To dump or not

It is a good idea to leave taps open as long as you remember when refilling ?, also mixer taps need to be left .open in the “mixed” position. It’s all about getting the water out from the lowest points, eg if you have a shower head, take it off, blow down the pipe and leave it in the shower tray. For the other taps, we use a tap hose fitting and a short length of garden hose to blow down, I suppose you could use a 12v tyre inflator instead or a bike pump.
Dave
 
But but but if the dump valve works why dump it yourself just on my way to check it was 0c last night ----------------nope so I dumped it ,best dump it yourself .
 
Too early really isnt it? I Wouldnt have thought the odd overnight drop to zero would do any damage. We may use the van again at Christmas so will just keep an eye on the five day forecast. First three years we had it I Didnt even know about draining down and never bothered. It'll freeze now wont it? :censored:
 
Trek said:
QUOTE="barryd, post: It'll freeze now wont it?

Yes barryd You may have just shot yourself in the foot


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Ha ha far better not to post an opinion on these type of threads or the law of sod intervenes. As I don’t have a drain down tap I will keep using the van instead :)
 
barryd said:
Too early really isnt it? I Wouldnt have thought the odd overnight drop to zero would do any damage. We may use the van again at Christmas so will just keep an eye on the five day forecast. First three years we had it I Didnt even know about draining down and never bothered. It'll freeze now wont it? :censored:
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Many a true word Barry... -1 or -2 expected here in Sussex tonight. Birdie's out on the drive, all drained down and tucked up cosy with a little heater and I've put a fleece blanket over the duvet for me :cool:
 
I would have thought though that the odd -1 or -2 unless its prolonged would no cause a problem in a well insulated van. That really bad winter about seven years ago though I did drain down but you never get it all out do you? Off we went for Christmas in a winter wonderland Lake district. Its snowed and everything was frozen including a couple of small pockets of water in our pipework buried deep and out of sight which meant no working taps for several days. Even with a constant warm and cosy van it failed to thaw out until I guessed where the blockage was and directed a fan heater at that section for several hours and eventually the blockage melted with no damage. Unusual circumstances but it goes to show you can never drain down 100% properly (least not on my van). Moral of the story, in Winter, dont wait until you arrive somewhere to check everything is working.
 
I had one of those Floe Systems installed. https://keepfloeing.com/shop/touring/floe-automated-induratec-636-12v-drainage-system/
It's fab. Takes about 3 mins to completely flush out the taps, toilet, shower and water heater. I now do it every time we get home. Sort of satisfying :)
And I don't need to worry about frost damage.

I initially installed it because I thought I'd got a few urine infections from stagnant water in the van. Turned out it wasn't the cause at all but glad I did it anyway.
 
barryd said:
I would have thought though that the odd -1 or -2 unless its prolonged would no cause a problem in a well insulated van. That really bad winter about seven years ago though I did drain down but you never get it all out do you? Off we went for Christmas in a winter wonderland Lake district. Its snowed and everything was frozen including a couple of small pockets of water in our pipework buried deep and out of sight which meant no working taps for several days. Even with a constant warm and cosy van it failed to thaw out until I guessed where the blockage was and directed a fan heater at that section for several hours and eventually the blockage melted with no damage. Unusual circumstances but it goes to show you can never drain down 100% properly (least not on my van). Moral of the story, in Winter, dont wait until you arrive somewhere to check everything is working.
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Very true but mine's a British tin can :ROFLMAO:
Mind you, apart from the washing-up bowl incident, I've never had a freeze problem... touch wood, fingers crossed, touch wood again and a quick prayer to the camping gods :oops:
 
Minisorella said:
Very true but mine's a British tin can :ROFLMAO:
Mind you, apart from the washing-up bowl incident, I've never had a freeze problem... touch wood, fingers crossed, touch wood again and a quick prayer to the camping gods :oops:
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Mines a British van as well, Kontiki 640 but its well insulated with internal tanks. In some respects a well insulated van could be worse in a really hard freeze like we had that year as eventually any water will freeze and the further buried it is the harder it is to defrost as I found out. Didnt spoil our Christmas though. It was a fantastic winter break that year. -17c on New Years eve on the Honister Pass.
 
barryd said:
Mines a British van as well, Kontiki 640 but its well insulated with internal tanks. In some respects a well insulated van could be worse in a really hard freeze like we had that year as eventually any water will freeze and the further buried it is the harder it is to defrost as I found out. Didnt spoil our Christmas though. It was a fantastic winter break that year. -17c on New Years eve on the Honister Pass.
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Wow! That's cooooold :eek: Reminds me of the time when the Southern Frosties got their name. They were at Stonehenge for -12c nights (or was it -15, I forget) and Hippy's coffee froze solid in the cup!

