Winterised fresh water tank Forums

Cherekee

Hi
Further to the post on Winterisation have any Autocruise Starspirit (05) owners found the need to fit heaters in the fresh water semi internal tank whilst away in the Alps during the winter ? Autocruise inform me that they are happy (as is) down to -15c but i am not so sure. If so any advice would be appreciated.

Cherekee

scamper2

Hi try fish tank water heater works well
regards john

PamNPete

You may be OK down to -15C

We have had -23C here in Cumbria

That explains why two couples with "Winterised" Burstners had frozen internal tanks, pipes & taps
when travelling through France to Spain Mid day temp was -7C & a truck driver recconed -25C overnight in Southern France

Advice is travell with some drinking water in containers inside the van & empty tanks if the temp drops

ScotJimland

Hi

Good advice from Pete,
all I would add is that we didn't have a problem with the fresh water but the waste emptying pipe valve freezing.. we used a pail and kept it open.

Propane gas is a must too and don't forget the porta potty .. it can freeze, you can add antifreeze to the flush water if it's a separate tank from the drinking water.
To defrost a frozen valve or pipe I've used a hair dryer ..

Very Happy

PamNPete

i put this on yesterday but for some reason it has not appeared

When travelling in very cold weather we travel with ALL water tanks empty
We use a small washing up bowl and pour water from this into the toilet cassett instead of using the flushing system

We then empty the cassett daily

Saves going outside in cold weather to the loo in the night
Not had any problems so far with the cassett freezing

ScotJimland

PamNPete

The cassett is the least problem we have had

One site in France ALL water was frozen solid

We only stayed one night (by plan) then set off for the sun
Spent the next night in an aires Nr Perpignon (pulled in at 23.30
Motorway had been closed 5hrs afer a fatal crash on black ice

we kept the diesel heater going all night
Ran out of ice Nr Barcelona

Cherekee

Regarding water tanks thank you all for your advice. Will know doubt find out in January.

Cherekee

drcotts

My current non autocruise van is lucky enough to have an inboard tank and i have never had any problems. however i intend to buy a starblazer soon and noticed that the tank is outside.

I thought of insulating the tank with a good few layers of bubble wrap. the air pockets would provide a good insulation (i hope).
Has anyone else thought of this or tried it.

rowley

Quote- I thought of insulating the tank with a good few layers of bubble wrap.
I have an external water tank and have covered it with a layer of the foil coated bubble wrap. Since doing this we have not suffered with the water freezing up. Foam pipe wrap was used on the pipes.
I used spray on contact adhesive to stick the bubble wrap on to the tank.