Winterised Caravan

[SirRogerFFS]

Hi All and A Happy New Year.

Not sure if this is the correct place to post this so mods I dont mind if it gets moved

This has been done before but what problems if any would be caused by opening up Van during winter period and putting the heating on for short while, this seems to be the worst winter Ive encountered with the van

I look forward to your replies

Sir Roger

 

[trucker]

Sir Roger, my heating has been on very low since comming back from out new year outing. First time ive done it and wont make a habit but -12 is a bit cold!!!!!

No condensation build up just not cold in their, temp on control panel says +9

Kevin

 

[James_374408700]

Sir Roger,

Ditto Trucker. Heating on 500w at min. setting on thermostat.

Van staying at between 2.6 and 5 deg.

Will probably have to sell the van to pay electric bill! Lol

Jim

 

[Lutz]

So long as there is nothing to freeze up, it's a bit pointless to put the heating on. Condensation hasn't got a chance at the low temperatures that we're having at the moment,

 

[Sproket]

I have two of these Displays indoor and outdoor temperatures i hang the long wire probe round the light fitting and hang it about a foot from the roof the main body is placed near to a window catch, one at the front and one at the back, you dont have to open the van to see how warm it is in there..

Sproket

 

[trucker]

Lutz, my onboard pump froze solid but is now working again (it was completly drained) but it cant do it alot of good, also the toilet pump froze and has not restarted, ill have to check the fuse on that.

Keeping the heating on very low keeps the caravan from getting too cold from the seating which do hold mosture to the wood whch will worp, so it cant do it as much harm to keep it on very low when the temp is soooooo low as not having it on can it??????

Kevin

 

[Heethers]

My van has had its cover on since October; l will wait until the temperature returns to normal before l check out the van, not much point doing anything now in this climate, just hope l did everything correctly before l put it to bed.

The only two things that concern me is the weight of snow on the roof, first sign of a thaw l will clear it off as soon as it possible, secondly l left a 110 amp battery on as the van is alarmed which the insurance insist it stays enabled, might just need to charge the van for a day before l use the mover.

NigelH

 

[Lutz]

Once you're below freezing and any moisture has frozen, a further drop in temperature won't make any difference. My caravan was stored out in the cold at -20

 

[hollypop1]

If its very cold and you put the heating on initially you will get condensation on any metal objects, taps, pots and pans etc, its best to leave the heating on for a longer period 4-5 hours so that codensation goes, Kim.

 

[Sproket]

Kevin

the heating has been on in my van since before we had the first frost, i look at it this way everything is still stored in the van, whatever it cost for the electric is a lot less than putting it in storage, i remember reading that unoccupied offices are kept at 50f (10c) to stop problems occurring, its all drain & winterised properly in case of the power going off, i have a modern 2kw oil filled thermostatically controlled radiator with its own timer in the main area, and a 120w tube radiator mounted on blocks about 6" off the floor between the beds, when it gets a bit warmer i will switch it back on to the timer.

 

[machighlander]

im in the same predicament as sir rodger the dodger, i go out some nights and plug the electrics into my garage then put on the spaceheater until the inside warms up. i dont know if im doing the right thing or totally wrong thing. but instinct tells me to put some heat in. are there any disadvantages to doing this ?.

ps. sprocket actually posted without a link, whey hey.

 

[trucker]

Sproket, Lutz says it doent matter, Ill keep the heater on even if its just for peace of mind. As I said this is the first time ive done it, but I thnk Ill carry on with an independant heater on thermostat rather than using the caravan fire (dont want to wear it out)

Kevin

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello Kim,

Condensation only occurs when warm moist air comes into contact with a surface cold enough (the dew point) to cause the moisture in the air to condense onto the surface. Metal is very prone to this because it has a large heat capacity and it conducts heat away from a warm point to a cooler point quickly and easily.

Simply turning on the electric heating will do nothing to increase the moisture content of the air.

Unless you use a cabinet heater or the cooker/oven, then the standard gas heater in the caravan will also not add moisture to the air in the caravan.

If you get condensation when you turn on the heating, then it is from another source, for example any humans in the caravan, or the use of the cooker to heat water for a cuppa, or the candles for that romantic dinner! .

 

[Lutz]

Bear in mind, too, that all those caravans standing around at the dealers, maybe for months on end, will not be heated, either, but they will also have to survive the weather.

 

[ProfJohnL]

I should have gone on to say that;

If you do turn on the heating, provided the it is powerful enough (and most caravan systems are) eventually the condensation will evaporate from the metal surfaces as they warm up above the dew point, but the moisture is still there in the air, and as soon as the heating is reduced or the metal cools below the dew point temperature the condensation will reappear.

The dew point is not a fixed temperature, it depends on the air pressure and the level of the humidity already in the air.

 

[Heethers]

Can't put heating in mine as its in storage, so will have to wait until Feb to check every thing, but agree with Lutz plenty of new ones on dealers forecourts.

One thing Lutz that concerns me is l left the 110 amp battery connected due to the van being alarmed, do you think l will need to charge it before l use the mover, didn't need to last year but the battery was only 3 month old then.

NigelH

 

[Gafferbill]

... if the temperature is below 0degC inside the caravan, then heating it does nothing to preserve the inside of the caravan.

If you are heating it to stop water systems freezing then that is a rather expensive personal choice.

Some regular heating when the humidity is high and the temperature is above freezing during the winter months, will help keep moisture levels at acceptable levels in materials that can expand and warp or are prone to mould growth.

Ventilation needs to be present at the same time as heating is taking place.

 

[Gafferbill]

Also..... a lead acid battery will freeze if it is discharged.

The electrolyte will expand and can crack the battery outer casing. On thawing the acid can escape.

A charged lead acid battery will not freeze.