Freezing water problems

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I pick up my motorhome from the workshop today from Brownhills.
I took it in 2 weeks ago because my Erbespacher diesel heating/hot water system was not working.
When I parked up at the center to hand over the keys to the reception, I thought I would give the heating another attempt to start. Murphys Law !!! it fired up ...so I informed the reception that although the heating seems to be working again, I would like it checked over.
The following weekend, we went to pick it up as the workshop said that it is working fine (surprise), so we stayed overnight to check it out.
The following morning I noticed a water leak on the outside of the 'van.
I also noticed quite a few other 'van parked up overnight with what seems like, water leaks coming from the bottom of the vehicles.
We were informed by the workshop engineer that quite a lot of vehicles have been in for repairs to water heaters, because they had not been drained during the really cold weather.
We informed Brownhills of our leak fearing the worst, that we may also have a frost damaged unit, and left it with them for another week, whilst the van was checked over by Ebespacher.
Fortunately the problem was not of frost and we were covered by the vehicles extended warranty (already paid for itself).
During the recent cold weather, I used the Ebespacher frost protection system where the unit fires up when the temperature drops below 0 deg, and supposed to warm the water in the hot water unit, however, I entered the van one morning to find ice showing from both the kitchen and bathroom taps.
It looks like I got away with the potential costly problems of frost damage though.

My concern now is why the unit would not work at home but worked after arriving at Newark.
I can only think that due to the slight water leak, over time, I had lost all the water that was in the hot water tank, so the heater would not fire up, to prevent damage, but once I had topped up the water at home and tried to start it at Brownhills, the pump would have filled the tank!! (if you know what I mean !!).
 
Beemer said:
I pick up my motorhome from the workshop today from Brownhills.

I can only think that due to the slight water leak, over time, I had lost all the water that was in the hot water tank, so the heater would not fire up, to prevent damage, but once I had topped up the water at home and tried to start it at Brownhills, the pump would have filled the tank!! (if you know what I mean !!).
Click to expand...

I now have the 'van at home, but whilst I was at Brownhills, I asked someone there if the hot water cylinder were empty would I be able to start the heater or hot water, and I was told yes i would be able to with possible damaging results. So I am still not sure why my heating/hot water didn't work at home, but did at Brownhills!!!!
 
:( Judging by the advice I have had so far regarding my heating/hot water system problems, I am assuming no-one else has had this problem!!
Well, just to tie up this thread (excuse the pun) I seem to have discovered the problem..it seems that my erbespacher system dislikes less than half a tank of fuel and the fact that my garden slopes away from the house all contributed to a non working heating system. The back end of the 'van is parked lower than the front, causing, I believe, the diesel to move away from the erbespacher fuel sensor.
I took the van with a quarter tank of fuel in, to Morrisons to fill up with Diesel, came away £80 lighter, and with a full tank. Got home heater now working fine.
 
Just when you think things are sorted, more problems... went to check heating system tonight..... but , again, not working!!!!!!!!!!!
I also have low volts on the leisure battery (9.5v) and only 11.5v on the vehicle battery, could this be the reason for the diesel heating not working??
 
I don't know anything about your type of heater but it could have been 'plugged' with ice in one of the pipes.

The low voltage is very likely the cause of your present problem I would think. There will be at least one relay in the system and low voltage will stop it operating.

I am sure that you will be better prepared for next winter. :D What I do is to open all of the taps (in the midway position) and open all drain valves. Once the water has stopped running, I go for a drive to get rid of the last few dregs. Even better, if you are away on a trip and know that you will not be using the van for a while, empty the water, as above and driving home will empty everything out.
 
Freezing

Before draining all the system,why not plug the motorhome into the house mains,and see if that 240v system works,it sounds like it needs charging up anyway ?
Leave it on charge overnight or longer,and also check on heater to see if its working ?
Are any of the pipes in the camper ...lagged ?
 
barnybg said:
Before draining all the system,why not plug the motorhome into the house mains,and see if that 240v system works,it sounds like it needs charging up anyway ?
Leave it on charge overnight or longer,and also check on heater to see if its working ?
Are any of the pipes in the camper ...lagged ?
Click to expand...

