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Hopefully this Guide will eventually contain advice for a range of different vans.
JackieP has started us off with an excellent guide for older Hymers.
Older Hymers - Author = JackieP
We have a 1984 Hymer 550s and this is how we get our van ready for frosty weather. This guide should help anyone with an old Hymer.
First drain off the cold water tank by running the taps in kitchen and shower room.
Once you have emptied as much water from the fresh water tank as you can, lift the submersible pump out clear of the water. If the temperature is cold enough and the water in the fresh water tank freezes, it will do little harm as there is plenty of room for what little ice there is left to expand.
You will also need to drain off your hot water boiler, and this is done by opening the tap located under the wardrobe. Empty the wardrobe and lift the wooden base. On the floor, just in front of the water boiler and behind the fire you will find a flip tap lever. Pull this lever up and the water from the boiler will flow out onto the ground outside. There is another tap with a screw that you should turn with your fingers, anticlockwise. This will drain the remainder of water from your system. If you're draining down in a garage you might want to collect the water in a bucket.
The taps and showerhead in the van will need to be left open so that any water left inside does not freeze, expand and split the taps. Normally, when the taps are open, the submersible pump will come on. In order to bypass this, you must isolate the 12v system. The isolation switch is located in the front cab, on the left of the steering wheel. It is a red plastic key. Turn this to the left and the 12v will turn off. You can now open all the taps and the showerhead.
Finally, you must empty your grey waste tank. If there is nowhere suitable to drain it into, empty it into a bucket and dispose of it responsibly. When it is empty, leave the tank wheel in an open position and position a bucket underneath to catch any remaining drips. The grey tank should be left open until you come to use the van again.
It is also a good idea to empty the water from the flush compartment in your toilet. Flush it straight into the toilet and empty it.
You have now ensured that there is little in your van that can freeze, expand and do damage.
Last edited by Zebedee on Mon Oct 03, 2011 3:47 pm; edited 1 time in total
Going on from Jackie's thread, ie fifteen years on, but with the same Marque.
In the Hymer E690 (and presumably B754, as it is the same layout), the submersible pump has to be unscrewed and raised from the base of the fresh water tank (under the large settee), to gain access to the drain plug attached to a chain. Once pulled the tank will drain off.
Before replacing the pump back into it's recess, it too has to be drained off, as there may be a non return valve incorporated in to the pipe connection. Operate the cold tap until no water flows, then upturn the pump over the tank aperture, to drain off water through the little bleed holes in the pump housing. Once completely drained off, the pump can be secured again, in the tank.
Whilst under the settee, next to the tank, are 2 x white plastic drain taps, which when opened anti-clockise, drain off the pipes to the taps and the toilet flush.
Next, under the kitchen bar area, there is a hatch which gives access to the Truma Combi boiler. In front of the boiler is the RED automatic dump valve, which when pushed down, will drain off the contents of the boiler.
One very important thing to do before isolating the 12v electrics, is to, operate the blue flush button on the Thetford C200 toilet. This too allows the little electric valve under the swivel bowl to expel it's contents into the bowl. The remainder will drain off via the afore mentioned plastic drain taps. (Please see the P.S. at the bottom of this post).
It is now time to isolate the 12 electrics, using the 12v rocker switch on the panel above the habitation door. Once isolated, open all the taps, (including the shower tap), and you will hear air being drawn in, thereby replacing any water left in the system. Once happy that "ALL" water has drained off, close the taps, as if left in the open position, you may inadvertently burn out the submersible pump, when turning on the 12v electrics for lighting etc.
The GREY coloured waste water valve is normally situated behind one of the rear wheels, and with only a quarter of a turn, is used to drain the tank, in the responsible manner which Jackie has highlighted above.
Knowing that your toilet flush system has already been drained off, all that is left to do now, is to make sure that the toilet bowl and Thetford cassette is emptied completely, the sliding blade rubber sealing ring lubricated (olive oil), and the unit dried off and replaced in it's compartment. If fitted with a SOG unit, don't be tempted to leave the blade valve open, as this will operate the little 12v fan constantly, with the resulting consequences.
HTH.
Best regards,
Jock & Rita.
P.S. The advice re the little blue flushing switch and the electric valve incorporated under the swivel bowl, stems from last year's hard winter experience. They are expensive (for what they are) and are a bu##er to replace.
______________________________________________________________ For "Our Mavis."
A simple, non make specific, checklist might be useful :-
1. Anti freeze in engine.
2. Anti freeze in windscreen wash bottle.
3. All windows closed but fridge and lockers ajar for ventilation.
4. Drain hot and cold water at taps (run dry).
5. Drain hot water tank (activate dump valve).
6. Drain fresh water tank if it has a valve.
7. Drain toilet flushing system (run dry).
8. Lift pump out of any water in fresh water tank sump.
9. Isolate electrics to stop water pump working (use switch or remove fuse)
10. Open all taps including shower head.
11. Drain grey water tank.
12. Empty toilet.
13. Drain water from fuel filter.
A simple, non make specific, checklist might be useful :-
1. Anti freeze in engine.
2. Anti freeze in windscreen wash bottle.
3. All windows closed but fridge and lockers ajar for ventilation.
4. Drain hot and cold water at taps (run dry).
5. Drain hot water tank (activate dump valve).
6. Drain fresh water tank if it has a valve.
7. Drain toilet flushing system (run dry).
8. Lift pump out of any water in fresh water tank sump.
9. Isolate electrics to stop water pump working (use switch or remove fuse)
10. Open all taps including shower head.
11. Drain grey water tank.
12. Empty toilet.
13. Drain water from fuel filter.
Please feel free to add to the list
. . remove in-line filter [if you have a water filter]
A simple, non make specific, checklist might be useful :-
1. Anti freeze in engine.
2. Anti freeze in windscreen wash bottle.
3. All windows closed but fridge and lockers ajar for ventilation.
4. Drain hot and cold water at taps (run dry).
5. Drain hot water tank (activate dump valve).
6. Drain fresh water tank if it has a valve.
7. Drain toilet flushing system (run dry).
8. Lift pump out of any water in fresh water tank sump.
9. Isolate electrics to stop water pump working (use switch or remove fuse)
10. Open all taps including shower head.
11. Drain grey water tank.
12. Empty toilet.
13. Drain water from fuel filter.
Please feel free to add to the list
Remove jars of food that could freeze, expand and crack (just like someones jars of fish mentioned today and the van was in storage imagine the smell)
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Norway
For "Our Mavis."
