Winterisation

[Live Life Now]

Hi Funsters,
It's that time of year again, what should be drained down and any good ideas about winterising my Nuevo.
I do still like to use the MH during the winter when I have the toilet all up and running and take canisters of water for washing and washing up, only for the day picnics that is.
Much obliged and appreciative of your suggestions.

 

[Outdoors Dad]

Hi Funsters,
It's that time of year again, what should be drained down and any good ideas about winterising my Nuevo.
I do still like to use the MH during the winter when I have the toilet all up and running and take canisters of water for washing and washing up, only for the day picnics that is.
Much obliged and appreciative of your suggestions.

That's my job today also

 

[Live Life Now]

Nice mug of OXO, cant go wrong on a day like today

 

[CazPaul]

Drain the water from the tank fresh and waste.
Drain the boiler. Empty toilet cassette. Clean everything, Hoover carpet etc.

Take all the food out, bedding out. Regularly check things, look out for condensation.

 

[Lenny HB]

We just drain down after each time we use it. No need to do anything else.

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[Live Life Now]

Does anyone consider the use of Antifreeze in the toilet flush?

We just drain down after each time we use it. No need to do anything else.

does that include the boiler Lenny?

 

[Lenny HB]

Does anyone consider the use of Antifreeze in the toilet flush?

does that include the boiler Lenny?

Anitfreeze in the toilet flush
Good way of poisoning ourself like most vans ours flushes from the main water tank.

Yes drain the boiler that is the most important bit and leave taps open in central position.

 

[Otter Spotter]

Does anyone consider the use of Antifreeze in the toilet flush?

does that include the boiler Lenny?

If you are still using the van in winter don’t use anti freeze it could stain the boil.

 

[autorouter]

Good way of poisoning ourself like most vans ours flushes from the main water tank.

Food grade antifreeze is popular in the US, where some of them have much worse winter frost. Don't know anyone who uses it in the UK. If you don't use antifreeze, it's important to get all the water out of all the places it could do damage if it freezes.

Leave taps on, leave mixer taps on in the centre position. Don't forget the toilet flush if it's connected to the main tank. Operate it until no more water comes out. Some people, including me, hook up a small compressor (like you use for the tyres) to blow all the water out of the pipes.

But still, come the spring, there's lots of people reporting cracked taps, pipe joints mysteriously pushed apart, and pumps that don't work any more.

 

[Lenny HB]

But still, come the spring, there's lots of people reporting cracked taps,

Fatal mistake is leaving them open but not in the central position so both water channels are left open.

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[The Wino]

Fatal mistake is leaving them open but not in the central position so both water channels are left open.

Or leaving them central but not open!

 

[marpool]

I pour a little screen wash down all the traps basin, sink and shower as it contains a little anti freeze.

 

[Fdhadi]

I also place the shower head on the shower tray

 

[Dolmen]

I use the van regularly in winter, however, it can have 3 or 4 weeks between trips, I usually don't do anything other than keep an eye on the weather forecast. If there is a period where it is forecasted to drop below zero then I do fresh, waste and boiler and taps open, otherwise I leave it ready for next trip. Of course if you can't easily get to your van or you are away then you need to drain down, not worth the risk

 

[Live Life Now]

Conclusion so far.
Thank you for your comments, I think I will stay with the system that I have adopted over the years.
Drain down fresh and wastewater and carry 2 x 25 litre containers so I have sufficient for washing and washing up. (I carry bottle water for drinking)
The boiler I will drain off and will refill if my trip could mean being parked up for a while, in the past I have just left the engine running but that seems to be a no no in today's PC.
I leave no food or bedding in the MH and take out the scatter cushions.
A big bowl of salt when the MH is standing on the drive.
Anything I've missed please do shout; I am grateful for the added knowledge.

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[Spriddler]

It's a regular and frequent winter question.
There's already a comprehensive article (and advice on many other FAQ's) in the 'Resources' section......

WINTERISING YOUR MOTORHOME

Winterising your motorhome. This article will show you exactly how you prepare your motorhome for a winter layup.

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

 

[Lenny HB]

Always make up the beds in ours so it's ready to use.

