Water heater

This is a brilliant thread as I have no idea what you are tallking about! This wasn't explained in handover and I haven't picked up in it from elsewhere. Have had a new compass corona caravan since July and have never done this draining down thing and wouldn't know how to. Hoping next time we go (this weekend), the manual will help me, but probably not! There is a yellow valve switch under the offside bench seat. Is it something to do with this?

Yes it is the yellow valve (at least it is in our Bailey) this should be opened along with the taps at the mid position. I hope you have heated the van this winter, or kept it in inside storage, otherwise given the temperatures we have had, there could well be some  damage. Where did you buy the van? I am rather appalled they did not mention it at hand over.

Thank you Steve. Just really grateful to learn this. So, do the valve every time we leave the site and leave it like that (including in storage) until we get to the next site and before filling up with water? Another good tip I got from this forum was leaving the taps as though They are 'on' to avoid water freezing in the tap (hopefully).

well maybe it's an old fashoined thing to do and not necessary these days while towing with modern caravans. However my instruction manuel for my Swift does state you should drain down to aviod frost damage which won't be covered by the warranty by Truma.

Thank you Steve. Just really grateful to learn this. So, do the valve every time we leave the site and leave it like that (including in storage) until we get to the next site and before filling up with water? Another good tip I got from this forum was leaving the taps as though They are 'on' to avoid water freezing in the tap (hopefully).

I do and I leave it open while towing so that any water in the system will shake its way out. However don't forget to close the drain valve when you arrive - I've forgot a few times, there's no damage but you stand there wondering why its taking so long to fill the tank.

Thank you Steve. Just really grateful to learn this. So, do the valve every time we leave the site and leave it like that (including in storage) until we get to the next site and before filling up with water? Another good tip I got from this forum was leaving the taps as though They are 'on' to avoid water freezing in the tap (hopefully).

As well as the drain valve, our previous van also had two bungs that had to be removed to drain the lowest reaches of the water system in winter. These were under the van close to the side and red and blue in colour. You had to slide the collar on the pipe back to pull out the bung. Didn't do this once and water froze in the pipes, no damage fortunately but reprimanded by service department, who had to thaw them out when servicing van. Our current Bailey does not have them, so yours may not. They were however mentioned in our handbook under winterisation.

Not water heater post but as its wandered slightly to draining, 'Catsize' may want to think about draining the flush tank if its full'ish before leaving site and also to 'winterize'. I only drain to 'winterize' and the pipe is usually in the cassette compartment, but others mention it adds to weight at the rear and the slopping around could leak over.

We always drain down everytime we leave a site.  That's one of Carols jobs and she does it as a matter of habit.

David 

obviously, we dont have the same weight issues as a caravan might have, but youre right about the warranty issues on boilers..

we had a leak a few years ago while in Spain. we managed to work around it but when we got back, it was sent to Truma and we were told that, if it were foind to be frost damage, we would not be covered...

well, we had left for Spain, via France in September and hadnt seen frost for months....

the inspection revealed fault in the internal welding and the unit was replaced without question.....

just out of interest I don't suppose you have to drain down your flush water tank or toilet holding tank, again 'taught' to to do that with caravans to avoid probelms with weight and stability probelms with water sloshing about while towing.

Corners, we dont have (and nor do many, i believe) have a separate flushing tank, all done from the one fresh water tank.

we also dont have issues with sloshing water, despite sometimes travelling with over 100 ltr in the tank.

I guess it would defeat the touring ease/ ability ethos/raison d'etre of a MH if it had to be drained after a couple of days on site (or on an aire) prior to moving to the next stop.

we dont have 'pink' or anything like that in our loo...just the Lidl gel tabs these days and our SOG. 

Thank you Steve. Just really grateful to learn this. So, do the valve every time we leave the site and leave it like that (including in storage) until we get to the next site and before filling up with water? Another good tip I got from this forum was leaving the taps as though They are 'on' to avoid water freezing in the tap (hopefully).

Catzize, MH or caravan?

definitely not necessary to drain tanks between sites (on the same trip) in a MH.

well maybe it's an old fashoined thing to do and not necessary these days while towing with modern caravans. However my instruction manuel for my Swift does state you should drain down to aviod frost damage which won't be covered by the warranty by Truma.

Corners the tip mentioned is in addition to draining the boiler, it allws and residual water deep in the pipes 'room' to expand if it does freeze....