Water Supply.....Winter

Dougal911

Guest
Hello, I have just bought my first MH....Autrotrail Apache year-2000.
I am desperate to give it a try but wondered about the on-board fresh water tank freezing up during the night and any potential damage.

I am assuming that generally using the van will keep the tank from freezing unless it's stupid cold. I'm hoping to rough camp (Scotland).
Any thoughts?

Doug
 
Worth looking at your tanks and pipes, and if not lagged you have your answer. It has fallen to -18c here on Dartmoor with horizontal winds, I remember we had these temperatures for a two week stretch, and I came out to the van to put some heating on, but the water was fine. Don’t forget the grey and black water tanks, if anything in them they could also freeze.:idea:
 
Not an easy question to answer. There is risk of damage if it does freeze to ice. We've just been away for three nights this last weekend and it was minus temperatures. First night my guage recorded -3.3, and I was okay in the morning. Second night recorded -5.5 and no water came out of the taps in the morning. After thawing out the system i ditched all the water and had a narrow escape with no damage. Best to keep checking the weather forecast and make a decision each day.
 
Lagging pipes does not stop them freezing it just delays it. Once they have frozen it takes longer to un-freeze as the lagging works the other way round and keeps the cold in. If you are using the MH and the water tank is inside then you should be ok, but it might be wise to leave the heating on low. Leave the outlet for the grey water open because if it freezers you will not be able to open it.

..
 
If you have underslung tanks very likely to freeze .:mad1::mad1::mad1:
 
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Managed a feb w/e meet at Stonehenge a few years ago with wildcamping (southern softies group) when the temps were about -10 at night and never got above freezing during the day. Left heating on 'low' at night, heard it fire up a few times...no probs and all water works running as normal. During the day the sun shone and heated up the van so heating wasn't required up to about 4 pm.
Moonshadow (not sure if they're still on here) had his boiler freeze up on the 1st night...if I remember he'd switched the heating off.
You gotta be careful !

Allen
 
Take care of the safety valve of the water boiler. It will open at about 5 c, the water will run out, water pressure of the system will be lost and the waterpump will start running till its broken.
In case you have a longer period without heater, switch of the pump.....or block the valve which is not so good :danger::scared::scared::scared::scared::scared:
 
rottiontour said:
Take care of the safety valve of the water boiler. It will open at about 5 c, the water will run out, water pressure of the system will be lost and the waterpump will start running till its broken.
In case you have a longer period without heater, switch of the pump.....or block the valve which is not so good :danger::scared::scared::scared::scared::scared:
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Very true but only if you have a pressurised water system.A tap micro switch system will not operate if the boiler dumps it's water.

I keep the boiler on low overnight when it is really cold to prevent it dumping water,if your motorhome is fully winterised then it's unlikely there will be a problem with either fresh or grey tanks.
 
I think I can be certain that your van is not winterised therefore you must drain your fresh water tank and instead use a large water carrier kept inside your van for fresh water supplies. If your toilet flush is from a separate tank, empty that also and flush from a squeezy bottle kept inside the toilet. You can't be too careful and the damage can be expensive.

John
 
Thanks

Guys/ Girls

Thanks for all your answers.

I was scared to do any damage so had prepared my camping water bottle to use inside the van.

Squeezy bottle for the loo is a good idea.

Thanks again
 
Dougal911 said:
Hello, I have just bought my first MH....Autrotrail Apache year-2000.
I am desperate to give it a try but wondered about the on-board fresh water tank freezing up during the night and any potential damage.

I am assuming that generally using the van will keep the tank from freezing unless it's stupid cold. I'm hoping to rough camp (Scotland).
Any thoughts?

Doug
Click to expand...

Or you could use Anti-freeze - Elsan

This product could keep your tank free from ice and protect your pump/heater from freezing whilst away in the winter. You could use your tank water safely to wash yourself and the pots and keep fresh water in bottles for drinking or cooking. You should not drink the tank water with this additive in but it is safe washing.
 
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Internal tank

Hi I have an Autotrail Apache 2015 what I have done is just use a container , this is placed under the seat where the pump is I emptied the main tank disconnected the water pipe from the inlet pump then fitted a separate pipe from the pump to this container all works fine as the water is now inside the motorhome no freezing !
 
I have wilded in Northwest Scotland during winter the last 2 years in total in excess of 50 nights.
I have a newish Sift with outside tanks and to date have never had an issue with dozen tanks or water.
Don't have an auto dump valve on the Truma combi but always leave the heating on low overnight.
The bigger problem for me is the crap continental camper tyres which are unless in any snow.
Fitting Michelin Agilis all season tyres next week before my next trip out.
 
Obanboy666 said:
The bigger problem for me is the crap continental camper tyres which are unless in any snow.
Fitting Michelin Agilis all season tyres next week before my next trip out.
Click to expand...
The best thing I did was fit full winter tyres, I use them all year but on wet grass or snow they grip well which gives you a lot of confidence.
 
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