I think I got away with it (1 Viewer)

[Techno]

Forgot to drain my water down and later didn’t have time to go do it. So it has been through a good number of frosts even with water in the boiler

I have the boiler on at full blast now and the pump is not running
Fingers crossed

 

[daveandsan]

Minus 6 here Wednesday night Andy, don’t think you would have got away with it here, mind you it did get up to 1 deg at midday in the motorhome.
Hope all is ok.

 

[Techno]

Yes it’s been that low here too this last week
In fact yesterday morning the pavements were lethal

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[CazPaul]

Does it not just drain automatically when cold?

 

[filopastry]

Always a worry ol' Jack. We place within the camper two plastic bottles half full of water, one a little thinner than the other, even when the mercury drops rapidly the bottles within the camper do not freeze unless there is a very hard frost, very hard indeed. Similar outside the van should you wish to see the difference between inside and outside even without heating. We drain the boiler down but don't panick at the first sign of frost on the grass.

 

[daveandsan]

Does it not just drain automatically when cold?

Only the heater drains automatically, it still leaves water in the pump and pipes.

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[pappajohn]

two plastic bottles half full of water, one a little thinner than the other

WOW, you can get thinner water !!!

 

[Techno]

Some of us peg off the boiler dump valve to prevent premature dumping
This is ok if you remember to remove it

 

[Lenny HB]

Good luck I hope the pump hasn't cracked.

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[Techno]

It’s all fine ready for Friday

 

[daveandsan]

WOW, you can get thinner water !!!

You can get heavy water, but I think it had something to do with a large explosion.

 

[filopastry]

WOW, you can get thinner water !!!

We call it vodka, takes some freezing HICK!

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[filopastry]

Some of us peg off the boiler dump valve to prevent premature dumping
This is ok if you remember to remove it

Mine's done like that but because it's broken, wasn't me. For the three or four days light frost we get here doesn't seem worthy of displacing the peg. Still will do though cos I'm a scaredy cat

 

[CazPaul]

Only the heater drains automatically, it still leaves water in the pump and pipes.

I know but Techno said even with water in the boiler.

 

[Chris51]

Got to be a very hard frost to freeze up pump and interior pipes.Not been that bad around here yet but my van parked in between two buildings and boiler drained .My last van (1996 Autosleeper) boiler leaked and must have frozen boiler cylinder in past(cascade) and swelled boiler it-had to fit new casing.

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[CazPaul]

Some of us peg off the boiler dump valve to prevent premature dumping
This is ok if you remember to remove it

Yes that's the important bit, remembering to remove it, a mate and his missus left theirs once over winter with a peg and they finished up having to have a new boiler, I just let mine drain if it wants to, that's what it is designed to do, no big deal sticking some more water in and running it through again.

 

[DC4JC]

Nearly had a similar thing with the 'outside' shower thats fitted in the garage.
Although everything drained down, forgot it and only just remembered before this cold snap took hold.
Good job, the head, which is a trigger one, was full, as was the hose to it! All drained down now.

 

[GWAYGWAY]

I have left the heating on at 8 degrees running off the house EHU I can feel the blower it is not warm but certainly not freezing. It is an arctic insulated body with all the tank and lines inside, I hope that it will be OK.

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[two]

Clearly, you need to protect the boiler and I'd rather do so manually, rather than rely on some other device. Then there is the pump and any taps. I don't go around trying to blow water out (too much trouble, too often) as I assume water in pipework would have room to expand if the temperature did drop low enough for it to freeze.

 

[Minxy]

Clearly, you need to protect the boiler and I'd rather do so manually, rather than rely on some other device. Then there is the pump and any taps. I don't go around trying to blow water out (too much trouble, too often) as I assume water in pipework would have room to expand if the temperature did drop low enough for it to freeze.

Just make sure you leave your taps in the open position in the centre so that both hot and cold are open to prevent the tap itself being cracked from any trapped water freezing up.

 

[Gooney]

Just make sure you leave your taps in the open position in the centre so that both hot and cold are open to prevent the tap itself being cracked from any trapped water freezing up.

A lesson I learned many years ago with a caravan, drained everything down but left the taps closed on the mixer taps and the swan neck nozzle split from arsehole to breakfast.

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[daveandsan]

A lesson I learned many years ago with a caravan, drained everything down but left the taps closed on the mixer taps and the swan neck nozzle split from arsehole to breakfast.

Is that a technical term.

 

[Gooney]

Is that a technical term.

Yup @daveandsan,, straight from the Haynes manual ‘Descriptive expressive terms for beginners’

 

[Norfolk Nomad]

When I had a caravan, to get the last of the water out of the pipework I would blow up a large balloon and put it on the taps. Not sure if it worked but I never had any problems with split pipes.

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[filopastry]

When I had a caravan, to get the last of the water out of the pipework I would blow up a large balloon and put it on the taps. Not sure if it worked but I never had any problems with split pipes.

What a simply brilliant idea to clear out the pipes. Recon to ensure it works well connect the balloon to one tap whilst opening all the other taps in turn. I have previously tried to blow the water out but getting my head into the sink whilst twisting around and pursing my lips trying to make a seal but the only result was 'er indoors nearly had a "little accident" cos she laughed so much and my back doesn't enjoy the contortions I could once do easily. We will always have a balloon near to had ...... would a condom work ....???

 

[filopastry]

Ha, not a green as I am cabbage looking now eh? don't want to steal your thunder but I've just found an easier way. Disconnect the shower rose and use the flexible shower pipe to blow down

 

[filopastry]

not as much fun and no balloons or condoms were abused in this operation.

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[Norfolk Nomad]

I think it helps if you have the right balloon.