Hi everyone
We are new to caravanning and have just purchased a swift jura 2000.
I looked up the instructions online and found a section about using awnings.
Now this stated that your awning can get a build up of carbon monoxide when using your heating. Now is this just if theres a leak or in general? Cause the whole idea is that we can caravan all year round and take our pets with us but obviously cant keep them in the awning now.
Do people not use there awnings for their pets or for people to sleep in, in the winter?
Any advice would be much appreciated as the whole point of us getting the van was so we could take our pets with us.
Thanks inadvance.
Angie
Get a carbon monoxide alarm and dont seal the awning all the way around.
Let some breeze pass through and take the gas away with it.
I can see why they put the warnings there. Some people stick a full draft skirt on the awning side, The peg the awning skirt down tightly then a groundsheet that comes up the inside slightly.
Held tightly to the van wall also. If you stuck a tyre valve on it the thing would probably inflate.
Use electric for the heating? Where does the fire and fridge and water heater vent to?
Only the fridge on our van vents to the awning side.
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Oh grampian91 thank you for posting, ive been worrying about this lol im new to caravanning and never thought about carbon monoxide issues outside the van. More fool me eh.
Our heating unit is on the same side as the awning, i think everything else vents to the other side. The heating is from gas.
Ive no idea if we have a draft skirt etc all i know is that an awning came with the van, we haven't had the chance to use the van or unravel the awning due to the weather. Its just passed its service so weather permitting we will be using it soon.
Im lucky i read the instructions tho as when we use it id wake up to all my pets dead.
So if i get a detector and let air flow we should be good.
Thank you again your reply is much appreciated.
I cant wait till im the experienced caravanner helping others
Most full awnings will have a net vent area above the middle divider with a zip, we always leave that open with or without the dog in the awning, this allows for any unwanted gases/smells to escape and fresh air to get in. grampian91 is right some fix the awning down so tight that its warmer in there than the van itself.
The gas fire has a roof flu so that shouldn't be a problem I would think the only worry you got is if you use your fridge on gas. And if yoj have a gas fire in the awning.
Just get a carbon monoxide alarm as said above and open the vent or door slightly in awning.
Thank you all very much for the replies.
Boycieb thanks for pointing out the vent
Lunarvenus we at times might run the fridge on gas, the fridge etc is all on the other side of the van will this still be a problem? We wont have a gas fire in the awning.
Lol i dont know if ive bitten off more than we can chew, there seems to be a lot to remember and a lot to do, re flushing systems etc. things can be hard to do when ur vans in storage and you dont have facilities to do certain things.
Oh well the joys of caravanning, at the moment it seems all work, we havent even been out in her yet.
Thanks all much appreciated.