Water boiler frozen

[k3nnyj]

Hi all, been caught out overnight with temperature at -8 at home, van on drive. Full of water was planning on going off on tuesday, will the pump be frozen in boiler, gas only, if i heat van and put water on heat then drain will i get away with it? Any checks i can do?
TIA
Kenny

 

[mossypossy]

Has your boiler not got the auto drain valve when temp gets low?

 

[k3nnyj]

Thanks for reply but no it hasnt

 

[Auld Pharrrt]

I'd heat van but don't heat boiler until thawed.

 

[Nesting Zombie]

Hi all, been caught out overnight with temperature at -8 at home, van on drive. Full of water was planning on going off on tuesday, will the pump be frozen in boiler, gas only, if i heat van and put water on heat then drain will i get away with it? Any checks i can do?
TIA
Kenny

Hi ya,
Can I ask, Do you ABSOLUTLY know that your boiler is Frozen ?.

Where was the -8 temp you spoke of actually taken from ?. What I am trying to say is that it may just be a pipe that was frozen if your lucky !,,Well fingers crossed.

 

[maxi77]

We had the same on our caravan a few years ago, returned to it to find the mixer taps spouts sitting on top if an ice spike. Turned the heating on for a few hours then started the water heater. Everything worked out fine. Modern pipework seem to have more give than copper and your biggest risk item is the water heater.

 

[Obanboy666]

What type of boiler is it you have ?

 

[Deleted member 12539]

My previous motorhome was an Autocruise, with underslung water tank, and on an icy weekend I had icicles hanging from both taps.
I had pegged the auto run off on the hot water boiler too, to stop it dumping the boiler water when the temperature dropped.
I heated the van interior until the icicles hanging from the taps had melted, and then put the boiler on. No damage.
I think maybe because the water pipes were plastic, they expanded to take the ice swell. Boiler and heating worked fine for the following two winters we had the van.
I do try to remember to open all taps when the temperature drops on the Eura Mobil, but I have forgotten on occasion, although the Eura Mobil has far better insulation than the Autocruise, with inboard water tanks.

 

[colinm]

Plastic pipes might be ok as above they are a bit more giving, taps are not so good might be cracked, boiler the same, if it's a sub pump that might be ok unless the tanks frozen solid. external pump not so good.

 

[k3nnyj]

Thanks all. Heated van with eberspaher and opened drain valve after a couple of hours, 1 pipe off heater goes into cabinet where the truma tank is, and it drained after a bit, have opened all taps. Dindnt wanna try pump to much so just a few seconds all seems fine
Thanks for all help
Kenny

 

[David & Ann]

Hi all, been caught out overnight with temperature at -8 at home, van on drive. Full of water was planning on going off on tuesday, will the pump be frozen in boiler, gas only, if i heat van and put water on heat then drain will i get away with it? Any checks i can do?
TIA
Kenny

WOW!!! It is cold. My wife says it is 12 degrees in Cornwall right now. Sorry for winding you up but it is 31 degrees in Goa where I am at the moment.
If you can put some heating in the van until the boiler thaws. Be careful, don't damage your boiler. Take care.