Got chance after work to test heating again.... checked leisure battery ...10.5v, then tried to start heating on diesel... no go! So, plugged in EHU.. obviously battery shows 13.5v, then tried heating again, and it started up! There's my problem, after all this time the diesel heating does not like a low battery.
Time for a new leisure battery methinks..........:(

No problems with pipework barnybg and maingate, thanks for your help.:cool:
 
Hooray !

Great news,so how old is the leasure battery ? what size is it,perhaps keep it as a back up ?
If you are going to buy another,i suppose you know already but go for the biggest capasity that will fit your battery holder/compartment,maybe at a later date,depending on how much use you use the vehicle buy another one the same size in parallel,and if your really serious (lol) a solar panel (approx 100 w) i hear they are making new ones now that even charge ' indoors' , a Swiss inventor and a factory/unit in Cardiff Wales...stocks them ?or is selling products anyhow.
I have a 100 w normal solar panelon the roof,and 'touch wood' haven't had any problems.

Otherwise 'tricklecharge ' batteries,wether leasure or starter/engine,as the Winter weather kills them.
 
Beemer said:
Got chance after work to test heating again.... checked leisure battery ...10.5v, then tried to start heating on diesel... no go! So, plugged in EHU.. obviously battery shows 13.5v, then tried heating again, and it started up! There's my problem, after all this time the diesel heating does not like a low battery.
Time for a new leisure battery methinks..........:(

No problems with pipework barnybg and maingate, thanks for your help.:cool:
Click to expand...
Most diesel heaters won't start if they detect a battery voltage below about 11v. I rewired our Webasto direct to the leisure batteries with heavy cable because there was over 1v drop from the battery to the heater when it was drawing maximum current at start up.

AndyC
 
The leisure battery that I was sold with the 'van was not holding it's charge, it was a 110Ah lightweight battery.
I replaced it with a 110Ah leisure battery, currently being used, that I took out of our caravan when we part exchanged it for the motorhome. It is less than 5 years old because we bought it new when we purchased the caravan in 2008, but that does not seem to be holding it's charge either!!!!!
I have had the original 110Ah battery on a maintenance charger for several weeks now, with the intention of connecting them in parallel, but if this one is not holding it's charge then there is no point in doing it.
At some point the last owners had a solar panel of some sort on the roof, as there's evidence left behind of plastic brackets and fittings for cable entry into the van. We intend to fit a panel when finances allow, and probably one for the engine battery too.
First we will have to replace the leisure battery, either with the 'maintained' unit in the garage or a new one.
Is there a particular leisure battery that could be recommended by anyone???? Bearing in mind that I am not made of money.!!!!:D
 
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Great

You will not need two solar panels,the one will keep both or all batteries charged...
As for the leasure battery,i have no idea how long they last,i suppose it depends on how they have been used and cared for,but a vehicle 'start 'battery,usually has a life of 2 years !! maybe another if your lucky,so your leasure is doing ok.
If your going to buy a new leasure battery,then dont mix old and new,between £70 and £90 should get you a good one.
As for solar,i bought a kit of E**y 100 w panel,glue,regulator and wire,you can also add an adjustable alloy frame for £40 extra,but when i recieved that felt i could have made my own for less than a tenner,anyway around £300 for kit,easy to set up yourself and instructions included.
Otherwise trickle charge regular on driveway from house mains...at least overnight or 48 hrs,if you can, check battery acid if not gell,as it can need topping up over cells,as once below the cells die.
 
Batteries swopped now, but will need to check after the weekend to see if it is holding it's charge. after i had connected the 'charged' battery, I started up the diesel heating, all ok, but did notice that the battery went from 13v down to 11.9 within 5 mins !!!!
I would like to get a better Ah battery, but I notice that the battery compartment just about takes a 110Ah, so wont be able to fit a larger Ah one in it!!!!:(
 
I often travel to very, very cold places and I picked up on what all the locals do in very cold weather, they dump all the water, opening all outlet valves water and waste they all carry a 20ltr water bottle and boil kettles to get hot water, it can get very expensive to replace pipes/pumps/relay switches etc... even the top of the range vehicles do this because it's not worth the risk.
 
Standard practice up here...we had 10 days @ -12 this winter.
Drain all mid-December unless evil is forecast earlier, then flush and refil early February,
Ensure system is totally drained at the taps and leave them all open or seals can freeze to seats and be torn if not totally defrosted (experience and a bill!).
Don't forget to drain hot water storage heaters as well
 
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