Habitation service

[Deleted member 77159]

Does anyone have a recommendation for a home habitation service engineer in East Yorkshire - we live in Goole.

Failing that, does anyone know somewhere local we can take our van?

Thanks

 

[Pudsey Bear]

Try ringing one of these

MCEA Training for Motorhome, Camper & Caravan Engineers

MCEA Motorhome & Caravan Engineers, a membership of mobile habitation and service engineers. MCEA are a provider of training for campervan, caravan & motorhome habitation servicing & repairs.

www.mobilecaravanengineers.co.uk

 

[Deleted member 77159]

Thanks for the above, just typical there isn't anyone within 30 miles of where we live!

Question remains, can anyone recommend somewhere local ish we can take our van?

 

[Pudsey Bear]

They are mobile so will come to you, if that's not good Google might help, or maybe think laterally and just make an appointment elsewhere and use it as part of a little trip.

But unless it's urgent I'd not worry overly.

 

[jagmanx]

IMO, the only useful thing they do id a damp check.
I say this as the other problems which may occur are with gas (leak or fridge or cooker. The hab check is not preventative maintenance ! Except pf course re damp.
Maybe buy a good (semi-professional) damp meter which you can then use 2x a year.
Gas problems would still need a repair anyway.
Also a good idea to carry a spare gas regulator as this is a cheap item and can be changed by any competent gas fitter.

 

[Pudsey Bear]

I agree, I've bought most of my vans that didn't have a recent one, and I bought a damp meter, cost can make it appear that more is better but I bought a cheap one and it's been fine, I do a test on a known dry piece of wood that day, and note the reading, test the van in the most likely places for damp such as around exterior locker doors and windows, the hab door etc and if they are all within a few percent then either the van is very damp or very dry, basically I then compare readings all over the van and if you have a lot of highs then the chances are you have damp, all it is is a dedicated multimeter with defined parameters.

Other people may disagree with that method, but out of 11 vans I've only been fooled once.

Of course you may have a very new one and it is part of the warranty, in which case we're back to square one I'm afraid.

 

[Deleted member 77159]

Thanks, our van is 2009. Last year whilst in Scotland we had carbon monoxide in the van from using the fridge on gas. We pulled the fridge out and cleaned the flue etc and it has been fine since. We were thinking they would check that during the hab service as we are about to go on another trip mainly off grid.

Also to check for damp, but I will look into getting a damp meter now

 

[Pudsey Bear]

Some manufacturers totally ignore the instructions on fitting appliances, no dropout vents even under joints, some don't seal the fridges properly, easy to tell on a windy day, if you can feel the wind around the fridge it's not fitted properly, easy fix with strips of foam/sponge.

 

[Alscottie]

All you need is a reasonable damp meter and an electric multimeter to check batteries, gas is only a problem if hoses leaking or regulator not working (buy a spare) and if flame burning orange, blue you are OK.

 

[Magymay]

Some manufacturers totally ignore the instructions on fitting appliances, no dropout vents even under joints, some don't seal the fridges properly, easy to tell on a windy day, if you can feel the wind around the fridge it's not fitted properly, easy fix with strips of foam/sponge.

Been having some issues with our fridge and reading Dometic fitting instructions using foam or sponge is frowned upon by them as it’s a fire hazard in the vent compartment

 

[Pudsey Bear]

Its what they used though, right or wrong.

 

[QFour]

Thanks, our van is 2009. Last year whilst in Scotland we had carbon monoxide in the van from using the fridge on gas. We pulled the fridge out and cleaned the flue etc and it has been fine since. We were thinking they would check that during the hab service as we are about to go on another trip mainly off grid.

Also to check for damp, but I will look into getting a damp meter now

Habitation checks are a bit of a rip off. Had a Swift and needed one for warrantee. The guy spent an hour looking for faults he could repair and charge Swift for. Certainly didn't check the gas or remove the fridge vents. If you want the fridge checking just ask them to do that. No guarantee it's not going to pack up next week though. So you might as well save your money and when it breaks get it fixed.