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Winterising Caravan

Winterising Caravan

Winterizing Your Caravan: Protecting Your Investment During Cold Months


As the cold winter months approach, it's important for caravan owners to take the necessary steps to protect their investment from potential damage caused by freezing temperatures. Winterizing your caravan involves a series of preventive measures to ensure that your vehicle is properly prepared for winter storage or non-use. In this article, we will guide you through the process of winterizing your caravan, covering essential areas such as water systems, appliances, exterior maintenance, and overall storage preparation.

1. Preparing the Water System:

One of the most critical aspects of winterizing your caravan is preparing the water system. Water left in the system during freezing temperatures can expand and cause damage to pipes, fittings, and appliances. Follow these steps to properly prepare your water system:


a. Drain the Water Tanks: Begin by emptying and thoroughly draining both the freshwater and waste water tanks. Open all the taps and faucets, including the shower and toilet, to allow the water to completely drain from the system.


b. Clear Water Lines: To clear any remaining water from the water lines, use compressed air or a specialized blowout plug to blow air through the system. Start with the furthest faucet from the water inlet and work your way back, ensuring that air is expelled from all the lines.
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c. Add Antifreeze: To further protect the water system from freezing, add non-toxic, RV-specific antifreeze to the system. Using a hand pump or a water pump converter kit, pump the antifreeze into the water lines until it flows out of all the taps and fixtures. Make sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions for the proper amount of antifreeze to use.

1. Addressing Appliances and Fixtures:

a. Drain Water Heater: If your caravan has a water heater, ensure that it is drained properly. Consult the manufacturer's instructions for specific steps on draining the water heater and releasing any pressure. This step helps protect the water heater from potential damage caused by freezing.


b. Empty and Clean Refrigerator: Remove all food items from the refrigerator and clean it thoroughly. Defrost the freezer and leave the refrigerator door slightly ajar to prevent any potential odors. It's also advisable to clean and drain the ice maker, if applicable.


c. Empty and Clean Other Appliances: Remove any remaining water from appliances such as washing machines, dishwashers, and coffee makers. Clean these appliances thoroughly and ensure that they are completely dry before winter storage.


d. Address Plumbing Fixtures: To protect plumbing fixtures such as faucets and showers from freezing, it's advisable to open their valves and drain any remaining water. This step helps prevent potential damage to seals and valves.

​Winterising A Static Caravan

1. Exterior Maintenance When Winterising A Static Caravan:

a. Wash and Wax: Before winter storage, thoroughly wash and wax the exterior of your caravan to protect the paint and finish. Cleaning off any dirt, grime, or road salt helps prevent corrosion and keeps your caravan looking its best.


b. Check Seals and Weatherstripping: Inspect the seals and weatherstripping around windows, doors, and vents. Replace any damaged or worn seals to ensure that your caravan remains properly sealed during winter storage.


c. Cover the Caravan: Consider investing in a breathable caravan cover to protect your vehicle from the elements. A cover helps shield the exterior from UV rays, snow, rain, and other potential sources of damage.


d. Tyre Care: Properly inflate the tires to the recommended pressure and consider using tire covers to protect them from UV rays. Occasionally move the caravan during storage to prevent tire flat-spotting.

​Caravan Winter Storage Tips

1. General Storage Preparation and Caravan Winter Storage Tips:

a. Clean Interior: Thoroughly clean the interior of your caravan, removing any food, debris, or perishable items. Wipe down all surfaces and vacuum the carpets and upholstery. This step helps prevent pests and keeps your caravan fresh for the next season.


b. Remove Batteries: If your caravan has batteries, remove them and store them in a dry and cool location. Make sure to disconnect the negative terminal first to avoid accidental electrical discharge.


c. Remove Propane Tanks: Disconnect and remove any propane tanks from your caravan. Store them in a well-ventilated area, away from flammable materials and ignition sources.


d. Ventilation: Ensure proper ventilation during storage to prevent condensation and mildew. Open vents or install vent covers to allow for airflow while keeping unwanted debris and pests out.


e. Security Measures: Consider implementing security measures such as wheel locks, hitch locks, and alarms to deter theft and protect your caravan during storage.

1. Regular Inspection and Maintenance:

During the winter storage period, periodically check on your caravan to ensure that it remains in good condition. Inspect for any signs of damage, leaks, or pests. Address any issues promptly to prevent further damage or complications.
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By following these steps and properly winterizing your caravan, you can protect your investment and ensure that your vehicle remains in optimal condition during the winter months. Winterization is a crucial process that helps safeguard your caravan from potential damage caused by freezing temperatures, ensuring that it's ready for your next adventure when warmer weather arrives.

​Winterised Static Caravans For Sale Off Site

1.  Parts and Spares For Most Makes and Models

Search For The Winterised Static Caravans For Sale Off Site You Need By Area Or If You Would Rather Search By Manufacturer

Getting a Static or Touring Caravan Ready For The Winter

Winterising A Static Caravan With Central Heating

​Winterising a static caravan with central heating and when your sure your not going to be venturing out in your caravan during the cold winter months you do not just park it up and that's it, as part of caravan servicing first you should perform a few simple tasks, then when the time comes to set off on another touring adventure or your ready to make your first visit of the year to your holiday static caravan you will be happy you did and everything will be in working order.

