Many motorhome owners now continue to use their leisure vehicle throughout the cold months, but if you winterise yours there’s one crucial step you mustn’t forget.
That’s according to the experts at Motorhome Protect, who have reminded motorhomers to empty their water systems as temperatures drop.
Mark Sheppard, senior trading manager at the insurance provider, said: “Proper winterisation of your vehicle is important to prevent damage caused by freezing temperatures.
“Water left in the plumbing system can freeze, leading to ruptured pipes and damaged water tanks.
It’s something CaravanTimes’ own Dan Cartwright has touched on before too, with some leisure vehicle water systems automatically dumping their contents when they go below a certain temperature.
Draining your water system
Completely drain the water systems, including all tanks, pipes, valves and taps, with the vehicle parked over a suitable drainage point to allow water to drain away effectively
Owners need to open the outlets to the fresh and wastewater tanks, including the water heater, if fitted, as well as all internal taps and leave them open until they next use the vehicle.
If the vehicle features a shower, the showerhead should be removed and the supply hoses left to hang into the shower tray to drain, using a drainage accessory like a drain-down kit to ensure all water is removed from the system.
Finally, driving the vehicle a short distance with all drainage outlets open to shake out any remaining water is a good idea.
Winterising your motorhome
The whole point of winterising your motorhome is to ensure everything is in good working order when you come back to it at the start of next season.
That does involve putting in the hard work before your leisure vehicle goes into storage, completing a long list of maintenance and cleaning tasks.
Mr Sheppard said: “Additionally, the vehicle batteries, tyres and engine fluids require special attention during this time.
“Considering the expensive repairs that could arise from neglecting these tasks, winterising your motorhome is a wise investment in the long run.”
Winterising checklist
Consult this list to ensure you don’t miss any of the most important tasks when winterising your motorhome:
- Empty the water system
- Fully charge the leisure battery and check it throughout the winter
- Inflate the tyres to the right pressure
- Fill vehicle fluids to the optimum level
- Clean all surfaces and stains
- Vacuum the soft furnishings
- Remove food from the cupboards
- Look for signs of wear and tear to be fixed
- Place moisture-absorbing crystals around your motorhome
- Disconnect the gas
