does anyone empty their electric flush during these winter months?

[AbbeyOwner]

Hi all just a quick question does anyone empty their electric flush, as I have been told that it can freeze should i follow this advice or will it just be a waste of flush liquid. I just didn't want to do it so that i waste the flush fluid.

 

[WoodlandsCamper]

If you've parked up your van for the winter then a new bottle of tank additive is a lot cheaper than a new toilet/tank if damaged by freezing.

 

[AbbeyOwner]

Thought so, going to drain tomorrow

 

[GrahamDerby]

Although my flush was drained last year the frost still split the tank and filled the van with pink water. I have now had the new drain pipe fitted so it drains all the flush. The unit was replaced under gaurantee, but wouldnt like to have to pay for one.

 

[MichaelE]

Why waste it when you drain it down? Drain it down into a plastic bottle and reuse the next time you are out?

 

[WatsonJohnG]

Thetford did an improved FOC drain
http://www.thetford-europe.com/en/about-thetford/news/2011/improved-draining-solution-for-c250-cwe.aspx

 

[TonyG]

Blimey, send me your address and I will send you a bottle lol

 

[TINHUTONWHEELS]

Hi Ya
Yes I do, as I learnt the hard way by having the thetford c250 pump freeze and split. Took advantage of the Thetford offer to replace some drain pipe, well worth doing as its amazing how much water still dribbles out.
Regards
Kev...

 

[ProfJohnL]

If there is any danger of water freezing in pipes or tanks, the safest thing to do is the fully drain down. And that include taking care to make sure the pipes are completly empty.

As others have said, its far cheaper to by a new bottle of treatment than to replace equipement damaged by frost.

 

[Willi-Wonti]

Drain everything & leave the taps open
I had to replace my kitchen tap a couple of years ago as there was a small amount of water left in the tap that froze

 

[AbbeyOwner]

Drain everything & leave the taps open
I had to replace my kitchen tap a couple of years ago as there was a small amount of water left in the tap that froze

Yes i've drained everything and used floe to drain it amazed by how much water came out, now in storage with full cover on so i won't have to the van next season.

 

[WatsonJohnG]

Drain everything & leave the taps open
I had to replace my kitchen tap a couple of years ago as there was a small amount of water left in the tap that froze

Yes i've drained everything and used floe to drain it amazed by how much water came out, now in storage with full cover on so i won't have to the van next season.

That's good practice but it won't drain the Thetford toilet that you were asking about as its seperate on most vans from the water system unless its off the tank cold water

 

[AbbeyOwner]

Drain everything & leave the taps open
I had to replace my kitchen tap a couple of years ago as there was a small amount of water left in the tap that froze

Yes i've drained everything and used floe to drain it amazed by how much water came out, now in storage with full cover on so i won't have to the van next season.

That's good practice but it won't drain the Thetford toilet that you were asking about as its seperate on most vans from the water system unless its off the tank cold water

yes where i am it can drop to -3 overnight so better to be safe than sorry.

 

[DeliDave_]

I remove my whale pump and drain it then leave it in sink.First year it split and cost me nearly £100 to replace.Its only 4 screws and two push fit pipes

 

[WatsonJohnG]

I remove my whale pump and drain it then leave it in sink.First year it split and cost me nearly £100 to replace.Its only 4 screws and two push fit pipes

Good idea and something to do to get away from HRH

 

[AbbeyOwner]

I remove my whale pump and drain it then leave it in sink.First year it split and cost me nearly £100 to replace.Its only 4 screws and two push fit pipes

Good idea and something to do to get away from HRH

my van is in storage at the moment as we are getting it ready for the new year to go away in it again.

 

[Willi-Wonti]

Drain everything & leave the taps open
I had to replace my kitchen tap a couple of years ago as there was a small amount of water left in the tap that froze

Yes i've drained everything and used floe to drain it amazed by how much water came out, now in storage with full cover on so i won't have to the van next season.

That's good practice but it won't drain the Thetford toilet that you were asking about as its seperate on most vans from the water system unless its off the tank cold water

In my origional post I stated "Drain everything"

 

[Brum1]

I usually let the flush tank run low, then I add a little antifreeze to the tank and flush a little into the waste tank. That way, any water left in the system is protected from freezing.

Hope the antifreeze is not harming anything.

 

[TheCoachman]

I would recommend that you flush it out completely and wash away all the bacteria which may be present.

Today I have just stripped the top off mine as I was aware of some black stuff coming through with the flush. When I removed the cover the tank was covered in bacteria so I stripped out the hoses and pump then using a household bathroom cleaner spray ( the one with added bleach) and with the aid of a long bottle brush and an old toothbrush, I cleaned the entire inside of the tank along with the hoses and flushed it all away with the hose.

My tank is now as clean as was when it left the factory and completely dry for the winter.
I will be noting this in my "jobs to do" list when setting my van down each winter from now on.