

a couple of water carriers? (We can use a small oil filled radiator for heating)

Anything else we should do to ensure it’s OK for winter, but with occasional use once a month?

We use our van over winter as you describe..
As said above.. drain down before leaving last site... leave all drains open to allow movement of van on way home to completely drain pipework.
Leave all drains open until next trip out, close drains and top up fresh with amount required for next trip.......Then repeat.

 

[L' Hobo]

We use our van over winter as you describe..
As said above.. drain down before leaving last site... leave all drains open to allow movement of van on way home to completely drain pipework.
Leave all drains open until next trip out, close drains and top up fresh with amount required for next trip.......Then repeat.

I cannot speak for your van but once I have drained down for winter, I just use containers for water and my EHU provides hockups to supply electric heating without using water heating provision. I just use site facilities for showers or kettle for washing-up, saves going through all the drain-down hassle all over again!

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[Rjcamper]

Fresh water tank drained
Grey MT
Yellow boiler tap thing opened.

Hope it's enough.

Just realised why I am getting notifications , this is my post from last year....

Winterisation went well, the only issue I had was water pump struggled to prime on the first refill this year, ended up blowing and sucking the shower hose to get it going

 

[TerryL]

As regards window blinds, we were advised when we bought the van not to leave them down (up?) (well, extended!) for long periods as it weakens the springs. Instead I bought a roll of silver insulation from local DIY store and made up window blinds that we use when leaving the van for a while. No fixings required as we just put them behind the window catches. Quick to put up or take down and just lightly roll them up and store when not needed.