Blackmore Vale Leisure

It is very important to drain down your caravan at the end of the season.

This prevents frost damage which could affect pipe work and appliances.

Opening all the taps
If there is a pump switch, ensure it is in the OFF position, then open all the taps including the shower control. Opening all the taps allows air into the system and the drain-down process then proceeds more quickly. Dealing with lever-type taps
Make sure the lever is midway between hot and cold positions. Be certain to lift the lever upwards to its limit. If the lever is to one side let us say the „hot side‟ then there will not be a release of pressure from the "cold side". On some of the latest lever taps from Whale there is a warning sticker to make this clear.

Fresh tank
If your motor caravan or tourer is fitted with a fresh water tank, this should have its own drain-down tap. Release all the water. Sometimes the drain tap for fresh water is situated well away from the tank to make it easier to reach.

Waste tank
Flush out then empty the waste tank and either close the tap to keep out inquisitive insects or cover the outlet with gauze. Put plugs in the sink, basin and shower tray. You do not want smells to come up from the waste pipes because it leaves odours in the living area. Using plugs is a wise strategy even with caravans that do not have a permanently fitted waste tank.

Draining the fresh water system
Empty all the water from the supply pipes via the drain tap. Regrettably many manufacturers do not fit a drain tap for the water pipes. Without a tap, you have to disconnect a hose or pipe coupling in order to release any captive water. Bear in mind that water will not drain back through a caravan water inlet. That is because a one-way valve is usually fitted near this coupling point. After the drain-down is complete
Leave the taps and shower control open throughout the winter storage period. If there is any trapped water left behind in the pipes this will expand when it freezes. If taps are left closed, the expanding ice creates pressure in the pipes which sometimes breaks a coupling or a component, so leave the taps open.

Filters
Water held in filter casings can freeze, expand and crack the unit. Avoid this by simply removing the filter. Fresh water taste filters need changing regularly and the start of a season is an obvious time to fit a new one. It makes sense to remove your old one now, buy a replacement, and have it ready for fitting next spring.

Shower
The looped hose feeding a shower head can often retain water so check this. Leave the shower head hanging into the tray below.

Pumps
Few pumps these days retain sufficient water to cause a problem, nevertheless, shake any drips from a submersible pump.

Water heaters
Early Carver Cascade water storage heaters take a long time to drain down completely. They often "glug‟ away for an hour or more, this is normal. More recent Carver water heaters had an air release screw which speeded up the process. Trumatic Combi heaters have a frost activated automatic drain down valve, but this can be over-ridden, as it is a nuisance if water gets released when the caravan is in use during a winter trip. A Truma Ultrastore water heater is easily drained simply by lifting a yellow lever that is mounted near the appliance. Carefully read the drain down instructions for your particular water heater; procedures vary a lot. On a Thetford bench style cassette toilet, flush water is drained via a plastic pipe. The Thetford swivel bowl toilet with a built in flush tank is drained by repeated flushing. Dregs are finally released by removing a bung at the back of the unit. Again, check the instructions relating to your particular product.

Don’t forget that you can book your caravan service with Blackmore Vale Leisure for next season now to avoid disappointed.