Winter storage & heating

MaxHeadroom
MaxHeadroom Forum Participant Posts: 110
edited December 2017 in Caravan & Motorhome Chat #1

Hi,

      I keep my caravan at a local farm who operate a local caravan storage facility. I'm fortunate to have one of the spaces in a barn so it's out of the weather etc. The owner has said I can keep it hooked up to the mains during the winter if I want to so I can keep the heating on and battery charged etc. I obviously don't need my caravan toasty warm so I've set it to 10 degrees so there's no chance of anything freezing etc. Is this good practice or is it best to not have the heating on at all?

I look forward to the wide and varied responses to this question :) 

Andy.

Comments

  • Navigateur
    Navigateur Club Member Posts: 3,880 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited December 2017 #2

    If using the caravan's own heating you will wear it out prematurely.

    I use an oil-filled electric radiator sitting in the middle of the floor, with all the cupboard doors open. The heater is plugged into a thermostatically controlled socket with a remote sensor. Sensor is set for 3 degrees.  Could be set to less but I like a bit of a leeway for it getting started should there be a sudden drop.

    If it goes REALLY cold I can pop out and up the heat with another radiator if need be - it is just outside the kitchen window.

  • MichaelT
    MichaelT Forum Participant Posts: 1,874
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2017 #3

    2 questions, what sort of heating (ALDE or Tuma) and do you have a smart charger on board?

    If running your heating the pump or fan will be going all the time so that will be wear and tear and if the charger is not smart it may blow your battery.

    I think a good idea is to have a small oil filled radiator on low level for heating but in a barn it should be fine anyway and protected from the worst of the cold, ours is outside and never had a problem.

    You can just have the charger on every couple of weeks to top up the battery.  If you do not have an alarm then you can take battery home to charge and not bother.

  • Tammygirl
    Tammygirl Club Member Posts: 7,957 ✭✭✭
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    edited December 2017 #4

    We have never heated any of vans over the last 40 years, however I'm curious at MichealT's comment 

    If running your heating the pump or fan will be going all the time so that will be wear and tear and if the charger is not smart it may blow your battery.

    There are many folk who live in their caravans/MH's all year round (MM for one) they will have their heating on all of the winter and not just on low so are you saying they will have problems?

  • MaxHeadroom
    MaxHeadroom Forum Participant Posts: 110
    edited December 2017 #5

    "2 questions, what sort of heating (ALDE or Tuma) and do you have a smart charger on board?"

    I have a Swift Major 4EB (2017) using a Truma air blown system. It has an eco setting for the fan so will only activate when needed. It has solar power (not much good in the barn) but I believe it has a smart charger too being such a new caravan. 

  • MichaelT
    MichaelT Forum Participant Posts: 1,874
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2017 #6

    I agree TG a few will be living in them but if a pump or fan is running 24*7 it will obviously degrade as they are not designed for permanent use but rather occasional use. And yes a modern smart charger will keep battery on float OK but if not it would overcharge and maybe damage the battery

  • hitchglitch
    hitchglitch Forum Participant Posts: 3,007
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2017 #7

    It seems very generous of the owner to let you stay hooked up; he obviously doesn’t realise what it might cost him if you use the electric heating. Although I don’t think think that heating is necessary, if it’s free then keeping on a low setting of, say, 10 deg. obviously is good to do.

    Agree that an oil filled radiator would reduce wear on the fan. The smart charger should allow permanent connection without damaging the battery but a phone call to the system manufacturer would confirm this.

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2017 #8

    My Alde heating has been used for 720 weeks on site and probably 25 weeks on 5c when not in use. Replaced the header tank pump following that as it had become noisy due presumably bearing wear. Not a problem in the header tank. 5 min job and £120 for the part

  • nelliethehooker
    nelliethehooker Club Member Posts: 13,644 ✭✭✭
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    edited December 2017 #9

    Does that mean that your van was 14 yrs old, ET, and you'd used it for over 5000 nights. Even our's hasn't done that!!winkwink

  • Nuggy
    Nuggy Forum Participant Posts: 512
    edited December 2017 #10

    IMO good ventilation is more important than heat.

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2017 #11

    Nope, over 120 nights for 6 seasons Nellie  ...... Should have read 720 nights not weeks embarassed

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited December 2017 #12

    I see no general need to heat a caravan in storage. I heat mine only out if idleness really. Heating set for 5 degrees simply because I do not blow all the water out of the lines after September trip and might get a couple of weeks of really cold temperature before our December trip. Because the Alde runs behind the units it keeps the water lines protected. 

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