Advice regarding winter drain down

theonlywardy
theonlywardy Forum Participant Posts: 5
edited February 2021 in Caravans #1

Hi, all I was wondering if this might have been covered or someone may know. My caravan lives on a small seasonal pitch. due to lockdown I havnt seen it since october the 24th. I hadnt drained anything down or even taken the awning down as i was still planning on using it. I had hoped that we would have left tier 3 but oh well. the site fully closed on us entering lockdown and people told they can not go on site even to check on caravan and of course travel is not alowed any ways.

I am starting to get a little worried my caravan is most likely ruined. 

Does anybody have any tips? would I even be able to claim on my insurance ...

Comments

  • armourer
    armourer Forum Participant Posts: 218
    edited February 2021 #2

    doubt it

  • Navigateur
    Navigateur Club Member Posts: 3,880 ✭✭✭✭✭
    1000 Comments
    edited February 2021 #3

    Not much you can do, so perhaps a good read at the insurance paper work now. 

    Cold will not have affected an awning much, but wind could have. You may get minimal frost damage as much of the pipework used these days is flexible, but as the ice formed it will probably have pushed a coupling open somewhere and as ice thaws water will leak out. However, that will be limited to what is in the pipes above the open joint. Seals in the water pump could be damaged but hopefully not the pump casing. So think lucky there will be limited water to dry out and a new set of seals required. Could be less than the policy excess.

  • Whittakerr
    Whittakerr Club Member Posts: 3,472 ✭✭✭✭
    1000 Comments Photogenic
    edited February 2021 #4

    Do you know what the lowest temperature has been at the site? you don't say where it is.

    Unless its been well below freezing for a sustained period you'll be unlucky if the internal water system has frozen. 

    As for the awning as Navigateur says cold weather shouldn't damage it, but wind could.

    Hope everythings okay for you when you eventually get their.

  • dave the rave
    dave the rave Forum Participant Posts: 806
    500 Comments
    edited February 2021 #5

    a lot of the taps used in caravans are plastic and water that freezes will often split  the spout and sometimes the body.So when you do get chance to visit make sure you open all cupboard doors under the sink and basin to check for leaks.The shower tap is harder to check obviously.

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
    1000 Comments
    edited February 2021 #6

     ..... thanks for the reminder to drain the toilet flush on my caravan 😉 😉

  • hitchglitch
    hitchglitch Forum Participant Posts: 3,007
    1000 Comments
    edited February 2021 #7

    Even a small amount of water can do damage in severe weather. We had a mixer tap fail on a newish van due to residual water in the system even though I had drained down. It was under warranty and the dealer agreed to halve the cost even though it wasn’t really a warranty claim.

    Its really important to drain everything, leave taps open, shower head lowered, boiler empty etc. I used to try and drain down on the last trip so that the journey home would shake things up a bit!

  • lagerorwine
    lagerorwine Forum Participant Posts: 310
    edited February 2021 #8

    Hopefully its not in Scotland, but based on temperature anywhere in UK tonight and going forward, you will be extremely lucky if you have minimal damage unfortunately.

    The boiler, taps, toilet cistern, and pump are all vunerable with current night time temperatures.

    Check your policy as suggested.