Heating your van and water in winter?

[GMJ]

Is that a clean of the hot water system Kev? How do you do that?

I just PM'd you on MHF Barry as we had a thread on this not long ago. I did the same thing the other month.

 

[Pudsey Bear]

Yes, I bought this dilute stuff, I went down to the garage but can't find the 5ltr bottle it came in I must have used it all, no idea what it was and the realy good caravan shop closed about 3 years ago, it'll be a similar thing to what you put in kettles I expect.
It may have been a 5ltr of this, it looks familiar.

2 x Kilrock Big K Multi-Purpose Concentrated Descaler 400ml Limescale Remover 5014353088054 | eBay

Kilrock Multi-Purpose Descaler. Unplug the kettle and stand it in the sink in case of excess fizzing. Pour away contents and re-boil kettle and rinse away before re-use. Wash off any spillage. Rinse vessel and nozzle in cold water before re-use.

www.ebay.co.uk

 

[marchie]

Is that a clean of the hot water system Kev? How do you do that?

Empty the water system completely [including taps and shower head]; mix the descaler as directed and pour into freshwater tank with a full tank of fresh water, and open the taps/shower head to get water flowing. Turn the water heater on for 45-60 minutes and leave for 3-4 hours. Turn water heater off and drain water system. Flush the water system with fresh water at least twice, including taps and shower head to get rid of calcium and residual chlorine stench {I needed 3 flushes to get the system purged].

We use the Truma 6 on refillable lpg for hot water and heating [also use the inverter and induction hob in Spain to boil 2 flasks from excess solar power for washing in morning]. Blown Air is comfortable at 16-18 degrees for a couple of hours evening and morning, with Truma thermostat set at 13 degrees overnight to prevent Freshwater Dump Valve operating.

Steve

 

[Pudsey Bear]

Funny you mention the dump valve opening, we have never ever had that happen on any of our vans, not all were temperature controlled but the ones which were stayed closed to below freezing.

I had of course drained down and left it for a few days then closed the valve to stop spiders etcetera setting up home.

 

[mariesnowgoose]

We spend a good deal of time in ours in winter and on hook up Barry. As you mention the Truma heating is OK for setting a back ground heat on EHU but we carry and use one of these too...

ANYDAY John Lewis & Partners Hot and Cool Mini Fan and Heater, White

Buy ANYDAY John Lewis & Partners Hot and Cool Mini Fan and Heater, White from our Fans range at John Lewis & Partners. Free Delivery on orders over £50.

www.johnlewis.com

It's a great little heater and quite small. We only use it on the first setting which throws out ample heat. Just be aware of how many amps you have available if on hook up though if this is on plus your Truma and if you pop the kettle on for example.

In terms of the Truma we have it on all day mostly and turned down at night. At the moment I think one of the elements has blown on ours so it isn't performing at optimum levels.

That looks like a good little heater to use on hookup, thanks for that

We have the standard Truma gas/mains fire, but it would be good to have a small (easily packable) electric heater of some sort if needed. We've discovered recently that our Truma on mains electric is pretty much all or nothing! It was minus temperatures when we stayed down in Blackpool on hookup after the Goosnargh meet and it was like a blummin' oven!

On gas the temperature is much better to control, but obviously we'd not be using gas if paying for electric.

Our van isn't all that big and heats up pretty much everywhere in a very short space of time though.

 

[Robmac]

That looks like a good little heater to use on hookup, thanks for that

We have the standard Truma gas/mains fire, but it would be good to have a small (easily packable) electric heater of some sort if needed. We've discovered recently that our Truma on mains electric is pretty much all or nothing! It was minus temperatures when we stayed down in Blackpool on hookup after the Goosnargh meet and it was like a blummin' oven!

On gas the temperature is much better to control, but obviously we'd not be using gas if paying for electric.

Our van isn't all that big and heats up pretty much everywhere in a very short space of time though.

Just bear in mind Marie that the heater will use almost 9A and some EHU are only 10A so you risk tripping the box if you plug anything else in. Only a matter of switching it off briefly whilst you boil the kettle though.

 

[mariesnowgoose]

Just bear in mind Marie that the heater will use almost 9A and some EHU are only 10A so you risk tripping the box if you plug anything else in. Only a matter of switching it off briefly whilst you boil the kettle though.

Not too much of a problem for us, Rob, as all cooking etc. is with gas.
No electric kettles, just the whistling stove top kind.

