To purge or not to purge (1 Viewer)

[Emmenay]

As in the title really, we're expecting pretty low temperatures tonight so to be on the safe side I knocked up a gadget to do the purging, and it seems to work well (I know you can buy the kit but I kind of panicked a bit today when I saw the forecast.)

What is the general opinion on the subject, is it crucial or do you bother?

 

[Swiftroy1]

What's purging?

 

[pappajohn]

I did mine with my garage compressor, but this is the first year to do so.
I generally rely on just draining down.

also, as my pump needs some remedial work i removed it completely and took it indoors

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[Emmenay]

What's purging?

When you force the water from the system using pressure.

 

[chatter]

would imagine the poster is refering to emptying the fresh water system and pipes so there is no damage to the system, and blowing them through to ensure no water lies trapped in the pipes as being plastic they will possibly crackm whilst also not forgetting the hot water boiler

 

[pappajohn]

What's purging?

my definition is to remove as much water from the pipes and taps as possible using compressed air.

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[Emmenay]

would imagine the poster is refering to emptying the fresh water system and pipes so there is no damage to the system, and blowing them through to ensure no water lies trapped in the pipes as being plastic they will possibly crackm whilst also not forgetting the hot water boiler

Yes, what chatter said :Blush:

 

[chatter]

and in answer to the OP i would of drained down/purged the system weeks ago, because you never know when jack frost and bad weather will strike, and if using the van over winter i would of done it after every trip

 

[pappajohn]

and in answer to the OP i would of drained down/purged the system weeks ago, because you never know when jack frost and bad weather will strike, and if using the van over winter i would of done it after every trip

agreed.....a bit chilly here last night, but this morning the screen washer tank on the work van was frozen (and i mean the tank !) and de-icer froze to the screen.

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[motorhomer]

Personally I thing purging with compressed air is going a bit far, a drop of water left in the blue pipes used in modern vans will not do any harm, the pipes have some flexibility.

It is, of course. important that tanks and the boiler are emptied, along with any breakable components - ours has a filter housed in a glass holder which obviously need to be dry.

Another solution is to drain the water and the boiler before leaving the last site. Driving home afterwards with the taps left open will rid the system adequately of any residual drops.

 

[Sundowners]

I think that draining everything down and leaving ALL taps open (inc. outside shower) will prevent pipe damage------(IF there is some water in the pipes, it can expand ALONG the pipe if taps are open,--I think) but the areas most at risk are where a volume of water can hide----like hot water system, water pump and filter, I have taken a chance in the past (without problems) but this winter we have left our 5er in storage all winter, so I did blow through the whole system with a small compressor, and put anti-freeze down all plug holes.
when we get back in the spring we shall see if we got it right
Nigel & Pamala--------Zahora, at the moment

 

[blamehofman]

Even though I have purged the system I still wrap all the taps , shower head and hose and the boiler in towels just in case , dont know if I am being paranoid or not .

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[DESCO]

Another solution is to drain the water and the boiler before leaving the last site. Driving home afterwards with the taps left open will rid the system adequately of any residual drops.

Agree always follow this practice seems to work OK

 

[pappajohn]

Personally I thing purging with compressed air is going a bit far, a drop of water left in the blue pipes used in modern vans will not do any harm, the pipes have some flexibility.

It is, of course. important that tanks and the boiler are emptied, along with any breakable components - ours has a filter housed in a glass holder which obviously need to be dry.

Another solution is to drain the water and the boiler before leaving the last site. Driving home afterwards with the taps left open will rid the system adequately of any residual drops.

ice expands in all directions...not just the easiest route...and if its at a pipe joint it will push it apart.

 

[darklord]

Yoiu should do whatever helps you sleep at night, some blow, some dont, neither is right or wrong, the main thing, is 1 hour + very little effort = no kicking yourself up the bum if soemnthing went wrong

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[Welsh girl]

A little different here as we are using the van but have drained down as suggested earlier but cannot use compressed air to clear the remaining water, we will leave all the taps open and we can leave the boiler on we are using the blown air heating which doesn't need water but are going to use bottled water for the necessaries and even though we had tank heaters and we are all lagged underneath we still froze up.