frost damage

FIAMMA CARAVANSTORE AWNING
by DK42

Camperstop 2010 Book
by aircool

Camping Asseiceira

Portugal

Full Details

Caravan Chat

0 Members connected
2 Chat Rooms
0 members chatting

Chat Now

(increase text size)

Member	Points
1: blobsta	5655
2: roboughton	3420
3: gwc	2515
4: adria5	1582
5: topdog14	1455
6: mechanic	1271
7: Denboy	1179
8: cfadmindave	752
9: gaza	722
10: Visualize	570

Learn more
Top 50 Users

kevin01041961 · Newbie

Hi everyone ! help and suggestions required, last weekend took the caravan away only to find once set up all and i do mean all the taps had blown due to frost !!!! the taps had been left open and the system bled or so i thought ?
now the caravan is in for service and replacement of said taps so how can i prevent this happerning again although we don't normally have 2 foot of snow and -15 temperatures your help required please

Klyne · Rally-er

Kevin

Had the same thing happen years ago. On my previous van there was a system drain plug (red bung under the van off side front) as well as the water heater drain down that coupled with leaving the taps open seemed to work OK for me. My new van only seems to have the water heater drain plug. I did read somewhere that once its drained down with the taps open that you such run the pump for a short while to help expell any water left in the system.

David

metz · Weekender

Hi David, Am i right in thinking your van has a Flojet on board water pump? if so during the drain down process, you need to disconnect the water pipes either side of the pump (quick fit fittings), then run the pump, otherwise this type of pump retains about a cup of water, which if it freezes will crack the pump, which is not covered by warrenty. The instruction will be in your owner manual.

Klyne · Rally-er

blobsta · Moderator

Klyne · Rally-er

carabiker · Rally-er

Halli · Newbie

Caravan in for service at present and I've been told that the tap in the bathroom is cracked due to frost damage. I did drain down before leaving the last site of the year and kept the taps open, although this may be after I had removed the battery - does this matter?

The dealer said that they had "loads" of similar problems this year - presumably because of the severity of the winter. We'll see how my new Bailey Pegasus performs next year.

Halli

ubuntu1 · Weekender

I service caravans and I have not seen anything like this before. People who have had caravans for many years have been caught out this year for the first time. Even though they have drained their van the water has still managed to crack taps and water pumps.

I think that you have to put it down to experience and next year try doubly hard to remove the last traces of water from the system. I run a portable oil filled radiator in the very coldest months just to stop freezing inside of the van.

roboughton · Moderator

Guess i better go and get my van ready for an outing and give them a test

blobsta · Moderator

When I drain down I leave the taps open and then blow down the taps to get rid of any excess water. The best way as mentioned earlier is to drain hot water system and open taps as you leave the last camp-site for home. That way the ups and downs of travelling gets rid of all the water.

Bob

Halli · Newbie

blobsta · Moderator

Not a problem Halli, we all learn from our slight mistakes. Thats why the forum is here. Helps us all out. Things I might not know and you lot do, etc.

Bob

TykeInASwift · Part Timer

I didn't drain my system properly (or, indeed, at all) the first year I had a caravan (2008) and, fortunately, the worst I suffered was a pipe had popped off a push fit connection with a tap.

Last winter I was very careful and gave it a good clear out. The only issue I had this spring is a slight drip from an old tap that could do with a new O-ring anyway.

Anyone who had to learn that lesson this winter has my sympathy - it was much worse.

Andrew.

Klyne · Rally-er

I decided to bite the bullet today and check the system. After the Op everything I do is at least half the speed I used to do things and I have to be careful how I bend and climb in and out of the van. Anyway managed to fill the Aquaroll from a smaller container. Soon realised I had not close the drain off valve! Gingerly leaned down to close and started again. Every thing seems to be working with no leaks from around the pump which I was concerned about. So fingers crossed everything is OK. I see the Consultant on Election Day so hopefully he will tell me what I can do and what I can't and we should then be able to start thinking about using the van sometime in June, if all goes well!

David