Winterising

 
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Ally
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Winterising

 ·  Posted: 12.09.2011  ·  #1
What do you do to winterise your MH?

All I can think of is making sure the fresh water and waste is empty, put in a small electric heater and run a dehumidifier at least once a week.

Anything else worth considering?
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Re: Winterising

 ·  Posted: 12.09.2011  ·  #2
We use our so much we do very little.

We put a moisture trap inside and remove it when we are away.

We do drain the water system but ours had an electric valve which drains it for us if the temperature drops below 8 degrees C.

No heaters etc.
Ally
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Re: Winterising

 ·  Posted: 12.09.2011  ·  #3
Oh yeah forgot about that, my water heater has a temperature valve on it that dumps the water below a certain temperature.
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Re: Winterising

 ·  Posted: 12.09.2011  ·  #4
Same thing. You may find it syphons the water from the tank through the boiler.
Mayo1
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Re: Winterising

 ·  Posted: 13.09.2011  ·  #5
Leave all the taps open so the pipe work empties as well. Although I did this last winter the base of the tap in the kitchen sink cracked so it had to be replaced. I was told that although the taps were left open not all the water drains off. The advice was to blow through the taps to make sure all the water is expelled. An expensive lesson so at the first sign of frost I will be putting it into practice.
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Re: Winterising

 ·  Posted: 13.09.2011  ·  #6
Handy tip!

Do MH's have U-traps? is this where the water stayed?
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Re: Winterising

 ·  Posted: 13.09.2011  ·  #7
Quote by Mayo1
Leave all the taps open so the pipe work empties as well. Although I did this last winter the base of the tap in the kitchen sink cracked so it had to be replaced. I was told that although the taps were left open not all the water drains off. The advice was to blow through the taps to make sure all the water is expelled. An expensive lesson so at the first sign of frost I will be putting it into practice.


Good one Mayo1, I had a minor problem after last winter with the shower room tap. The little piece that the water comes out of had droped out (like a mini shower head). Must have been ice in there..

Must remember to use your tip this year.

Thanks
wayfarer
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Re: Winterising

 ·  Posted: 13.09.2011  ·  #8
I leave the dehumidifier in all the time when parked up at home, set the humidity level to about 40% and it cuts in and out as needs be, that way we can leave the beds dressed, clothes in the presses and are ready to go at short notice. For winter drain all water including boiler and use small heater if temp drops really low like last winter.
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Re: Winterising

 ·  Posted: 20.09.2011  ·  #9
A very handy thing to do is place some of those disposable de-humidifiers aroung the motorhome,they are only cheap around £1.50 each, you will be surprised how much moisture they gather , they have some sort of granuals which gather any moisture. the rest is common sense really regarding draining off etc .
eddie
 
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Re: Winterising

 ·  Posted: 25.09.2011  ·  #10
Quote by georgert1
A very handy thing to do is place some of those disposable de-humidifiers aroung the motorhome,they are only cheap around £1.50 each, you will be surprised how much moisture they gather , they have some sort of granuals which gather any moisture. the rest is common sense really regarding draining off etc .
common sense!now that's a scarce commodity.E
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Re: Winterising

 ·  Posted: 25.09.2011  ·  #11
LOL. How true Eddie. How true.
Ally
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Re: Winterising

 ·  Posted: 25.09.2011  ·  #12
I don't think "blowing taps" is covered under common sense, that's more of a live and learn lesson. :D
hymer524
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Tip for getting rid of the Flies

 ·  Posted: 04.10.2011  ·  #13
From now onwards the flies will be hibernating, they usually choose the awning of my van, and any other corner they can find.

I Buy a tin of fly spray and spray all around the awing, the doors as well, and any other crack. I find this usually keeps them away for the winter. :)
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Re: Winterising

 ·  Posted: 20.10.2011  ·  #14
if you have a presurised water system empty the pump as this can crack if water is left in it oh and do blow taps as there can be water in them
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Re: Winterising

 ·  Posted: 20.10.2011  ·  #15
Hi all,

I use a tubular heater which puts out about 120watts. Not expensive to run and does just enough to keep the moisture away.

