Help! Blue button won’t stay in on my boiler frost valve! Chilly!

[Clareyb999]

Hello team - en route to Shropshire.. put in 25% full fresh water. All taps are off, pump in on - can’t get my blue button on the side to stay in. Is it because it’s too cold? Do I need more water? Any advice before I freeze my cankers off this eve… thank you lovely people..

 

[Jake Royd]

Try running the heating for 15 minutes or so to warm up the area around the valve.

 

[BouncyBoatFolk]

What heating system? Most Trumas can be run without a water content. When the hab area has heated the button will stay in.A hair drier pointed at the valve will speed things up when you get to your destination if you have 240v there.

 

[Bramidan]

Had the same problem, day before yesterday. You think it’s warmed up but it isn’t!
I warned the wife we might be using bottled water, naturally I worried for England, checked the photos in the manual, resorted to the internet, read about people putting clothes pegs on it.
Moved the “tap” on the top whilst pressing the button.
Asked myself “ perhaps it is in “
After about 30 mins or so ( felt like a lifetime) it went in as sweet as a nut, left heating on and came away yesterday.
Now at Melton Mowbray, sunny but cold.
Heating working a treat but it doesn’t seem to reach the desired temp before it turns off but perhaps it is the temp outside. This warm heating on ECU doesn’t seem to have much guts, perhaps it’s me expecting too much.
It is toasty in the Moho but I’m worried that it seems to be running constantly.

 

[Clareyb999]

Team - thank you - snug as a bug! Used a hot water bottle to warm the valve up and yes sweet as a nut, in it went! Thanks so much! How freaking cold!!!

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[ontheroadagain]

I don’t like those automatic dump valves that Truma fit. Much preferred the manual valve on our previous van which had Whale heating. Can a manual valve be fitted to the Truma? At least then I could decide when to dump the water.

 

[Pausim]

Had the same problem, day before yesterday. You think it’s warmed up but it isn’t!
I warned the wife we might be using bottled water, naturally I worried for England, checked the photos in the manual, resorted to the internet, read about people putting clothes pegs on it.
Moved the “tap” on the top whilst pressing the button.
Asked myself “ perhaps it is in “
After about 30 mins or so ( felt like a lifetime) it went in as sweet as a nut, left heating on and came away yesterday.
Now at Melton Mowbray, sunny but cold.
Heating working a treat but it doesn’t seem to reach the desired temp before it turns off but perhaps it is the temp outside. This warm heating on ECU doesn’t seem to have much guts, perhaps it’s me expecting too much.
It is toasty in the Moho but I’m worried that it seems to be running constantly.

if you have a Truma Combi you need to run it on gas in very cold weather. The electric elements are only 1.8kW and it will run all day at a lowish fan but not get the better of the cold. On gas the Combi 6E puts out 6kW. It is really a gas heater that has optional low power electric elements 2x900W.

 

[BouncyBoatFolk]

I don’t like those automatic dump valves that Truma fit. Much preferred the manual valve on our previous van which had Whale heating. Can a manual valve be fitted to the Truma? At least then I could decide when to dump the water.

For me, I prefer their set up, PIA or not. I'm as likely to forget and end up with a large repair bill.
Mike.

 

[IRHP]

I don’t like those automatic dump valves that Truma fit. Much preferred the manual valve on our previous van which had Whale heating. Can a manual valve be fitted to the Truma? At least then I could decide when to dump the water.

Easy to remove the valve. It's just connected in the pipework, nothing to do with the boiler. Easy to fit a manual valve but I wouldn't take any risk. Depends where you live though and how often it's likely to get below freezing. I've seen minus temps in October.

 

[Lenny HB]

I don’t like those automatic dump valves that Truma fit. Much preferred the manual valve on our previous van which had Whale heating. Can a manual valve be fitted to the Truma? At least then I could decide when to dump the water.

If you don't mind risking a repair bill of over a thousand quid. They don't dump until temp is down to 3° so it doesn't happen very often.
The old electric ones I would agree were a bit of a pain as they would dump at 5 - 6°.

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[Howard B]

I have fitted the Truma dump valve heater. It plugs into the main Truma unit and powers when the hot water is turned on I believe.

 

[TheMachMan]

Been there when we first had our van. The valves won’t reset until above about 5 degC. So can be a PITA if you want to fill up at home before setting off when it’s been freezing.

 

[BouncyBoatFolk]

Been there when we first had our van. The valves won’t reset until above about 5 degC. So can be a PITA if you want to fill up at home before setting off when it’s been freezing.

From my understanding, [ limited] most, only dump the boiler contents, [say 15ltr] so you should still have plenty left in the cold tank. You could also pack a 20ltr jerry can full as an additional top up.
Mike.

 

[Lenny HB]

From my understanding, [ limited] most, only dump the boiler contents, [say 15ltr] so you should still have plenty left in the cold tank. You could also pack a 20ltr jerry can full as an additional top up.
Mike.

Depends on where the valve is in relation to the tank, if the tank is higher than the valve it will drain the tank as well.

 

[TheMachMan]

From my understanding, [ limited] most, only dump the boiler contents, [say 15ltr] so you should still have plenty left in the cold tank. You could also pack a 20ltr jerry can full as an additional top up.
Mike.

I think ours dumps the main tank too.

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[meanders]

We just warm the van on gas before attempting to fill up if it's been really cold. Reset them works and all is well.

 

[BouncyBoatFolk]

Ah, OK. Ours is all pumped, no gravity involved, the cold storage tank has it's own drain off valve that allows a 20 ltr reserve to be kept on board.
An in-line turn valve might work, convenient, but it's something else to remember .
Mike.

 

[Clareyb999]

Hi Mike
It dumped the lot! Full tank removed by the valve overnight … to be honest - glad it did as it hit -5 van was toast though! And the turns heater definitely blowed hotter on mixed 2 or just gas v’s just electric..

 

[TheMachMan]

Surprised the valve activated if it was warm inside.

 

[Reallyretired]

From my understanding, [ limited] most, only dump the boiler contents, [say 15ltr] so you should still have plenty left in the cold tank. You could also pack a 20ltr jerry can full as an additional top up.
Mike.

Mine siphons and dumps the fresh tank as well.

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[Lenny HB]

Mine siphons and dumps the fresh tank as well.

Is your tank above the dump valve?.

Our tank is in the double floor only the boiler dumps.

 

[Reallyretired]

Dump valve is at floor level in the garage so pretty much the lowest point.