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Topic: How do I winterise the water system?

colin51

16/8/2011 at 11:43pm
Location: North West
Outfit: Charisma 230 - Volvo V70 TDi Auto

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This year is our first year using the caravan and I anticipate we will make some short trips during winter when there will be the risk of freezing of the external components of our water system ( ie: the submersible pump, blue pump pipe and possibly the water carrier ).

Now would be a good time to gather ideas as to how I could ensure water would still be available if freezing outside. I could then make any required modifications during the warmer weather.

Our caravan is a 1989/90 Lunar Clubman 500/4 and it is fitted with the early Carver water inlet where the blue pump pipe & power cable is permanently connected to the inlet in the same housing as the cartridge water filter.

My main concern is the possibility of the pump body freezing and then cracking, thus requiring replacement. We are already on our 2nd pump this year due to a mishap and the urgently needed replacement whilst on site was £45.
A secondary concern is an ice plug in the exposed blue pipe preventing water flow.

Are my concerns well founded - what are your experiences with an external water pump in freezing weather?

When we last had a tourer more than 20 years ago we occasionally went away during freezing weather but that caravan didn't have an external water pump waiting to be damaged by ice expansion.

I really can't see a way round this without extensive modifications.

If we abandoned the need for hot water then we could use a small water container in the caravan and that would work OK for drinks etc. We could boil the kettle for washing up too - but we wouldn't be able to shower in the van when freezing which we WERE able to do on rallies and CL's in our van of 20 odd years ago by refilling a spare water carrier and fitting a spare 'carrier to caravan' supply pipe to replace the frozen one.

It is more than likely that any winter caravanning would be by using rallies or CL's / CS's without shower facilities - and showering in the warm van in winter is so cosy when snow is sliding down your front window.

Not for us cold shower blocks in winter.

Any suggestions re the water situation?
I realise anything within the body of the caravan will not be affected as the heating would be on.

Anything else we need to consider and prepare for?

Colin

Post last edited on 16/08/2011 23:59:57

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First outing : 6 - 8th June 2011 - Rivington nr Bolton.
27/6/11 - 15/7/11: Cornwall.
2/9/11 - 5/9/11: Tarporley, Cheshire.
08/10/11 - 13/10/11: Naburn Lock nr York.
19/3/12 - 22/3/12: Southport

neil and lena

17/8/2011 at 7:42am
Location: Dumfries
Outfit: 2022 CoachmanVIP 2022 Pilote P696GJ

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Cold Shower blocks in the winter ! Caravan Club site's all have heated facilities and some have underfloor heating
you can buy a winterised cover for your Aquaroll which covers not only the barrel but the water inlet hose .
We have used ours in -8 conditions with no freezing of water at all .

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cwdc56768

17/8/2011 at 8:25am
Location: Keswick
Outfit: Bailey

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you can buy a winterised cover for your Aquaroll which covers not only the barrel but the water inlet hose

Yes. Then there are practical measures like emptying the water barrel on a night and keeping it in the awning and pump in the van. Then get up early and fill the barrel and then pump the water in. Back to bed with a cuppa whilst the water is heating up. This also keeps the water out of your pipes (run it off last thing at night) so that they should not freeze. Oh and don't foget to fill the kettle the night before. Keep the heating on low over night as an extra precaution for keeping the pipes warm

So, its just a toss of a coin for who gets up early to pull the water barrel across the frosty grass to the fill it!!!!

Phil

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If you're not on a fell your wasting your feet and for 2014 it's.......Feb Castleton Mar North Yors Moors; Apr Sutton on Sea; May Thirsk; Jun Clapham/Riverside (Lakes); July Wharfedale; August Crakehall; Sept Knaresborough; Oct Wirral Park/Clitheroe

Al+Mel

17/8/2011 at 9:28am
Location: Hants
Outfit: Fleetwood Heritage 640 EB & ML270

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Do you think one of these could be any good?

Heater

birder99

17/8/2011 at 10:35am
Location: Cambs
Outfit: Tin tent diddy tent BIG tent

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If you follow the above you will not go far wrong, but there are very few nights each year when water in the water carrier will freeze due to the large volume of water in them. The effects can be mitigated by pouring in a couple of kettles of very hot water before going to bed, using an insulated cover and pipe cover, standing the carrier on a block of polystyrene or thick insulating board, and putting a hot water bottle under under the cover. Don't forget to insulate the fresh water and waste pipes where they run under the 'van. Use a bucket for waste water so the 'ice cube' can be tipped out rather than having a frozen waste water carrier.

Make sure you have plenty of gas as you will need it if not on EHU. You might also need winter covers for the fridge vents if it over cools.

If you get a lot of snow make sure that air can still flow under the caravan and the vents do not get blocked.

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'A sure cure for sea-sickness is to sit under a tree'

Danny-B-

17/8/2011 at 10:58am
Location: Dumfries Scotland
Outfit: Avondale Harrier

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I like the sound of winter camping !
Sounds ace waking up with a frosty ground but your warm n toasty in the van !!

Couldnt you just use one of those space blankets (emergency foil things) eBay link
and perhaps some pipe insulation foam Pipe Lagging

Got me thinking now :)

cwdc56768

17/8/2011 at 11:23am
Location: Keswick
Outfit: Bailey

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Lower the legs on one side of the caravan, then you roll towards each other in bed to keep warm Now we're talking!

Phil

Al+Mel

17/8/2011 at 11:41am
Location: Hants
Outfit: Fleetwood Heritage 640 EB & ML270

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Quote: Originally posted by cwdc56768 on 17/8/2011

Lower the legs on one side of the caravan, then you roll towards each other in bed to keep warm Now we're talking!
Phil

I like it!

If the tank heater idea is possible it would save gas as the water could be preheated to 20 degrees C maybe? No good without hookup though and then, if you had hookup you wouldn't use so much gas anyway....

colin51

19/8/2011 at 10:13am
Location: North West
Outfit: Charisma 230 - Volvo V70 TDi Auto

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Thanks for the replies everyone.

A few things there for us to consider.

Maybe club sites would be best bet then with heated facilities rather than CL's/CS's.

Using a bucket for waste instead of the waste container is very logical when you think about it when it is REALLY cold.

We don't have an aqua-roll - we have 2 x 5 gallon water carriers outside the van - will have to devise some insulation method for them.

Thinking cap ON.

-------------
First outing : 6 - 8th June 2011 - Rivington nr Bolton.
27/6/11 - 15/7/11: Cornwall.
2/9/11 - 5/9/11: Tarporley, Cheshire.
08/10/11 - 13/10/11: Naburn Lock nr York.
19/3/12 - 22/3/12: Southport

rushallmanor

19/8/2011 at 7:21pm
Location: Walsall
Outfit: Unicorn Barcelona 2 & Kia Sorento

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I is also possible to fit a second water inlet inside the van. Keeping the water and pump inside. I prefer my onboard tank but even this can have problems at -17 as we learnt last Christmas.

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Regards

Steve

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