Quote: Originally posted by DLW1 on 04/7/2011
yes they are john, which is why you should never block up air vents in the floor, or any other part of your van for that matter. They are there for a reason.
regards
mark
although not all the vents will be for fresh air (oxygen) for your gas appliances !!! however i agree with the last two posters - dont block up your vents - they are also there for air circulation which can stop condensation and might lead to damp developing if air cannot circulate - if they are creating a draught make up some diverters that help dissipate the air or send it in a different direction.
all caravan walls are already insulated, though older models not so much, so 'cavity wall insulation' is a NON starter.
double glazing is an option, so long as you have windows large enough to escape from - i am sure the specialist companies who do that will offer professional advice (saw one on ebay a while back!) - but thicker curtains might help, though not much help in daylight hours, unless you want to live in darkness!
good insulation under the floor helps and a 'skirt' built externally around the bottom of the van would cut down on drafts (making sure there are air vents built into the skirt of course), carpets instead of lino also make a difference
i think i would do a 'draught test' and then work out how to stop each draught individually, you might find that simply oiling window hinges etc helps them to close fully onto their draft seals - which might need replacing
perhaps the best option is another van - though of course you might be on a site where the owner only allows you to buy them from then, in which case the other options might not be so expensive after all?