Water tank insulation. (1 Viewer)

[Kanberlingo]

Hi all,

What are members thoughts on the necessity to insulate the water tanks. We are spending 3mths in Breamar Scotland from mid Dec. to late March, & what material would be used if considered necessary. We have the 2007 Chausson Allegro83
(57 plate)

BeeJay

 

[pappajohn]

if its indoors then no need.

if its underslung then it may well be worth it.

closed cell foam sheets (you dont want it absorbing water)would be a good bet and this could even be glued to form a box using a rubber adhesive

 

[DESCO]

If it's only the waste tank I would not bother, I would leave the tap on drain hose open and use a bucket if you expect freezing temps. At least the waste should not freeze.
Fresh water different use pappajohns method if tank outside, or get tank heater.


Dave:thumb::thumb:

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[Kanberlingo]

Thanks pappajohn, I'll source some & fit it to the fresh water tank, if I can get at it.


I'll go alaong with DESCO's thoughts on the waste tank.

 

[Tony Lee]

If temperatures are likely to be below freezing at night and at or only slightly above freezing in the day, then just insulating external tanks will only work for a day or so. Much longer than that and you will need some form of tank heating that includes any external pipework as well.

 

[Douglas]

A method I have used, a little more expensive, a little more profesional, can be painted, waterprove if not injured.

Cans of spray foam will do a fine job. if you wanted to you can clad the foam in very thin plywood as the foam setts and you will have stone protection as well.

Doug...

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[Kanberlingo]

A few alternatives to consider. Thanks chaps.:thumb:

 

[American Dream]

These should do the trick.:thumb:

Ultra Heat, Inc. - Tank Heaters

Watch out...these are 110-120 volt/12 v ones.

There must be 220-240v ones about.

Link RemovedLink Removed

 

[Kanberlingo]

Hi American Dream,

That link is A1, but trying to find a similar site in the UK is proving to be difficult.
All that is being thrown up are heater type mats etc for hydrophonics, fish tanks etc.

No matter how I type in the request for Google, I can't find a site that gives the same type of heater mats as your link.

I'll post-up if/when I find one.

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[DESCO]

Might be worth looking in caravan spare part suppliers I am sure have seen something like a 12V submersible heater like used in fish tanks but can't remember where, that does the same job.



Dave:thumb::thumb:

 

[Spacerunner]

I have a Chausson Welcome, built similar to OP's Allegro.

The freshwater tank is inboard and should be frost free and no danger of freezing. The waste tank is underslung and, as mentioned previously, if the drain valve is left open to drain into a bucket or similar then, again, no problem.

The Allegro is a French model and very popular with the French when going into the Alps for winter skiing. Also you should check to see if the waste tank already has a heater. After all the Allegro range is top of the model line-up and has lots of 'bells and whistles' that other models don't have.

 

[Wildman]

do bear in mind these heaters draw a minimum of 4 amps your poor batteries will soon be flat if you are not on hookup
internal tanks will still freeze if you don't have heating on inside. Best to fill the tanks with whiskey then no more problems.

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[Kanberlingo]

do bear in mind these heaters draw a minimum of 4 amps your poor batteries will soon be flat if you are not on hookup
internal tanks will still freeze if you don't have heating on inside. Best to fill the tanks with whiskey then no more problems.

I like my Whisky (Scottish) with a dash of water, thats why I need to keep the fresh water tank liquid.

 

[Terry]

If you leave the drain tap open as the last drops come out they will freeze eventually blocking the pipe. Better to let the tank fill then empty it all in one go, of course this all goes tits up if you are always emptying hot water (melting the said ice)
My own tanks are under slung surrounded by some thick (30 mm ) solid -ish foam that does not soak up water (no idea what it is called ) and on the inside I leave a dish cloth in a bowl a couple of inches deep in bleach and water that has yet to freeze (2 yrs winter ) and never bother draining the boiler, but then again my baby is a lot better insulated than any normal van -- see insulation at the bottom of description--:thumb:
terry

 

[activecampers]

cak tanks sell 15w tank heaters, and combined with insulation should be good for -26. Thermostatically controlled. I've been in -11 and its been fine.

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[Kanberlingo]

@ Spacerunner, I can't see anywhere in the bumf that came with the MH that there's a wastewater heater fitted, nor is there an obvious switch to be seen.

@Terry, The drain on the Chausson isn't a tap, but a sluice similar in size to the sluice in the Thetford toilets. It's opened & closed with a pull/push bar from the side of the bodywork.

@ Activecampers, I've dealt with CAK Tanks in the past. I once fitted an additional freshwater tank to a Fiat Compass Ducato we had. So I'll take a look at their site.

Thanks again to all contributors.

BeeJay

 

[Terry]

Hi BeeJay ,If you leave the sluce open it will still freeze the last dregs of water probably creating another problem by not allowing you to close it
terry

 

[Kanberlingo]

B*gg*r it, I think I'll stop at home. Where's that scotch?

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[Wildman]

B*gg*r it, I think I'll stop at home. Where's that scotch?

It's in your water tank