Removing any remnant water from your plumbing is vital before the winter sets in. If there’s water in the pipes, it can freeze in the winter leading to potentially very costly repairs. However, there’s more reasons than just costly bills why you should fully drain the water system. Keep reading to find out more.
Drain Your Water System
The easiest way to drain your water system is to simply open up all the drain points you can underneath, open up all the taps and gently rock the caravan. This will ensure that the overall majority of the water drains out. Don’t forget to put the drain plugs back in.
You’ll be surprised how much water will come out of the system. It’s a good idea to keep the taps open during the winter too so that pressure doesn’t build up. Some people say that it’s a good idea to blow down the taps with a bit of tube to remove any residual water. There are also some people who advise against this though (more on that below).
Residual water will lose all of it’s oxygen after a few weeks and bacteria can begin to grow. I’m sure we’re all familiar with the funny taste and smell of water that’s been left in the pipes and this is due to those bacteria.
There are caravan products on the market such as those made by Floe that are designed to allow you to completely pump the water out. Not only does this save your pipes from corrosion but also from bacteria. In fact, that is the main reason people advise not to blow down the pipes as human breath will also contain bacteria.
Some of the caravan pipes such as those under the sink will be easily accessible and you can always put some lagging around these to keep them insulated.