waste pipe insulation

[camocam1]

Just insulated the waste pipe on my Bailey 760 with 22mm pipe lagging covered in foil insulation any suggestions for lagging the drain tap ???

 

[jonandshell]

In my experience you are wasting your time. Without some form of heat applied to the pipe, just leave it open and use a bucket!

 

[musson]

Hi if you do want to insulate the tap I think you can get an outside tap insulator from B and Q,wickes

 

[BreweryDave]

Or just go to spain

 

[bungy]

I once asked John Wickersham (author of build your own motorcaravan) what he would recommend on insulating a grey tank and drain pipes
His answer was simply - unless you plan on heating the tank then all you are doing is slowing the thawing process down...

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[Speve]

In my experience you are wasting your time. Without some form of heat applied to the pipe, just leave it open and use a bucket!

I agree with jonandshell that's the best thing to do

 

[camocam1]

The reason I have lagged it is as follows
On the Bailey there is some form of baffle at the drain valve which restricts / slows the flow from the waste tank ( plan to take off in the spring and replace) and when I was away in minus 2 even with the drain open and a bucket the waste pipe / drain valve still Froze !!!!

 

[camocam1]

Pushed the button too early so even given my reasons I do note what has been said by all
Looked at outside tap covers and they are too large for MHZ
Spain I wish !!!! Was planning that after the new year but family matters got in the way as usual maybe someday

 

[Gromett]

I would agree, as a full timer I have had the frozen pipe problem a few times now. Insulating without heating will only slow the freezing process, it will also slow the thawing process.

I designed mine so that I could disconnect the waste pipes where they exit the van before they go into the waste tank. I used straight through connectors. If the weather gets bad I pull these pipes apart and drop them into the waste hog and a bucket. In weather where it freezes overnight but thaws during the day I just leave the waste hog under the tap and leave it open.

 

[jonandshell]

Some manufacturers fit some terrible waste discharge solutions.
I remember our old Elddis had a ridiculous piece of 22mm hose with a tiny tap on the end. It took ages to drain the titchy 45 litre waste tank. I say drain, but it never really did, the exit hosetail wasn't even at the bottom of the tank!
I'm glad we haven't got it now, it would have frozen solid in no time at all once it got below freezing!

Our present Chausson has a 2 inch gate valve which dumps the 105 litre tank completely and in no time at all. Because there is no discharge pipe, the slide valve is the only part prone to freezing. It doesn't freeze often unless it is -10 or less due to the tank defrost element being within a couple of inches of it. A quick warming up with a saucepan of boiled water thaws it within a couple of minutes.

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[Techno]

My Rapido has a much better design in that the waste pipe does not have any water in it until I open the drain tap. No water = no ice
Bailey you could do better.

 

[Techno]

The tap turns this shaft that in turn operates the dump valve inside the tanks outer surround. The Truma blown air heating feeds into that void. So as long as the heating is on there is no chance of freezing

 

[jonandshell]

Chausson offer a heated shroud for the waste tank with their winter pack.
Our van was from dealer stock, so insulation and a defrost element have been added to dispense with buckets.

Trialled and proven in the real world as below!

http://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/threads/cak-tanks-auto-defrost-element.92904/

 

[LaMB]

The reason I have lagged it is as follows
On the Bailey there is some form of baffle at the drain valve which restricts / slows the flow from the waste tank ( plan to take off in the spring and replace) and when I was away in minus 2 even with the drain open and a bucket the waste pipe / drain valve still Froze !!!!

The baffle will just pull out. I also removed the tap by part turning it and pulling it out. Then I made the hole in the tap bigger (just make sure you don't go past the 'seal' part of the tap).

I have pictures at home I can post if needed.

Martin

 

[camocam1]

If you could Martin that would be great thanks

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[LaMB]

I realised I had the pics on my USB stick, so here they are:-

 

[GJH]

I remember our old Elddis had a ridiculous piece of 22mm hose with a tiny tap on the end. It took ages to drain the titchy 45 litre waste tank. I say drain, but it never really did, the exit hosetail wasn't even at the bottom of the tank!
I'm glad we haven't got it now, it would have frozen solid in no time at all once it got below freezing!

We never had a problem with our waste pipe freezing on the Autoquest but I agree about the ridiculous tap. When ours broke (as they inevitably do) I replaced it with a water butt tap which gave a much better flow.

 

[scotjimland]

Lagging ? pipes freezing ? wot's all that about ?

buy a proper van like a Hymer, fit for purpose and suitable for the winter season..

 

[PeteH]

Lagging ? pipes freezing ? wot's all that about ?

buy a proper van like a Hymer, fit for purpose and suitable for the winter season..

The Lottery didn`t Come up (again!)

Pete

 

[scotjimland]

The Lottery didn`t Come up (again!)

Pete

nah.. I used my RV as a deposit on a decent van

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[Lenny HB]

My Rapido has a much better design in that the waste pipe does not have any water in it until I open the drain tap. No water = no ice
Bailey you could do better.

Hymer's too and of course the waste tank is in an insulted enclosure heated by the vans heating system.

Foreigners build Motorhomes fit for purpose.

 

[Reallyretired]

I have a rapido so no problem with freezing. The worst I had was a kontiki which had a length of corrugated waste pipe with a water butt type tap on the end. Drainage was very slow but luckily the whole system leaked so it didn't need emptying too often!