I shall soon be putting a mousetrap into the van (hair trigger baited with a sliver of 'finger of fudge') We once had a mouse in the caravan and it chewed the carpet. Might have been worse, could have damaged the upholstry. No idea how it got in as all vents had wire mesh!

I shall also take the van for a run every couple of weeks to stop the tyres getting flat spots. This also gives the side walls a work out. It helps stop the various belts remain in good order (timing, water pump etc).

Bear in mind these need to be replaced every five or so years irrespective of mileage.

I reckon that vans, like most kit remains in better order if it is used regularly.

Never leave the handbrake on. and dont forget the water in your windscreen washer bottle needs drained or protected with anti freeze.

Davy
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Re: Winterising

 ·  Posted: 21.10.2011  ·  #16
As Davy said, a run every few weeks to keep everything working and to keep the damp out of the sump etc. Also keep the fuel tank as near to full as possible, again to keep condensation out of the fuel tank.
Fin
 
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Re: Winterising

 ·  Posted: 22.10.2011  ·  #17
Take it to Spain and enjoy the winter there :)
wayfarer
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Re: Winterising

 ·  Posted: 22.10.2011  ·  #18
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Take it to Spain and enjoy the winter there



That's definitely on the agenda for the future.
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Re: Winterising

 ·  Posted: 22.10.2011  ·  #19
Check this out for keeping your pride and joy dry....

I have the Superdry Pole 1kg
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Re: Winterising

 ·  Posted: 23.10.2011  ·  #20
Like it Fin :D
Makes my solution look pretty lams!
I put a dehumidifier on the worktop with overflow pipe into the sink.that keeps the damp away. Get a decent one about £150 the cheaper models dont have overflow and you will need to empty the tank every day.
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Re: Winterising

 ·  Posted: 18.11.2011  ·  #21
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Bob
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Re: Winterising

 ·  Posted: 18.11.2011  ·  #22
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Re: Winterising

 ·  Posted: 18.11.2011  ·  #23
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Ally
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Re: Winterising

 ·  Posted: 18.11.2011  ·  #24
I waxoyl any vehicle I am going to be keeping for a long time, I used to do waxoyling for Classic car owners, so if anyone is looking their Motorhome done I am sure we could come to some arrangement :)
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Re: Winterising

 ·  Posted: 18.11.2011  ·  #25
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Ally
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Re: Winterising

 ·  Posted: 18.11.2011  ·  #26
I would say there would be a market. Is it true Dinitrol is better than waxoyl?

Day to day = as little as possible ;)

Builder by trade, but we all know how that's going.
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Re: Winterising

 ·  Posted: 18.11.2011  ·  #27
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Ally
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Re: Winterising

 ·  Posted: 18.11.2011  ·  #28
Ahh so that's the difference.

In saying that I never had a problem with Waxoyl not reaching where I wanted to, good strong compressor, Schutz gun with the extendable hose and 6 outlets, there wasn't a place I could not reach :)
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Re: Winterising

 ·  Posted: 18.11.2011  ·  #29
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Bob
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Re: Winterising

 ·  Posted: 05.12.2011  ·  #30
Bob
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Re: Winterising

 ·  Posted: 06.12.2011  ·  #31
think its only about 30/40 quid.

seems a bit of overkill to me.

drain down, run the pump a minute or two and leave taps in middle position and open.
we are away quite a bit over the winter so draining down is a regular job between trips.

same as dehumidifiers and heaters, best advice from manufacturers is air the van regularly over the cold months, ie open door and window for an hour or so to move air round the van.
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Re: Winterising

 ·  Posted: 28.09.2012  ·  #32
No mention in the video about draining the loo... Had multiple probs. last year as the RV wasn"t drained (long story) so I"ve had mucho experience of what ice can do to plastic :o I"d say draining and leaving the taps open should suffice and try to use a plunger to empty the u-bends in sink drains.
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