Winter Protection

[andyelbac]

Hi, newbie Motorhome owners here. We have just taken delivery of our very first motorhome (Burstner Harmony Line) and trying to get to grips with all the things you have to remember....which appears to be a lot! One thing though which is already worrying and confusing me is protecting pipework from frost damage. I understand that it makes sense to drain the water system if you know there is going to be frost. But if your planning on using your MH every other weekend or so for the odd day out over winter, do you really need to drain the entire system after every trip and then refill before every outing? Also, what do you do if your travelling to Spain for the winter and travel through areas which may be below zero, how do you stop the pipes from freezing then? For context, our MH is stored on a MH site, in the open without any EHU.

 

[David and Sally]

We drain and refill between trips in winter. It only takes one night of frost to freeze a pipe or the boiler.

 

[andyelbac]

Blimey. How long does that normally take? Reading my instruction booklet (war and peace) draining the system seems a reasonably lengthy process, or is that just because I haven't done it yet? I guess it would make sense to drain and refill a,few times before winter sets on so I know what the procedure is. Thanks though for you quick response.

 

[Riverbankannie]

Blimey. How long does that normally take? Reading my instruction booklet (war and peace) draining the system seems a reasonably lengthy process, or is that just because I haven't done it yet? I guess it would make sense to drain and refill a,few times before winter sets on so I know what the procedure is. Thanks though for you quick response.

One step at a time, it’s a long time until you will get hard frost down there in Kent. Do get used to your lovely MH first.
Actually you are lucky that you have an instruction manual
It is all overwhelming at first. Come back in October and you can get some tips. For example yes, I do drain down mid November but can still have days out by carrying a couple of 5 litre bottles of water, or use a site with EHU and put electric fan heater on etc without filling up all the system.

 

[David and Sally]

Draining takes about five mins. Refilling about ten mins. It takes practice but as above, come back later in the year. Meanwhile, enjoy and maybe practice? Think of it like a fire drill….fun