Getting cold: have you drained down your boiler yet?

[Pudsey Bear]

Blue stuff, use bio wash tabs.

Yeah, good idea Trev, I'll go and buy those and not bother with the half dozen bottles I already have.

 

[trevskoda]

Ahhh, I see your point Trev. Poor grammar on my part. Many thanks for your correction.

Just pub banter, im one to talk LOL.

 

[marchie]

That caravan sounds so much posher than our first one. Ours had an exterior water barrel full of cold water that I pumped into the internal tap by repeatedly pressing on a rubber bulb built into the floor.

To make it hot we boiled a kettle, and we thought it so modern compared against the previous mountain tent and frame tent. Who really needed lithium in those days?

I remember Mum & Dad buying a caravan with the foot operated water pump that you describe! Would have been an Ace [Viceroy] or a Thomson. And when Dad fitted a Leisure Battery so that we didn't need to worry about Gas Lamp Mantles failing! All condoms [i.e. mod cons for the dyslexic ...]

Steve

 

[TeamRienza]

My parents bought a 14 foot touring van early in the 60s. Our water supply was a 2 gallon container sat on the worktop. Tilt and fill the kettle. 2 ring gas burner which also doubled as the heater! Bucket for overnight emergencies, and last thing at night someone had to nip outside, turn off the gas at the cylinder and dash into bed before the gas lamps spluttered out. Glass windows too, we broke one horsing about and a panic to get glass cut and replaced before dad came back from work.
It was towed all over Ireland with a Vauxhall Viva HB and given the state of the roads it needed a new clutch almost every year.




Happy days,

Davy

 

[HurricaneSmith]

Ours had a gas mantle too. We loved listening to the hiss from both mantles as the boys went to sleep each night.

We must have had a deluxe model, as I seem to remember that our gas mantle had levels to turn off the gas. We only turned the gas bottle off when we left the van unattended or when we travelled.

I agree, whilst units were simpler, they were very happy days.

 

[TeamRienza]

We must have had a deluxe model, as I seem to remember that our gas mantle had levels to turn off the gas. We only turned the gas bottle off when we left the van unattended or when we travelled.

My parents were wary of gas, hence the nightly bottle routine.

Davy

 

[nabsim]

That caravan sounds so much posher than our first one. Ours had an exterior water barrel full of cold water that I pumped into the internal tap by repeatedly pressing on a rubber bulb built into the floor.

To make it hot we boiled a kettle, and we thought it so modern compared against the previous mountain tent and frame tent. Who really needed lithium in those days?

Yes, had one of those as well

 

[ted47]

Will be draining down tomorrow after the motorhome man sorted my water leak out, hopefully.

 

[wildebus]

Just tried to move the taps in the motorhome... frozen solid! the shower hose is hard, so clearly full of ice. Put the heater on and the fan running to distribute the warm air. hopefully thaw it all out

 

[Pudsey Bear]

Gently I hope David, stanby with cloths if it's frozen so high up and leave the taps open.

 

[wildebus]

Gently I hope David, stanby with cloths if it's frozen so high up and leave the taps open.

I guess "solid" may have been a slight exaggeration as I could take it off the hook and lay the head on the shower tray. The hose didn't change shape as I moved it though!
I wish I could leave the taps open - after suggesting people do that, i forgot to do it myself That flexible water pipe is pretty robust though - I used it on my campervan and one winter I had icicles coming out the (open) tap but no problem with the pipes. (fingers crossed this time! I did drain down and left the dump valves open a couple of weeks ago)

 

[Pudsey Bear]

I pump out when I drain down.

 

[Pudsey Bear]

Sounds a bit rude.

 

[wildebus]

temperatures seemed to have really dropped this last night ....

Electrics locker down from 5C to near zero; Room temp from just 0C down to -5C!

 

[marchie]

Gently I hope David, stanby with cloths if it's frozen so high up and leave the taps open.

I left the fresh and grey water tanks plus water heater empty after the sterilisation and descaling exercise, and left the grey waste water drain pipe open and the Frost Valve open and all taps open. I think the shower hose is empty [I was paranoid about leaving any corrosive, however dilute, water in the pipes from the descaling, and then showering my important little places weeks later!]. The bathroom and kitchen taps should be empty after I opened them up last week and just got a brief 'phut' of a few drops of water from each tap when I turned them on and ran the pump for 2-3 seconds The toilet cassette is empty [and fed from the fresh water supply], so I *think*/hope I'm ok now that the temperature has risen to minus 4 degrees ...

M/Home is parked in gear with the handbrake released. Anything else I should do, Kev, [or anyone else!]

Steve

 

[marchie]

I pump out when I drain down.

What, in these temperatures? I'd need to organise a Search Party [perhaps Cavers and Potholers, given their expertise] Always pays to be aware of one's shortcomings ...

Steve

 

[wildebus]

taps are free. Kitchen one seemed to have leaked a bit I think that just may be a bit of residual condensation freezing on the cold surface though (hopefully!).

If I turn the pump on, no noise. Now the system sees an empty tank so I don't know if when the tank is empty (which it is), the pump power gets disabled as a safeguard, or if no noise as pump is frozen? Keeping the heating on anyway to raise the internal ambient higher (up to a balmy 1C now)

 

[Pudsey Bear]

I left the fresh and grey water tanks plus water heater empty after the sterilisation and descaling exercise, and left the grey waste water drain pipe open and the Frost Valve open and all taps open. I think the shower hose is empty [I was paranoid about leaving any corrosive, however dilute, water in the pipes from the descaling, and then showering my important little places weeks later!]. The bathroom and kitchen taps should be empty after I opened them up last week and just got a brief 'phut' of a few drops of water from each tap when I turned them on and ran the pump for 2-3 seconds The toilet cassette is empty [and fed from the fresh water supply], so I *think*/hope I'm ok now that the temperature has risen to minus 4 degrees ...

M/Home is parked in gear with the handbrake released. Anything else I should do, Kev, [or anyone else!]

Steve

Loads of stuff, cushions on edge (just shout at them) wipe down fingerprints (or the rozzers will have you) open blinds, some sun will get in and help, and the springs won't stretch, turn wheels to kerb or a wall just in case, silica bags in wardrobe and fridge/freezer.

 

[marchie]

Loads of stuff, cushions on edge (just shout at them) wipe down fingerprints (or the rozzers will have you) open blinds, some sun will get in and help, and the springs won't stretch, turn wheels to kerb or a wall just in case, silica bags in wardrobe and fridge/freezer.

Fridge/Freezer propped open and M/Home opened up a couple of times each week. Blinds open, soft furnishings indoors, drop down bed lowered by 2 or 3 ins to allow air to circulate. Cupboards emptied, though repacking underway for early January departure.

The cushions aren't on edge, but the doors are alarmed; waiting for the Counsellor to arrange an appointment for them ... 'And relax, breathing deeply whilst keeping your eyes closed, and thinking of your happy space ...'

Steve

 

[GMJ]

You off to Spain again in January Steve?

We head off the 13th of Jan.