Winterising my Van

spatey

Guest
Can anyone please give me some tips to stop my boiler or pipes from freezing up during a really cold spell, It’s a Truman boiler and I have been told they are not very good in cold weather unless you empty them out, or running heating all the time o/k if using it but I do like to go out in my van every two weeks as I would say I am not just a fair weather man, and its these short periods of none use that give me concerns.
PS
I have a Bessy e560
 
you can get antifreeze to go in the water system. or drain it . the best way is to disapear off to the sun . works for me . cheers alan.
 
Hi Alan

When the wife finally finishes work I will do and we shall meet up over there in the warm SUN
( This is the only down fall of marrying someone younger)
 
why wait . todays the day . you cant do it yesterday its gone. you cant keep waiting for tomorrow .for tommorow sometimes never comes . think cliff sang as song about that .and were all going on a summer holiday . havent got the double decker but will still have a lovelly time. cheers go on do it .
 
hi Alan
I need her to work to keep me in the manner to which i have become accustomed lol, then we shall be off we hope, and you are so right none of us know what,s arround the next bend in life
 
Most (all??) campervan hot water services need to be drained if there is the slightest chance of a freezeup. Most of the plastic piping can cope without splitting but the fittings may push off connectors and always in the most inaccessible positions.

The boilers are very sensitive to frozen water and will easily split the alloy boiler, not just Trumas.

I'd follow the advice in the owner's manual (have n't got one - do a weblookup for Truma (model) owners manual)

If you have hot air heating and 240V hookup its possible to run the heating on very low, assuming the 240V is recharging the leisure battery to run the heating. Some of the Eberspacher heaters can be set to turn on and off at set times if you are desperate not to drain the water system.
 
If you mean Truma heating, then there's an automatic boiler dump valve that cuts in at about 3-5c to protect the boiler. However there's still the pump and pipes!

So run pump with all taps open until no water comes out, then switch off pump and leave taps OPEN to allow for any expansion.

I also leave waste tank taps open and keep toilet tank empty. As others have said a splash of edible antifreeze will do no harm. Then take vehicle for a quick drive round the block, you'll be surprised how much more water will find its way out.

Don't forget to check engine coolant A/F strength and to add winter screen wash!
 
Thanks

Can I say thanks to you all for the help and advice you have given I will try it out , I think the best way appears to be to empty out and refill when required to use Van, Thanks again
73s pete
 
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If you have hot air heating and 240V hookup its possible to run the heating on very low, assuming the 240V is recharging the leisure battery to run the heating. Some of the Eberspacher heaters can be set to turn on and off at set times if you are desperate not to drain the water system.
Click to expand...

If it is in your own driveway this will work, but there is too much risk of a power outage or heater failure to risk it for more than a day at a time.
 
And don't forget to drain the water filter if you have one. Letting the filter matrix freeze is an expensive mistake... also if there's a puddle of water left in the tank it can freeze in the pump rotor - doesn't hurt the pump unless you accidently switch it on (T-shirt...:D)
 
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