Winter Touring Tips
Winter Touring Tips
The cold weather can take its toll on your caravan and leave it prone to cracked taps, split pipes and even damage to the water systems. The best way to avoid this sort of damage is to prevent these services from freezing by keeping the caravan warm and well-insulated.
How to insulate a caravan in winter
There are steps you can take to insulate your caravan and reduce the threat of damage due to cold winter weather:
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External water carriers can be vulnerable to freezing in winter weather. Investing in an insulation bag may help to prevent the contents from freezing. If don't have time to purchase one of these you can try using bubble wrap, old duvets or quilted coats.
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You'll need to switch from butane to propane cylinders in the winter as propane operates at a higher pressure and can still be used even if temperatures plummet. Don't forget to change the regulator too as it won't be interchangeable between the two cylinders.
How to keep a caravan warm in winter
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If you are planning on staying out for the whole day, leave the heating on very low just to keep the temperature inside the caravan above freezing.
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At night when the temperature drops further make sure you leave the mains heating on to ensure the pipes don't freeze.
Returning from your winter caravanning adventure
Once you get home from your adventure it's worth the time and effort to take precautions to ensure that the cold doesn't affect your caravan whilst it's on the driveway or in storage.
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Drain down all the water systems, including the toilet flush reservoir, water heater and the toilet cassette. This can help to eliminate the risk of frost damage to pipes.
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Return the taps to the central 'open' position so they can release any built-up pressure caused by changes in temperature.
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Consult the manual relating to your specific make and model of water heater to locate the drain-down valve and make sure every last bit of water drains out.
Additionally, don't forget to update your caravan insurance if your caravan storage arrangements change.
About the author
Adam Summersby is a respected leader with 11 years’ varied experience in niche personal and commercial lines insurance, including caravan, site operators and excess reimbursement, with proficiency in leadership, sales and account management.
Date: September 20, 2019
Category: Caravan
