Water drains away when pump is turned on.

[Doricden]

Hi Campers.

I have an Adria Matrix M680 with what is likely to be a standard water system.

The drain tap is in the storage locker at the rear and is a blue switch (on/off) and under that is a reset button. I turn the drain tap off and water stops flowing, I reset the button but when I turn the water pump on the water flows out.

Any ideas please before I travel to Spain, I would like to arrive there having had an occasional wash.

 

[peterc10]

Hi Campers.

I have an Adria Matrix M680 with what is likely to be a standard water system.

The drain tap is in the storage locker at the rear and is a blue switch (on/off) and under that is a reset button. I turn the drain tap off and water stops flowing, I reset the button but when I turn the water pump on the water flows out.

Any ideas please before I travel to Spain, I would like to arrive there having had an occasional wash.

What I think you are referring to is the boiler dump valve, which opens when the weather gets cold. It is designed to prevent the boiler being damaged by frost. It works by gravity and stops draining when the boiler is empty. If that is the case when you switch on the pump the boiler starts to fill again so it starts to empty it again, but this time with more pressure because the pump is on. You need to get things warmed up before you switch the pump on.

 

[Landy Andy]

 

[mfw]

You could try putting warm water ( not too hot ) in water tank and try pumping it should warm boiler up enough to keep drain valve shut - too hot you could and probably would cause more problems - and i do only mean hand warm water

 

[peterc10]

The Truma heating will work without water in the boiler. Just switch it on and warm up the motorhome.

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[daveandsan]

Hi Campers.

I have an Adria Matrix M680 with what is likely to be a standard water system.

The drain tap is in the storage locker at the rear and is a blue switch (on/off) and under that is a reset button. I turn the drain tap off and water stops flowing, I reset the button but when I turn the water pump on the water flows out.

Any ideas please before I travel to Spain, I would like to arrive there having had an occasional wash.

Seems a funny place to put a dump valve, both motorhomes I have had the valve has had a heating duct in close proximity.
The storage locker is always going to be cold.

 

[peterc10]

Seems a funny place to put a dump valve, both motorhomes I have had the valve has had a heating duct in close proximity.
The storage locker is always going to be cold.

Suspect they mean an internal storage locker. On our Adria the dump valve was in a internal storage locker which had a heating duct running through it. Most of the internal storage lockers did.

 

[Landy Andy]

Surely you would want the frost valve to be in a cold area, or certainly where the the air will be the same temp as the water pipes. If you put the frost valve where it’s warm, it will let the water freeze, whilst the valve stays warm.

Or am I missing something??

 

[peterc10]

Surely you would want the frost valve to be in a cold area, or certainly where the the air will be the same temp as the water pipes. If you put the frost valve where it’s warm, it will let the water freeze, whilst the valve stays warm.

Or am I missing something??

Yes you are. It is designed only to protect the water in the boiler from freezing, not everywhere else. That is where the worse damage will occur as it will probably mean a replacement boiler and heating system. If the heating is on the frost valve will warm up but so will the boiler as that is where the air heating unit is as well.

In any event properly winterised vans usually have the water pipes running close or next to the heating ducts (or pipes with Alde). Our 2008 Adria did and so does our present Hymer.

 

[Doricden]

Fellas: All that has been most helpful and I thank you all. It never occurred to me that I needed to keep the temperature up and you are all right, the problem only occurred in the cold weather.
Moral: You are always learning in this game. Daveandsan are you Dave and Sandy? If so looking forward to our next get together from Den and Frances

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[daveandsan]

Fellas: All that has been most helpful and I thank you all. It never occurred to me that I needed to keep the temperature up and you are all right, the problem only occurred in the cold weather.
Moral: You are always learning in this game. Daveandsan are you Dave and Sandy? If so looking forward to our next get together from Den and Frances

Sorry, we are Dave & Sandra.

 

[JockandRita]

Surely you would want the frost valve to be in a cold area, or certainly where the the air will be the same temp as the water pipes. If you put the frost valve where it’s warm, it will let the water freeze, whilst the valve stays warm.

Or am I missing something??

Andy, our dump valve is next to the boiler.

Cheers,

Jock.

 

[tonyidle]

During exceptionally cold spells I find eating curry keeps my dump valve warm.

 

[Juggler]

I used to have an Adria Coral 650 which had an auto frost dump valve. This was located at the rear of the van via a small access hole. When activated the round blue button moved inwards and dumped ALL the water in the freshwater in the tank. You pulled the knob out to reset it. To prevent it operating I used to put a clothes peg around it.