Winterising

[Bossgad]

Thoughts please, first motorhome... We have a full cover but do I leave it plugged in to the mains with the heating on set low for frost protection or not?. All this is new to me.

Thanks.

 

[CWH]

There's been lots of discussion - do a search on "winterising" (box top right of this page)
Also go Resources/ Motorhome technical articles/ Winterising your motorhome

There will also be lots of personal replies coming along soon!
(We certainly hook up, but we're still newish and wouldn't claim to any knowledge yet)

 

[Bossgad]

Thanks I shall have a look now

 

[Phill D]

Hi Bossgad welcome. there are also threads on using motorhome covers or Not!

 

[DanielFord]

Personally, I dump all the water, open then taps, and remove the shower head.

When I am close to the van, I hook it up and turn on the heating. When temps are due to go sub zero, I get the heating switched on low.

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[funflair]

Drain it down if it's going to freeze, and keep the batteries charged then you don't need to do anything else, if you put the heating on you will create moist air which will condense onto cold cold surfaces like windscreen, side window etc.

 

[MikeandCarolyn]

I drain down whenever van is not being used for more than a week.
When temp drop to around 0deg or is forecast to,I put it on EHU and put a 600w oil filled heater in centre of van.
With an outside temp of -5deg, inside is usually around 3deg-suits me
No probs over last 5yrs. Have never even thought about a cover.
Mike

 

[CWH]

I put it on EHU and put a 600w oil filled heater in

serious question: if the van's on EHU why use a plug-in heater rather than the van's own heating system?

 

[MikeandCarolyn]

serious question: if the van's on EHU why use a plug-in heater rather than the van's own heating system?

Van's own system uses LPG from the underslung tank and electric from batteries.EHU just uses electric from house which I don't have to replace
I just pay for it.
Mike

 

[CWH]

Van's own system uses LPG from the underslung tank and electric from batteries.EHU just uses electric from house which I don't have to replace
I just pay for it.
Mike

but wouldn't the battery replenish from the EHU?
or wouldn't the EHU power the heating system direct?

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[MikeandCarolyn]

but wouldn't the battery replenish from the EHU?
or wouldn't the EHU power the heating system direct?

Yes,EHU replenishes my batteries (so do my solar panels)
My heating system,as far as I know,runs on LPG with a fan running on electric. Even on it's lowest setting-it's far more than needed and anyway I wouldn't want to leave it running without checking it regularly,whereas on EHU I only look in every couple of days.I don't have 12v supply switched on either and there is tape over the switch,because once 'somebody ' switched 12v on and taps were open with no water in tank resulting in a burnt out water pump.
Mike

 

[CWH]

My heating system...runs on LPG with a fan running on electric

Ah, now I understand. Ours runs on elec OR gas OR a combination, so we aren't using any gas when on EHU.
I do wish they all worked the same, I might get to understand them a bit quicker!
Thanks @MikeandCarolyn

burnt out water pump

oops

 

[MitchandJenny]

We have our van at the top of the garden on EHU. I bought a 'tube heater' which is the type they put into greenhouses. Its a steel tube with an element inside. They can be bought with various lengths. Ours is a 4 ft one, which I mounted on a piece of board about 6 inches by 5 ft. This I lay in the centre of the van floor. Each foot of tube gives out 40watts, so I have a 160watt heater which cannot burn or ignite anything around it.. I plug it into a temperature controlled plug which I set at about 6 degrees and that just plugs into the mains.. The thermometer in the van never gets too low and the humidity stays at around 70...
Sorry to 'drone' on a bit, but hope this helps.. I had tried an oil filled radiator previously, but (a) it leaked and (b) it was too hot and cost a fair bit to run... Also, I didn't want to leave the vans electric fire on for the winter, as I would have worried about it !!
With the tube heater, I can leave it on all winter and not worry and, it costs pennies !!
Good luck with whatever you decide to do..
Mitch.
PS. I just had a look online and found a Dimplex tube heater which is thermostatically controlled 120 watt for £25.. That would be my "way to go" if I was starting from scratch again !!!

 

[CWH]

I didn't want to leave the vans electric fire on for the winter

ours is just blown air heating, we don't get to sit around a fire!
so I suppose it depends on what system the op has in his van

 

[Chockswahay]

All I would add to this is remove the pump fuse when water drained out

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[Bossgad]

Thanks everyone , it sounds like I'm doing a combination of things that you have all said .