Fir-View Tan-Y-Ffridd Holiday Home Park * Llangyniew * Welshpool * Powys * SY21 0LT * Email: info@fir-view.co.uk
* Phone: 01938 810575 Fax: 01938 810575 Mobile: 07848034424
* Phone: 01938 810575 Fax: 01938 810575 Mobile: 07848034424
Winterising a static caravan is often viewed as a trivial matter. But not winterising properly can result in cracked pipes, unnecessary water and repair bills and in the case of having to replace your boiler; tears!
So to avoid this heart ache here is our fool proof guide to Winterising your Static Caravan:
So to avoid this heart ache here is our fool proof guide to Winterising your Static Caravan:
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An In Depth Guide on How to Winterise a Static Caravan
1.Firstly initiate a two pronged attack of clearing down and cleaning. Cleaning all of your surfaces thoroughly, after all; nobody wants to come back to a caravan in that is grimy and dirty, especially after it has gathered a couple of months worth of dust.
2.Clean down, defrost and empty your fridge freezer, when finished prop your fridge door open with a small cardboard box to allow air to circulate and to prevent mold. Ensure to clear all food from your caravan as coming back to the smell of rotten food is not pleasant! But more importantly as many parks like Fir View Tan y Ffridd lie in rural areas wildlife can be a problem as they are attracted to the warmth and shelter an empty static caravan provides. So fix any potential entry points and ensure all foods such as pasta and rice are removed on your exit.
3.Clearing down your caravan is also important; removing items such as soft furnishings, towels and bedding so they are not left to fester through the winter months and mainly because these may need a wash and a spruce up before the spring. Even though most parks like ourselves have security during the winter months it is always a good idea to take back expensive items that may entice thieves into to your holiday home. Removing items such as televisions and DVD players is essential to ensure your home will not be broken into for technical equipment.
4.One of the biggest dangers to any caravan is moisture; damp can get into the walls making them weak. Therefore preventing damp and moisture from entering your static during the winter months is imperative. A budget alternative to buying dehumidifying crystals is to place bowlfuls of salt in a variety of places, salt is much cheaper than crystals and they will do much the same job at absorbing any moisture there may be in the atmosphere.
5.As stated before water and dampness are your main concern, ensuring that the water system in your caravan is properly dealt with is essential. The expansion of frozen water in pipes is a great risk as it can cause serious amounts of flooding. Before you leave your static follow steps 6-8 or step 9 as this should expel the majority of water from your caravan and prevent any nightmares on your return in spring.
6.Turn off your water by the stopcock under the caravan.
7.Drain all of the water from the system by opening up the taps and letting them run dry. Flush toilet. Pour antifreeze into your toilet bowl and cistern to prevent any freezing and cracking of the ceramics. Disconnect shower from taps and pour more antifreeze down all plug holes. Open all drain valves under caravan. If these are not available disconnect one or two joints at the lowest points. Most importantly drain off your water heater. Usually they have a drain plug fitted. If not disconnect a pipe.
8.It is important to remove all water from the system. If you can disconnect the stopcock as well no water can enter the system, as stopcocks can and do sometimes seep water through even though you might have thought you have turned them off.
9.Still worried? Then why not have a professional do it for you? Paying a gas fitter to drain off your caravan and set it up again for the new season not only takes away the anxiety of winterising your caravan properly (because if there are any problems it is the gas fitter's obligation to put them right) but you also start the new season the right way (as the second part of the gas fitter's job is to set up your caravan, so instead of you crawling under your caravan and repairing any water leaks, all you have to do is relax!) A good gas fitter would usually charge £60 plus VAT for this service.
10.Don't forget your roof. It will take a lot of bad weather and they don't last forever. If you think there may be a problem, flash your caravan or use Isoflex on the joints. It is a wise precaution.
11.Turn off both the gas and electric to your caravan. Gas can be turned off via the valve on top of your Gas bottle and the electric can be turned off via flipping your trip fuses down on your electricity box. This will reduce the risks of leaks and unwanted charges while you are not there.
12.Finally do not close off the air vents in your caravan at any time. They are there for a purpose and it can be dangerous if closed off. It can also cause condensation.
2.Clean down, defrost and empty your fridge freezer, when finished prop your fridge door open with a small cardboard box to allow air to circulate and to prevent mold. Ensure to clear all food from your caravan as coming back to the smell of rotten food is not pleasant! But more importantly as many parks like Fir View Tan y Ffridd lie in rural areas wildlife can be a problem as they are attracted to the warmth and shelter an empty static caravan provides. So fix any potential entry points and ensure all foods such as pasta and rice are removed on your exit.
3.Clearing down your caravan is also important; removing items such as soft furnishings, towels and bedding so they are not left to fester through the winter months and mainly because these may need a wash and a spruce up before the spring. Even though most parks like ourselves have security during the winter months it is always a good idea to take back expensive items that may entice thieves into to your holiday home. Removing items such as televisions and DVD players is essential to ensure your home will not be broken into for technical equipment.
4.One of the biggest dangers to any caravan is moisture; damp can get into the walls making them weak. Therefore preventing damp and moisture from entering your static during the winter months is imperative. A budget alternative to buying dehumidifying crystals is to place bowlfuls of salt in a variety of places, salt is much cheaper than crystals and they will do much the same job at absorbing any moisture there may be in the atmosphere.
5.As stated before water and dampness are your main concern, ensuring that the water system in your caravan is properly dealt with is essential. The expansion of frozen water in pipes is a great risk as it can cause serious amounts of flooding. Before you leave your static follow steps 6-8 or step 9 as this should expel the majority of water from your caravan and prevent any nightmares on your return in spring.
6.Turn off your water by the stopcock under the caravan.
7.Drain all of the water from the system by opening up the taps and letting them run dry. Flush toilet. Pour antifreeze into your toilet bowl and cistern to prevent any freezing and cracking of the ceramics. Disconnect shower from taps and pour more antifreeze down all plug holes. Open all drain valves under caravan. If these are not available disconnect one or two joints at the lowest points. Most importantly drain off your water heater. Usually they have a drain plug fitted. If not disconnect a pipe.
8.It is important to remove all water from the system. If you can disconnect the stopcock as well no water can enter the system, as stopcocks can and do sometimes seep water through even though you might have thought you have turned them off.
9.Still worried? Then why not have a professional do it for you? Paying a gas fitter to drain off your caravan and set it up again for the new season not only takes away the anxiety of winterising your caravan properly (because if there are any problems it is the gas fitter's obligation to put them right) but you also start the new season the right way (as the second part of the gas fitter's job is to set up your caravan, so instead of you crawling under your caravan and repairing any water leaks, all you have to do is relax!) A good gas fitter would usually charge £60 plus VAT for this service.
10.Don't forget your roof. It will take a lot of bad weather and they don't last forever. If you think there may be a problem, flash your caravan or use Isoflex on the joints. It is a wise precaution.
11.Turn off both the gas and electric to your caravan. Gas can be turned off via the valve on top of your Gas bottle and the electric can be turned off via flipping your trip fuses down on your electricity box. This will reduce the risks of leaks and unwanted charges while you are not there.
12.Finally do not close off the air vents in your caravan at any time. They are there for a purpose and it can be dangerous if closed off. It can also cause condensation.
> Re-setting up your Static caravan
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Call: 01938 810575 or
Email: info@firview.co.uk
Email: info@firview.co.uk
Why not take a look at our caravan maintenance guide, or our guide on Post winter Caravan Checks.