"Floe" Pressurised Water Ejection System.

[Ian4624]

Winter drain down time again. In previous years I've simply drained the hot water tank and opened all the inside taps (my 'van does not have a filter fitted) but have always been a little apprehensive as to whether some water lurking somewhere in the system would freeze and cause damage. I've seen the advertisements in the caravan press and watched the demonstration video on the "Floe" website.

Has anyone used this product and if so what is their opinion of it?

 

[brian_c]

Hello Ian. Yes I had one of these bought me for a present. I find it very easy to use although the sequence is repeated for each outlet so can take a few minutes to complete. My taps are the mixer type so operation sequence has to be used on each side ie:- hot & cold.
if you have seen the video on the advertisement then that is exactly how mine appears to operate.
When returning from site I always have all taps open in the central position and the drain valve open but the floe device still manages to remove perhaps about a further half pint of water. (Overall)
Now whether the device is really necessary is perhaps a matter of personal choice. I have never had (touch wood!) issues with freezing pipes etc in my years with caravans I have always felt happy with the draining down whilst returning from site.
However i do find some satisfaction in knowing that after using the floe device I have removed as much water as I can.
i will continue to use mine in fact I suppose because it is fairly new I tend to use it after every trip not just for winter drain down.
hope this helps. Best regards Brian

 

[otherclive]

I've managed for many years by just draining as I leave a site and when putting the van into store. I always leave the taps open and having different vans through a lot of freezing winters I've never had a problem with freezing water. Perhaps I've been lucky but if the system is drained with taps open any ice forming generally has room for expansion. Floe strikes me as useful as Elsans screenwash for preventing Leigionaires disease!!

 

[Surfer]

I've managed for many years by just draining as I leave a site and when putting the van into store. I always leave the taps open and having different vans through a lot of freezing winters I've never had a problem with freezing water. Perhaps I've been lucky but if the system is drained with taps open any ice forming generally has room for expansion. Floe strikes me as useful as Elsans screenwash for preventing Leigionaires disease!!

Same here except that we blow down the shower hose to clear any water. It does not matter what system you use there will always be some water in the system albeit only droplets and if these freeze as they can expand there shoudl be no issue.

 

[BernardinTring]

Whether kidology or not, but I have just returned from caravan storeage this very afternoon and used the system on a friends van. He too travels home with taps open etc but this afternoon some three quarters of a pint of water has been extracted.
Might be belt, bracers and a piece of string approach but twenty minutes spent certainly gives peace of mind and its three quarters of a pint that wont be able to turn to ice under any circumstances inside the pipes!.
Gizzmo it might be, but I'm pleased with it.

Bernard

 

[BigTim]

I have managed to connect the aquaroll to pump connecting pipe directly to my electric tyre compressor and have used it to do the exact same task as the Flo fitting but without any extra cost!!!
Tim

 

[Ian4624]

Thanks for the feedback guys.
I've had a caravan for years and only ever drained down the old Musketeer but it had a very simple cold water only system with a push on hose from the water bottle, foot switch operated inline pumps and I could see the clear pipework and pumps in the bottom cupboard in the kitchen area.
The replacement 'van is an old Bailey Pageant with a Whale pressure system and hot water. I simply drained down last winter and hoped that the pressure valve etc, would be ok .Fortunately it was. My concern is water remaining in the pressure valve and freezing, and maybe somewhere else that I haven't foreseen. Then I suppose that there is the added advantage that any muck in the system may be blown out as well.
I think that I will probably be investing in a Floe. I can see that a similar device could be knocked up with a little ingenuity but I simply do not have the time.

 

[MichaelE]

Some people think that because the dump valves are open then this will drain the system down, what happens is water gets held in the taps under vacuum.
I always open all the taps and dump valves yes water will still sit in the pipes but not in the taps and it still has room for expansion, 3/4 pint of water from the network of pipes is not a lot.
Created something for the sake of it in my opinion, what did people do before this? I rally a lot and i dont know of anyone who has had a leak due to frozen pipes.
Playing on peoples fear?