I know I always joke that my van is cheap, cheerful and tinny but to be fair, she's really very, very cosy and, like you, has internal tanks. I always thank my stars that I've got a brilliant old Truma gas fire that gets everything lovely and toasty without any leccy required, so I'm happy to camp during the freezing weather. The floor gets a bit nippy in winter, so I put down a 'fitted' carpet that I cut to shape from house leftovers and then put my rugs on top... makes a world of difference. The bathroom is always cold but fine if I remember to leave the door open. One thing I couldn't do in the winter would be to sleep in the overhead... the insulation doesn't feel as good there for some reason.
 
Minisorella said:
Wow! That's cooooold :eek: Reminds me of the time when the Southern Frosties got their name. They were at Stonehenge for -12c nights (or was it -15, I forget) and Hippy's coffee froze solid in the cup!

I know I always joke that my van is cheap, cheerful and tinny but to be fair, she's really very, very cosy and, like you, has internal tanks. I always thank my stars that I've got a brilliant old Truma gas fire that gets everything lovely and toasty without any leccy required, so I'm happy to camp during the freezing weather. The floor gets a bit nippy in winter, so I put down a 'fitted' carpet that I cut to shape from house leftovers and then put my rugs on top... makes a world of difference. The bathroom is always cold but fine if I remember to leave the door open. One thing I couldn't do in the winter would be to sleep in the overhead... the insulation doesn't feel as good there for some reason.
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Yep. Snap. Our 1996 Kontiki has a Carver 3000 (I Think) gas fire with "optional" blown air heating and its fantastic. They dont half kick out the heat.I hardly bother to switch the blown air on. Front cab has thick curtains, close them and the entire van is T shirt warm within a very short time. We went through a fair bit of gas when wilding on that trip mind.
 
,We didn't drain down but seem to have got away with it. Apparently we have an automatic dump when the temperature gets low enough, which it did. All checked out OK and we are now empty and everything still worked.
 
***** said:
I do it before I leave to come home or in a lay by. By doing it before I get home my theory is that the drive home will shake out water from the pipes.
I do it every time if there is any possibility of freezing. A pain but better than the alternative and you get into a rhythm
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Yes, I dump on way home hoping vibration will empty all when travelling up and down hills. Will have to fill up again next week before setting off to NEC Classic car show.
 
We always dump in-between trips and then because we don't do Winter journeys I get the guys at the storage place to give it the full drain down and pressure blow. It does cost but it ensures that we are in line with the warranty should anything happen.
 
I never drain just put a tubular heater in and leave the hot water on while on the drive and on EHU. The van is not sat there long though does get used most weekends even over the winter. Off to temby area for a week today. Hardy lot us Bristolians.:)
 
Always dump when not in use . and never tie up a dump valve .
If you have a toilet that takes water from main water tank it will freeze if system not drained.
Also a new boiler will cost 2k .
Drain down it's 5 min job .

NO BRAINER .
 
Mikehanky said:
Always dump when not in use . and never tie up a dump valve .
If you have a toilet that takes water from main water tank it will freeze if system not drained.
Also a new boiler will cost 2k .
Drain down it's 5 min job .

NO BRAINER .
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Not if you have an old knacker like mind it wont. Fair few years ago our hot water boiler literally blew up on Christmas day. Mrs D was sat in the dinette above it when it happened. Water everywhere. Think the pressure valve was blocked or something. I cant remember what the replacement cost from the breakers but it was less than a hundred quid. Good thing about having an old Swift. You can usually fix most stuff with rubber tape and bailer twine.
 
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