The Truma water heater (I think!) is also both gas and electric?

The only other main device that would use mains electric in that scenario would be the 3-way fridge.
The lights are nearly all LED now too, so no really heavy duty electrical devices to worry too much about.

(Except if I have my hair drier with me, and that would be used very briefly)

 

[merl]

Why would a van system not be expected to last similar times to a domestic system??

If I had one it would be used same as if I was in a house. I know Charlie has had a few Truma systems and he is full time with no problems.

Initially I had the same thoughts Neil but I suppose it's all about the replacement costs. Stuff wears out with use and caravan/MH stuff is inordinately expensive, it's much cheaper to buy/replace a small 240V heater than a Truma unit.

 

[barryd]

Another successful installation.

Thanks for the tips on cleaning the water system. Will investigate on our return. So far so good. I just heated the van up quickly on arrival with the a fan heater and the Truma in eco. Twenty minutes later switched to Truma only on full and set it to 23c. Seems good. I think I'll just mainly use the Truma as it was intended as the heat gets everywhere. Lockers, garage even, bathroom etc. will see how it goes.

Typical lake district weather sadly.

 

[molly 2]

I use gas off grid and a fana heater on hook up , ,to save a bit of ware on the truma

 

[Pudsey Bear]

Another successful installation.

Thanks for the tips on cleaning the water system. Will investigate on our return. So far so good. I just heated the van up quickly on arrival with the a fan heater and the Truma in eco. Twenty minutes later switched to Truma only on full and set it to 23c. Seems good. I think I'll just mainly use the Truma as it was intended as the heat gets everywhere. Lockers, garage even, bathroom etc. will see how it goes.

Typical lake district weather sadly.

View attachment 138471

I hope the weather is kind to you both and wish you merry thingamybob and a happy wassaname.

Xmas dinner

 

[barryd]

I hope the weather is kind to you both and wish you merry thingamybob and a happy wassaname.

Xmas dinner

View attachment 138472

Same to you Kev and all on here.

If you look right now you might see us getting on the Windermere car ferry. 13:38 crappy silver Hyundai i10

Ferry Cam | Freshwater Biological Association

www.fba.org.uk

 

[Robmac]

Same to you Kev and all on here.

If you look right now you might see us getting on the Windermere car ferry. 13:38 crappy silver Hyundai i10

Ferry Cam | Freshwater Biological Association

www.fba.org.uk

Looks like I missed it Barry.

 

[Robmac]

Looks like I missed it Barry.

...unless that's you there now, 2nd in queue?

 

[Pudsey Bear]

Can't be Rob, it looks to be running.

 

[exwindsurfer]

Thanks. I think ill adopt a mixture. At the backend last year for a couple of months it was fantastic. Great to be able to just set the van at a temperature you desire and it just silently keeps it there but I think ill deploy the convector heater as well for an evening and then leave the heating on low overnight or while we are out. Michelle has just pointed out though that she loved the bathroom being all toasty with the heating on which of course it wont be with a convector heater. Will see how it goes. We do tend to leave the water on hot all the time but I guess same applies to that also.

Just leave the bathroom door open Barry and the heat will warm that as well

 

[barryd]

...unless that's you there now, 2nd in queue?

We were second in the queue. I did a little dance on the ferry and everything!

 

[Robmac]

We were second in the queue. I did a little dance on the ferry and everything!

It was a silver hatchback but that was about 20 minutes after you posted that you were there. Didn't notice any moon walking going on.

 

[barryd]

It was a silver hatchback but that was about 20 minutes after you posted that you were there. Didn't notice any moon walking going on.

Nah! You missed me I reckon. I could clearly be seen doing the moonwalk and waving as the ferry left the shore. The noddy car is tiny so you can't miss it as it will be surrounded by giant Chelsea tractors. Ill be backwards and forwards a lot over Christmas and New Year so you will all have to keep refreshing the page all the time.

 

[caledonia]

Another successful installation.

Thanks for the tips on cleaning the water system. Will investigate on our return. So far so good. I just heated the van up quickly on arrival with the a fan heater and the Truma in eco. Twenty minutes later switched to Truma only on full and set it to 23c. Seems good. I think I'll just mainly use the Truma as it was intended as the heat gets everywhere. Lockers, garage even, bathroom etc. will see how it goes.

Typical lake district weather sadly.

View attachment 138471

At least you’ve got the swings to yourselves