Winterisation - Symbol Toilet

Merry Xmas all. Off to a site near to Stonehenge for 3 nights this coming Saturday. No big deal, used the van last March/April during the late snow, but at that stage I wasn't using the water heater, also where I was staying, it was generally above freezing. Having listened to all the tips regarding winterisation…I've purchased a side filling jerry can, so the waste pipe can be left open. The other half has been briefed that we may not be using the internal water system, temp dependent….No issues there.

We have a small 700kw radiator to assist with the internal warmth and silver screens.

Question: The Toilet….If we get a sharp frost, as long as I leave the toilet door and cassette access door ajar, so the internal heat circulates, will it be ok to use it? Or are there pipes that are external and open to the elements?

Many Thanks

Jmn

Hi Journeyman,

We have a Symbol, an 09 plate and have used our van without any problems in winter.  Like you, we use a radiant heater to supplement the onboard heating and have not had a frozen loo.  As far as I can tell all the toilet plumbing is well away from the external surfaces so as long as you maintain the internal van temperature you ought to be fine.  We're off to St Davids in Pembrokeshire at the weekend so I'm hoping I'm not tempting fate!  Enjoy Stonehenge and the new visitor centre.

Tim

PS - I follow your blogs and enjoy them, glad to see someone else enjoying their Symbol in winter.

Hi there,

We have used "Petal" down to -7 degrees now and the toilet has stayed fully functional with no sign of anything freezing up or forming "slush".

We use "Formil" bio-laundry liquid in the flush tank which appears to have some "anti-freeze" qualities; and like you suggest we also leave the door to the toilet open at night so that heat from the main cabin can circulate.

Enjoy the holiday.   

Best regards,
 

Excellent guys, thanks for the responses. That gives me confidence.

Tim, your kind words about the blog are very much appreciated. I enjoy writing it, I aim to blog every trip.

Thanks again
Jmn

Thanks Peter….Instigated :-)

SteveUK wrote:

journeyman wrote:..........

We have a small 700kw radiator to assist with the internal warmth and silver screens.

.........

Wow!  What do you use for a hook-up?  I'd love to see one you considered large!!    

Never did quite grasp decimalisation..I did of course mean 700w   

Darn it! 

Thought I'd found the original nuclear family. 

 

Hi folks,
I find any heat in the van during the winter only adds to condensation if you bring the temperature above that of the outside.
Our van is quite dry by using those rechargeable plug in the mains type units, we have 4 units running during the winter and a silver screen.

Best regards and Happy New Year, Mike   

Come on, Mike, give us a clue .....

What are those 'rechargeable plug in the mains type units'?

And do you need four?

G

Well that didn't work, go to Amazon and look at Mini Dehumidifiers the plug in ones that you charge indoors and the place in the van.

Sorry but the way images go on here I always forget.

Happy New Year, Mike   

Got it, Mike,

They use silica gel crystals to absorb the moisture and you plug them in to dry the crystals out.

I can see why you need four.

How long do they last between plug-ins?

Happy New Year to all!

G

Normally a couple of weeks between charges but this of course depends on the amount of moisture entering the van. I alternate the charging so there are always two in the van.
BTW I have noticed water (condensation) on the bathroom window in the winter so I keep the door ajar.

Happy New Year to you all.

Best regards, Mike