Do you drain hot water tank before travelling

[Pagen]

Probably a silly question but I understand the payload issue etc re travelling with full fresh water tank. However is it ok to travel with the hot water system full to save bleeding and refilling at next stop?

 

[Googlebot]

Yes, it’s what we do.

 

[kevenh]

If 10kg of water there puts your payload too high, it’s easy to refill at most sites.

But mostly, yes, it’s OK to travel with that water..
We wouldn’t routinely drain the hot water tank.

Edit: reverse the logic to better answer the question. (I’d said no, we don’t empty. Etc.)

 

[wolfie2]

I have never emptied the hot water tank in 10 years unless the outside temperature is likely to drop below 0*C

 

[Pagen]

Ta for that the payload is not an issue just wondering if it’s ok and will not damage boiler or mounting by travelling full

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[PP Bear]

Absolutely. Also travel everywhere with freshwater tank as full as possible as I never know where or when I'm stopping and might need it.

Why dump fresh water, only to fill up at the next location

 

[Pausim]

Ta for that the payload is not an issue just wondering if it’s ok and will not damage boiler or mounting by travelling full

Not a problem, if it needed draining down it would be in the operating manual.

 

[Pagen]

Thanks all for your reassurance! Will leave it full

 

[Two on Tour]

Only ever drain ours down in the frosty weather.
If it did need draining down to prevent damage boiler or mounting by travelling full then it would not be fit for purpose in my eyes.

 

[Lenny HB]

Only gets drained if its likely to freeze when not using the van.
Always travel with the fresh tank full, never know when you are going to be able to get water next.

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[RobbyMClark]

Absolutely. Also travel everywhere with freshwater tank as full as possible as I never know where or when I'm stopping and might need it.

Why dump fresh water, only to fill up at the next location

Only drain boiler at end of season and it may be cold or when flushing system.
Last few trips have had full fresh tank and the van appeared to be not as noisy and felt better!

 

[Lenny HB]

Only drain boiler at end of season and it may be cold or when flushing system.
Last few trips have had full fresh tank and the van appeared to be not as noisy and felt better!

I've never noticed any difference with 160kg of water onboard but our tank is amidships & low down.

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

Never emptied anything before travelling,only before the winter layup.

 

[donkey]

If you do decide to drain the hot water, make sure you are not on a grass pitch, as it kills the grass and takes ages to grow back.

Geoff

 

[Lenny HB]

If you do decide to drain the hot water, make sure you are not on a grass pitch, as it kills the grass and takes ages to grow back.

Geoff

After spending money on gas to heat it no way would I ditch precious hot water.

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[donkey]

I agree Lenny, but as we have a Combi 4E the water only stays warm for a little while. There is next to no thermal insulation in these boilers. I know because it is under my bed and bakes my legs. So I turn it down to 40degrees before bed.

Geoff

 

[Puddleduck]

Never even thought about draining down the HOT water before traveling.

Usually we have half a tank of cold water and drain down the cold water when we get home (but not the hot unless frost expected).

 

[DuxDeluxe]

I have never emptied the hot water tank in 10 years unless the outside temperature is likely to drop below 0*C

Ta for that the payload is not an issue just wondering if it’s ok and will not damage boiler or mounting by travelling full

Not a problem, if it needed draining down it would be in the operating manual.

Thanks all for your reassurance! Will leave it full

Only ever drain ours down in the frosty weather.
If it did need draining down to prevent damage boiler or mounting by travelling full then it would not be fit for purpose in my eyes.

When getting my system fixed at Alde, their engineer showed me a heater with the hot water jacket split (very expensive repair) and suggested that it is always a good idea to operate the dump valve for maybe 5-10 seconds every month or so to prevent hydraulic effects and ensure that there is an air gap at the top. I always drain down the fresh water if not using the van for a few weeks but only the whole system in the winter

 

[PP Bear]

Just open the grey tap before you set off and the waste will be nicely empty and not stinky when you arrive at the next location

 

[Clarky]

When getting my system fixed at Alde, their engineer showed me a heater with the hot water jacket split (very expensive repair) and suggested that it is always a good idea to operate the dump valve for maybe 5-10 seconds every month or so to prevent hydraulic effects and ensure that there is an air gap at the top. I always drain down the fresh water if not using the van for a few weeks but only the whole system in the winter

It’s part of the Alde instructions that you should drain the water heater every 4-5 weeks to allow a cushion of air at the top.
As DuxDeluxe says, it only requires a couple of minutes with the boiler drain valve open but it could save an awful lot of grief.

Richard.

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[rolosroller]

 

[Pagen]

But are you sure

 

[Off da Grid]

Nop. Saves the hassle of getting all the air out when we refill.
If you forget to turn off the water heater and plug in if it’s empty you will at least trip the cut out at worst burn something out.
We tripped ours I thought it was dead I didn’t know it had a reset. Separate to our gas water heater.
Decided a year later during the winter lay down, to take it out as it didn’t work.
Thought that I’d take a look, took me ages to get it out as the bracket had been silkaflexed in.
Dismantled it and found the reset switch.
Did a bench test refitted it and still works.

 

[EuroTrotters]

no, Never

 

[bexleyjohn]

I realise there are differing views on driving with a full fresh water tank (in my case 120 ltrs which is 120kg). But for ease of arriving and setting up I always fill up before moving on. Never empty either fresh water tank or hot water until I get home and although it probably uses more fuel, it’s not overly different. A 3500kg unit with a Fiat 2.3 litre 150 engine - have averaged 27.2 mpg over 5 years of touring the UK and Europe.

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[wfdTamar]

Dump grey and black whenever you get a chance and keep every drop of fresh as it’s a PITA to find in the UK (and inconvenient elsewhere).

 

[Tea Bag]

If you do decide to drain the hot water, make sure you are not on a grass pitch, as it kills the grass and takes ages to grow back.

Hi.
C&MC Sites had a problem some years ago with dying patches of grass........ It was to do with the " Water boilers being fitted to the latest C/vans. Due to weight/stability issues,they would often be drained down on the pitch prior to hitching up and leaving. Once the reason was found,it was easily sorted.
Now mo/homing, we set off with at least threequarters of a tank of fresh water and all systems primed,plus a 10 litre plastic container full of water... Belt and braces ?
Tea Bag

 

[busbuddy]

Always travel with boiler full until this weekend when the truma safety valve failed sounding like a gang of heavy metal drummers doing a rubbish genesis cover in the bottom of the wardrobe, had to ditch all water

 

[AndyVW]

No Never, after leaving site or home with hot water, the engine heat exchanger keeps it warm, so no waiting for hot water on arrival.
huge saving on Gas/electric. The system is now 17 years old and only had a spark igniter replaced, brilliant piece of kit.

 

[Ridgeway]

Who throws away good water ?