Have you drained your van?

[merl]

On the subject of cleaning out the waste tank, nobody has mentioned the option of a few bottles of cheap supermarket coke down the sink and going for a drive to shake it up. Is that still considered a remedy that works or was it just bo%%ocks?

Like Barry we wipe all our plates etc with kitchen paper before washing up so no food goes into the waste tank, whenever we can we dump it directly into the hedge bottom from the washing up bowl. We never get a smell from the waste tank but if we did I don't think Cola would be my first choice. The 'secret' ingredient in cola is citric acid, and it would be way more cost effective to buy some powdered citric acid and add it to your tank rather than buying gallons of cheap cola.
I think a decent glug of bleach into the waste tank and then brim it with water and let it sit overnight would be cheaper and far more effective.

 

[Pudsey Bear]

I did try the cheap cola, it tastes shite.

 

[bartman]

I did try the cheap cola, it tastes shite.

..... especially after going through the tank

 

[Boris7]

Vans dried Merl, neighbours not happy mind. I live at the top of a steep cul-de-sac and there’s water, grey waste, engine, gearbox and diff oil running down the road

 

[Boris7]

Oh, and Tescos coke now

 

[bartman]

Vans dried Merl, neighbours not happy mind. I live at the top of a steep cul-de-sac and there’s water, grey waste, engine, gearbox and diff oil running down the road

Perhaps add a bit of antifreeze to prevent it from forming an ice rink as it's getting a bit nippy now

 

[Robmac]

Vans dried Merl, neighbours not happy mind. I live at the top of a steep cul-de-sac and there’s water, grey waste, engine, gearbox and diff oil running down the road

Could be worse Kev.

 

[molly 2]

I just looked out the window heavy frost so I hit the drain button ,

 

[Pudsey Bear]

..... especially after going through the tank

At least that would add a certain je ne sais quoi

 

[marchie]

At least that would add a certain je ne sais quoi

'Je ne sais quoi'? I have no idea what that could mean ...

Steve

 

[peter palance]

Im working on a drain down ASAP.View attachment 147443

sorry but you are all at see or sea or c okpj

 

[barryd]

I think I'm going to have to admit defeat and drain the van down. -3c here tonight now and its parked out front.

I disconnected the pump last time and regretted it as it was a nightmare to reconnect. I don't think ill bother this time. Just run it dry and empty the Truma boiler.

 

[Pudsey Bear]

No drain valve for the heater either?

 

[5andy]

Glad I drained the van down on Sunday!
Having said that, since TJBi suggested putting small amount of screen wash down the plug holes, I have yet to do so, but feel strangely compelled to do this even though I haven’t done so in the 13 years we’ve had a Motorhome.

 

[barryd]

No drain valve for the heater either?

Yes the Truma. There is a little yellow switch thing. There are two actually. One of them drains the Truma.

 

[Pudsey Bear]

Yes the Truma. There is a little yellow switch thing. There are two actually. One of them drains the Truma.

open them up. Not sure which you have, but RTFM

 

[trevskoda]

I just looked out the window heavy frost so I hit the drain button ,

Yours or the van.

 

[barryd]

open them up. Not sure which you have, but RTFM

I opened up the yellow one on the Truma and its all poured out. Drained the cold tank, left the taps up in the middle position. Apparently it was -5c last night here though. Ooops.

I think though it has to get really cold and sustained to do any real damage. I didn't even know about draining down the first few years we had Hank 1. That really bad winter in 2009 or 2010 we went away for Christmas and all the water was frozen in the pipes. Took days to thaw it out but it all worked afterwards.

 

[Pudsey Bear]

I think where you park it, has a micro climate, so it may not drop below. Put a thermometer on the floor near the heater and check.

 

[barryd]

I think where you park it, has a micro climate, so it may not drop below. Put a thermometer on the floor near the heater and check.

Thats true on the drive I think. Its a bit protected but its been out front since we got back. Having said that its nearly always a westerly here off the Pennines from Cumbria so the van is sheltered by the house. It will be fine anyway. Its off to the motorhome fixer on Friday anyway. Ironically one of the kitchen waste pipes has sprung a leak and I can't get to it. There is also a very small occasional leak from the dinette window exactly where it used to go in the old van. Bloody Swift!