Winterisation Process

Hi All

I am new to Motorhomes and I have recently purchased a Autosleeper Ravenna on Peugeot Boxer 1999, 1.9 petrol engine.

 I now need to winterise this as the weather is starting to get cold.  So far I have drained the heater and there is now no water in the taps.  Is there anything else that I need to do and does anyone have a simple process or procedure that I can follow to ensure that nothing ices up?

Also I am guessing that when I come to refill after winter I simply put the hose in the water connection at the back and fill the tank.

Sorry, probably really simple questions but I really am new to this and the previous owner did not really have the time to run through things properly

Thanks for your support

Carl

There are plenty of articles on winterisng on the forum if you do a search you should get all the info you need

Any chance of you going in the intro section and do an intro as we request

Hi there,

Read this first ...

https://www.autosleeper-ownersforum.com/t5261-winterisation-of-vans-general

... if still in doubt then ask again.

Best regards,

Thank you for your help.  I will do a search and add details into the introduction section

Cheers

Carl:smile!:

As part of the winterisation process I drained the hot water tank following the instructions in the A/S handbook.  It suggests opening the valve and using a "suitable container" to collect the 9 litres of water.  As it happens we were leaving a site with, thankfully, a large area of stone chips to drain into.  The only "suitable container" that would have worked would have been a tin bath at it seemed to rain down  

Am I doing something wrong? 

As it is "clean" water, seems OK to me, but your grey waste should be disposed of off the pitch, in the disposal area.

Sorry Peter, perhaps I was not clear enough about what I was asking. I understand about how water should be disposed of, it was the water cascading, like a rain shower, from the hot water tank rather than running like it would from a tap.

Askit wrote:Sorry Peter, perhaps I was not clear enough about what I was asking. I understand about how water should be disposed of, it was the water cascading, like a rain shower, from the hot water tank rather than running like it would from a tap.

Mine empties the same way, running all over the chassis before dropping to the floor. I assumed that my dump valve is missing the short length of tubing that appears to be fitted if you search 'Truma drain valve' on EBay.

I have read on the Truma website recently the statement that a 10 litre container could be used to collect the water drained from the heater.

My take on this was that it allowed you to gauge wether all of the water had effectively been drained and consequently wether any further effort was required to pursue any residue.

Davy

Paulmold wrote:

Askit wrote:Sorry Peter, perhaps I was not clear enough about what I was asking. I understand about how water should be disposed of, it was the water cascading, like a rain shower, from the hot water tank rather than running like it would from a tap.

Mine empties the same way, running all over the chassis before dropping to the floor. I assumed that my dump valve is missing the short length of tubing that appears to be fitted if you search 'Truma drain valve' on EBay.

Paul, thanks for that. Must say I was a bit concerned at first, seeing the water running all over the place, just didn't look right. I had a look on eBay, as you suggested, but it might be some time before I can get under the van (if I'm ever able to  ) to see what the arrangement is.

I wrap towels around the taps in prolonged icy weather, as I have lost a tap because of a small amount of water left in it. I now blow into the taps when I drain the system.

Askit wrote:As part of the winterisation process I drained the hot water tank following the instructions in the A/S handbook.  It suggests opening the valve and using a "suitable container" to collect the 9 litres of water.  As it happens we were leaving a site with, thankfully, a large area of stone chips to drain into.  The only "suitable container" that would have worked would have been a tin bath at it seemed to rain down  

Am I doing something wrong? 

 Our Broadway was the same and I found that the dump valve exit there is a short piece of clear hose that lets the water cascade over the tank and chassis.
I have cured this by removing the dump valve and fitting a longer length of hose, so now when I drain the heater there is now a steady flow of water.

John.

That sounds like what's happening on mine that I mentioned above. I thought that perhaps mine had lost the short tube but from what you say, it  is likely to need a longer length of tubing. Any idea what diameter tubing you used? and where to get it?

Looks like 12mm from this picture. http://www.waudbys.co.uk/products/details/21488.html

Does it matter if the water cascades over the chassis?

Well, I had to ask ( ) since driving through muddy puddles, often salty at this time of year, gives the chassis a good old drenching every time. At least the dump water is clean, and probably only happens once a year!

Dave

Hi John that is exactly what I would like to do, to bring a pipe down clear of the chassis, and of the other pipes and an electric cable. It doesn't look right when all that water is cascading over everything. Also you can't make sure that the drainpipe is clear of debris. The AS manual tells you to make sure that the end of the pipe is clear before you drain down - impossible to do that, as it is!! 

A while back, I mentioned it to Mark at AS, saying it seemed to be a messy solution not to have a longer drain pipe. I was hoping he would look at it! He just said that's the way it is. 

I did think of putting a pipe sleeve over the existing pipe, underneath where it comes through the floor, but I can't see it cos of all that clutter! John, your way sounds a better solution. How easy is it to remove the dump valve?,  and did you fit just an ordinary piece of garden hose?

Pete

Gromit wrote:Does it matter if the water cascades over the chassis?

Well, I had to ask ( ) since driving through muddy puddles, often salty at this time of year, gives the chassis a good old drenching every time. At least the dump water is clean, and probably only happens once a year!

Dave

Probably not.  My original question was really to do with A/S handbook suggestion to "collect the water in a suitable container", I suppose to check that something like the 9 litres of water has emptied.  I found the way it emptied a bit strange and wondered if I had done something wrong (not that I ever do that  ).

I use a washing up bowl. Even this isn't big enough to catch all that cascading water. I thing you just have to make an educated guess that you have completely emptied the boiler. I think I lose only about half a litre.

Pete

When you empty your tanks don't forget the toilet cistern. 

Make sure all your lockers, fridge, shower room , drawers and underbed area are all open or able to ventilate properly. Condensation is the thing that causes problems in a van and a gentle cold fresh air current circulating internally is the best way to combat it. Don't be tempted to heat the inside of the van. That encourages mould.

Hi Paul and Pete I used some clear tubing that I had in my garage which was from a central heating condense pump.
Pete the dump valve was really easy and straight forward to disconnect.

John.

Thanks for that John. I will give it a go while there is no water in the system. 

Pete