How to winterise you RV.

Are you planning on hitting the
road or packing your RV up for
the Winter?
​
Either way we have put together a quick guide to help you prepare
your RV for Winter or get back on
​the road.

Batteries

Battery life will depend on how it is used and maintained.

• Ensure that terminals are clean and corrosion free.
• Ensure that the terminals are properly tightened.
• Charge the battery if the voltage is below 12.0 V.

 
Tip: If the vehicle remains immobilised for a long period, regularly check the battery charge and recharge when    necessary.
 
How to recharge?
To recharge the battery, connect the vehicle to the 230 V mains supply for 24 to 48 hours.
 
Charge times may vary depending on how flat your battery is, should the battery be almost dead flat charge times could be up to 48 hours.
 

• Turn off the main 12 V switch on the control panel.
• Switch off all appliances and lights.

 
Tip:      Make sure you check whither your battery charge is a constant voltage charger or a smart charger! 
 
Smart Charger – This charger will ensure that once your battery is fully charged that the system shuts down and charge to the battery stops.
 
Constant Voltage Charge – This charger will continue to charge your battery at 13.5V until the 240 V power is disconnected.
 
Should you leave the 240 V power plugged in for extended periods of time with no draw coming off the battery then you will damage the battery.

Most European models have this system, it will be built into the Main electrical control box.

Gas Bottle Warnings

All gas bottles now have a pressure sensitive ball bearing fitted. 

Should you have appliances turned on inside of your motorhome prior to turning on your gas bottle, they will instantly try and draw gas from your bottle as you turn it on.

This will automatically lock the pressure ball bearing in place. 

This can interfere with your motorhome operating system.

Please follow the below instructions when operating gas.

• Please make sure all your components are switched off before turning your gas bottle off.
• Please make sure all your components are switched off before turning your gas bottle on.
  
  

Should you have activated the pressure sensitive ball bearing, you will need to turn off the gas bottle, turn off all components and wait five minutes.

Then slowly turn you bottle back on again.
​
Some motorhomes and components may need resetting. You will need to refer to your manuals or contact your supplier for assistance.

Water Tanks 

Fresh Tank
 

• Empty your fresh tank if possible
• Fill your fresh tank to 3/4
• Pour one cup of bleach in and let it sit for about 20 minutes.
• Empty fresh tank – depending on how your freshwater tanks are fitted you may simply be able to this via removing a bung, alternatively you will need to do so via running your RV taps and discharging through grey water tank.
• Refill again as before and let the liquids sit for about 10 minutes.
• Empty again and continue to empty and refill until you no longer smell the bleach.
• Once the bleach has been cleaned out, and you no longer smell it, you are finished.
  ​
  

Tip: Remember to fill 1/4 to 1/2 full your fresh tank with good water after following this process.
 
Grey Water Tank
There are several products designed to assist with cleaning of grey tanks and your water pipes.
We recommend and use a product called Elemonate.

You simply place one Elemonate tablet over each plug hole in your RV and run the tap until the tablet dissolves.
Let your grey water tank sit full for 20 minutes then empty.

Tip: Some us their Toilet Chemical, Bleach or Baking Soda.

Please note depending on where you are discharging your grey water you may need to be mindful of the products you use.

Toilet

If you have a flush water holding tank.
Make sure you never let this run dry.
Ensure you are using a toilet chemical suitable for flush tanks and that will assist you in keeping your pump lubricated.

Tip: Aqua Chem Pink is a good product for this purpose.

• Flush your tank 2-3 times a month whilst your RV is not in use, this will help to prevent your pump from seizing whilst not in use.
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Cassette and Toilet maintenance
You need to ensure you lubricate the seal on the underside of the toilet bowl.

• Grease seal and waste holding tank blade
  
  

Tip: you need a silicone grease for the application.

• Check that there is not a build-up of toilet paper or residue on the float level.
  
  

Tip: Rubber gloves are recommended for this job.
Whilst in storage, we recommend leaving the blade open to prevent damage to the blade and to loosen the cap of the pour out spout, which will ventilate the waste-holding tank. By leaving the blade open, you prevent the blade seal from drying out.

Fridge

To prevent odours and mould in the refrigerator, keep the doors to your refrigerator and freezer, open during storage.
​
Tip: Most external doors are equipped with a storage lock.

Oven

​Turn on a gas hob and run once a month to prevent all the gas from leaving the pipes, this helps with starting the oven, boiler, and fridge on your first trip away after your RV’s hibernation.

Boiler/Water Heater

Depending on your system you may or may not have a quick release valve as part of your boiler set up.

If you do have one of these valves its essential, you check this valve prior to lighting your boiler for testing or your first time bringing the RV out of hibernation or winterisation mode.

• Check valve is in correct position
  
  

Tip: If your valve has activated during hibernation mode and your hot water cylinder is empty turn your valve back into place and set.

Turn your tap around to hot and turn on, this will ensure your hot water tank starts to refill. Once the water runs freely you know the cylinder is full and your able to turn the boiler on.

• Ensure your boiler is full of water by turning the tap to hot and running the tap to ensure water runs freely.
  
  

If your boiler has not been running for several weeks or months you may need to try lighting it multiple times before it will light.
​
Do not panic this will be down to the fact there is a lack of gas in the line.

Exterior

• Open all roof vents, locker doors and windows to clean seals and surrounding flat surfaces
• Lubricate all seals with a Silicone spray or Olive oil
• Caravans – Grease coupling

 
It is recommended that you always refer to your vehicle owner’s manual in the first instance.