 

[Bramidan]

Do you leave your grey waste valve open once you’ve drained the grey waste tank?
Similarly there is a large inspection cover on my fresh water tank which is under the bed at the rear. This simply unscrews has a rubber seal/gasket.
Should I leave this off thus tank open?
Can‘t find anything mentioned in the manual so thought I would consult the font of all knowledge!
You probably will have realised I am a worrying newbie.
Motorhome is an Adria Sunliving.

 

[Live Life Now]

Having been a funster, on and off, since 2014 and a MHomer for over thirty years, I am of the opinion that some of our newer guests may have some input on matters that were archived yonks ago, it may even be an improvement on old thrash that was considered relevant at the time.
I'm 77 and never too old to learn. how about you?
All news is good news if you need it.

 

[Live Life Now]

Do you leave your grey waste valve open once you’ve drained the grey waste tank?
Similarly there is a large inspection cover on my fresh water tank which is under the bed at the rear. This simply unscrews has a rubber seal/gasket.
Should I leave this off thus tank open?
Can‘t find anything mentioned in the manual so thought I would consult the font of all knowledge!
You probably will have realised I am a worrying newbie.
Motorhome is an Adria Sunliving.

No, you are not a worrying newbie, you are possibly asking the question that many others have thought about.
Sorry I don't know the answer to your question, but someone will before long.

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[Lenny HB]

Do you leave your grey waste valve open once you’ve drained the grey waste tank?
Similarly there is a large inspection cover on my fresh water tank which is under the bed at the rear. This simply unscrews has a rubber seal/gasket.
Should I leave this off thus tank open?
Can‘t find anything mentioned in the manual so thought I would consult the font of all knowledge!
You probably will have realised I am a worrying newbie.
Motorhome is an Adria Sunliving.

Never bothered just drain it then close the valve. Been doing it for 15 years without a problem.

 

[Bramidan]

Never bothered just drain it then close the valve. Been doing it for 15 years without a problem.

Thank you, Lenny HB.

 

[Suenliam]

Lenny lives in the sunny sauf. Those of us in colder climes may keep all drain taps open to avoid water accumulating and then freezing.
Sue

 

[Lenny HB]

Lenny lives in the sunny sauf. Those of us in colder climes may keep all drain taps open to avoid water accumulating and then freezing.
Sue

Also have air suspension so I can tilt the van over to completely drain the tank.

 

[Garfields]

This probably only applicable to PVCs
If you have an aerial mounted on the roof above the cab it is worth unscrewing the aerial mast.
We had one aerial broken of the last van when snow slid of the roof.

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[Spriddler]

This probably only applicable to PVCs
We had one aerial broken off the last van when snow slid off the roof.

How annoying. Did it go whoooosh.........bang?

 

[Reallyretired]

I always leave my grey drain open as apart from frost ( it's better frozen open than closed if you use the van in subzero) it also let's fresh air into the tank and stops it smelling, most bacteria causing nasty smells are obligate anaerobes

 

[Wee Bold Davy]

Food grade antifreeze is popular in the US, where some of them have much worse winter frost. Don't know anyone who uses it in the UK. If you don't use antifreeze, it's important to get all the water out of all the places it could do damage if it freezes.

I prefer to use Scotch, it's not done me any harm

 

[PP Bear]

Having been a funster, on and off, since 2014 and a MHomer for over thirty years, I am of the opinion that some of our newer guests may have some input on matters that were archived yonks ago, it may even be an improvement on old thrash that was considered relevant at the time.
I'm 77 and never too old to learn. how about you?
All news is good news if you need it.

Don’t forget to remove the shower hose and drain, don’t just leave it attached. Cost me a new shower mixer tap once and they ain’t never easy to replace.

Then leave the mixer tap open in the most central position possible.

 

[Clive Mott]

If trying to protect against frost damage then you need to ensure that taps and pumps aw well as pipes are free of water. For example after training down everything with all the taps turned ON then blow down the shower hose (remove the shower head) until you can hear your breath going backwards into the water tank or heater. Same with fawcets, blow down them as well to purge the water. Aquapure? Remove and empty. Surge damper? Unclip and make sure that is empty.
OR
Park MoHo next to the house, connect hookup, Set heating to mains and set temp to say 12C. An no buggering about with bottled water if you want to go out for the day, This assuming your water tank is not unheated.
Oh, and pay the leccy bill.