Have you drained down your boiler and fresh water tank yet?

GMJ

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We had our first frost here in west Wales last week which kind of caught me out. The weather is milder now but as of yet I haven't started draining down. We are going away for 6 nights from this Thursday across to Cardigan Bay (being in Wales we are allowed to travel inside Wales) and I plan to drain down after that trip.

Have you started draining down yet? If not, when do you plan to start?
 
Yes all done .as,we dont think it be will poss to travel until next year now.
 
Dunnit a couple of days ago. Drained down, power off and taps left open in mid position.

Cheers

H
 
Yeah, but then again it was only full due to the water side of the van being finished and tested!

One thing I added to this build that had been mentioned on a self build forum, is an air-inlet valve. So just after the pump, I've a stop cock leading to an airtube which ends with a Schrader valve. So when I've run all the water out, I can connect a tyre pump, then turn the stop cock on and add a few PSI of pressure and blow out all remaining water through the taps. This is useful as I do have one-way valves on the shower taps (to prevent scalding when using trigger on mixer) - and that water would otherwise be stuck.

Not a complex addon but nice to be able to get extra water out!
 
I don’t drain mine down completely I drain the water heater via the dump valve with the pump turned off so it cannot refill and I open all the taps and shower but I don’t empty my fresh water tank unless the temperature gets really low.
 
I don’t drain mine down completely I drain the water heater via the dump valve with the pump turned off so it cannot refill and I open all the taps and shower but I don’t empty my fresh water tank unless the temperature gets really low.
That means that you have no water from the sink either? In this sitution, do you carry a separate water container to fill kettle or whatever and heat any water for washing in the kettle?

I guess this is probably all obvious, but not had a Motorhome so trying to work out what is sensible to do as going to start hitting zero fairly soon, but I am wanting/hoping to use the Motorhome over the wintertime?
 
First time I have ever totally drained down in 7 years. We use the van all year round, but obviously we can’t at the moment. We had our first cold night a few days ago, outside temp showed 2 degrees but the frost valve hadn’t opened itself. The van must be well insulated.......or the valve doesn’t work!
 
We used our van over last Xmas so didn't drain any of it, just kept an eye on temperature which barely dropped below zero. Probably do the same this winter. Maja
 
I Just check the temp regularly and only drain the Truma etc leaving taps open if temp dropping down to freezing.
Rarely empty fresh water tank as I use motorhome all year round unless I’m not using it for more than a month like at present. 😩😩😩😩
Only had the Trumi combi frost valve drop the water once, that was when I was parked up at Loch Tulla viewpoint with duff batteries which prevented me using the heater. It was bloody freezing may I add lol.
 
I drain down after every trip in the shoulder seasons having made a best estimate of how much to fill for each trip. Keeps the tank and pipes less prone to algae growth in my view. From May to end of sept it is simply topped up as we do about 100 nights each year.

For day trips at present we simply bring a 2 litre milk bottle full for tea and splashing round the bowl of the toilet, along with a spray bottle with a pink fluid and water mix.

Nothing goes down the sink if possible on these day trips as I periodically scrub the interior of the grey tank and add a little disinfectant which involves lying on the floor wearing a head torch and using a hose with spray and jet options etc whilst arm is shoulder deep in the tank with various brushes. So not something I want to do after every biweekly day trip.

Davy
 
That means that you have no water from the sink either? In this sitution, do you carry a separate water container to fill kettle or whatever and heat any water for washing in the kettle?

I guess this is probably all obvious, but not had a Motorhome so trying to work out what is sensible to do as going to start hitting zero fairly soon, but I am wanting/hoping to use the Motorhome over the wintertime?
Dave if you have an underslung tank you can always insulate them, you can also fit a freeze preventing heating element into your tanks, well you used to be able to do so and can recall seeing an article about them many years ago on SBMCC.

Although you can protect the tanks themselves, the big problem are any pipe runs if uninsulated but they are quite easy to insulate.

But for me in winter months, I normally have everything drained off and on the very rare occasions when I use 'Millie' I resort to using 5 or 10 ltr water bottles as this tends to remove all the hassle.
 
I drain mine down after every trip to be honest... it's not a chore to top it up again when I'm heading off. There's rarely much water left in the fresh tank by the time I come home anyway, so it's mainly the boiler. I did the winter thing last week - taps left open, pump off, low-wattage heater on thermostat, cushions away from the walls, etc. We were -3 for a couple of nights here last week but it's warmed up nicely again now.
 
That means that you have no water from the sink either? In this sitution, do you carry a separate water container to fill kettle or whatever and heat any water for washing in the kettle?

I guess this is probably all obvious, but not had a Motorhome so trying to work out what is sensible to do as going to start hitting zero fairly soon, but I am wanting/hoping to use the Motorhome over the wintertime?
I only do this when it is stood on my drive un used for a few weeks in winter if I set off I just turn the pump back on after closing the taps and I have @ fishing hook and line attached to my dump valve which I close until it is full and water heated up but I don’t drink from my tank at any time so I always carry 20ltrs of drinking water. Hope this makes sense. I also think it depends where your fresh water tanks are my are inside the an under the seats some are under slung tanks which makes them more vulnerable to frost.
 
My tanks are underslung and unheated so are at risk.
The pipe from tank to pump I think I will maybe add some insulation if it is not (think it may be lagged?)
I decided to drop the previous owner a note to ask what he did as he will have had many many winter seasons experience with this motorhome AND also lives further north.
I think a drain down generally and then if heading away for an overnight either a partial fill-up or just bring a water container sounds like a plan :)
Better not leave it outside though....
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Drained down two days before the lockdown started since we store half an hour from home, won't be able to visit the van until 2nd December and the long range forecast gives at least a passing chance of frost. We've also removed all the soft furnishings, storing them at home. That said, we hope to be able to get out in the van for some stargazing next month...
 
Yesterday. Had intended to do it after Hollingsworth. As that’s now a none runner, goodness only knows when I’ll get out again. Moan, moan, whinge.
 
Last week, first frosts here in Essex
 
2 tanks under van are now drained, i take a 10ltr bottle with me for tea/coffee etc and to wash cups, i dont go for more than one day away in winter so no requirement for lots of water.
 
Don't drain down as we park on our drive and have a frost stat heater in it. Always ready then, if we get a chance to get away we can.
 

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