Draining Caravan Water Systems​

Packing Up A Static Caravan For Winter

​A simple but very important task when packing up a static caravan for winter is to turn on all taps both inside and waste water tank drain taps outside this is to ensure that when temperatures plummet to below freezing no water is in the pipes that could expand during thawing, when ice is thawing out it expands and that can cause cracked water pipes and or burst joints which in turn can flood and damage the caravan. Read our cleaning caravan water system page.

Fully Winterised Touring Caravans

​The number one priority for fully winterised touring caravans is to ensure that all water is removed from the caravan’s fresh and waste water systems, as if left in the pipes this water could freeze and expand when the temperature drops below zero, causing the pipes to burst. Set all of the taps inside the caravan to the open position and open up any exterior water taps as well, to ensure all water has run out of the caravan.

Winterise Caravan

​A neat tip when your going to winterise caravan is that after you have done the draining operation you may want to use a little anti freeze down the the bathroom sink drain and kitchen sink drain this is to stop any water trapped in the u bend does not freeze for the same reasons.

Before you do the draining it is good practice to send send plenty of water down the caravan cassette toilet and empty it then give it a good flushing to ensure it's clean (use cleaning fluid if preferred) next a proprietary maintenance sprayed on any rubber seals and strips will ensure you don't get sticking or corroded seals.

The Fight Against Damp

Winterised Static Caravans

​To stop damp being a big problem with winterised static caravans due to condensation within the caravan a good idea for winterising caravan is to take all soft furnishings in to you home for the winter to keep them dry along with seating cushions, these precautions will help in the fight against damp building up in the walls and floors of your caravan.

Winterised Static Caravans For Sale

​Winterised static caravans for sale. Warm water mixed with a little bicarbonate soda should be used to wash the fridge and freezer compartments and shelves then the caravan fridge door left open along with all the caravan cabinet doors to allow circulation of air during winter.

Another winterising caravan tip is to have the odd plate sat around the inside of your touring caravan or static caravan with salt on this will allow the salt to soak up dampness which in turn helps to stop condensation on windows and cold surfaces(you could consider those window sill condensation trays as well)

Protecting From The Elements

Winterisation Of Static Caravan

​Wherever you intend keeping your caravan over the winter outside on your drive or at an out side secure caravan storage facility you should do what you can for winterisation of static caravan and protect it from storms and such like. Some people are fortunate and have moved into a house with a covered drive where the caravan can be stored or have had one built this is an ideal storage situation.

Draining Down A Touring Caravan For Winter

​Draining down a touring caravan for winter. For the less fortunate who have to leave the caravan out side we strongly advise the purchase of decent quality breathable caravan covers if you can't buy a breathable caravan cover which will allow air flow as well as keeping the elements out then we do not recommend non breathable covers such as plastic as that is worse than leaving the caravan uncovered as condensation will build up between the inside of the sheet and your caravan and undo all the good preparations you have just carried out.

Protecting The Wheels of Your Caravan

Caravan Winterisation Tips

More ​caravan winterisation tips. Winter wheels are our best advice if you can afford them at the time of writing I could find them on ebay at £15 second hand and £69 new, these are square metal and replace your normal caravan wheels so they are protection against theft as well as allowing you to store your wheels inside.

Other options are moving the caravan a little ever so often keeping the weight on different points of the tyres this will prevent cracking or damaged tyre walls which will occur if the caravan is stood in one place for the entire winter period. (Always keep tyre pressure correct during storage)

Keep The Caravan Clean and Empty

Winterise Static Caravan

​To winterise static caravan the interior of the caravan should be given a real deep clean and all food or anything that could attract vermin such as mice or worse still rats should be removed, all caravan cupboards and storage units cleaned leaving no crumbs of any kind. Personally I use this time of the winterising caravan process to polish both inside and out of my caravan, it sometimes feels like a chore but then when the weather warms up and I'm thinking about the first outing of the year it is satisfying to know that I have already done this task.

The exterior I usually give a good waxing even if it's going to be under cover or covered by a breathable caravan cover, you will find lots of excellent caravan cleaning and caravan polish products on the market in my opinion they are all good for the job. Come the next season you will be glad you did this.

​Last Checks and Keeping Secure

Static Caravan Winter Drain Down

​As I'm sure you will know about static caravan winter drain down (I'm going to tell you anyway) it is very important to comply with all the terms and conditions of your simple caravan insurance companies, these steps such as making sure all doors windows and security devices you have declared to your touring caravan insurance or static caravan insurance provider are adhered to remember a tracking device will need power so make sure it has it or your caravan insurance could be void if you have to make a claim.

Winterised Touring Caravans For Sale

Winterised touring caravans for sale, For those who don't need to have power in the caravan during the storage period we recommend taking the caravan leisure battery indoors and have on a trickle charger to keep up to scratch.

All gas bottles must be stored safely with all gas connection turned securely off, this is a major fire risk if a hose, heater, fire or tap should spring a leak during storage. We have a caravan interior make over page also that you may want to read.

Hope this winterising caravan article was helpful and thanks for visiting caravan-breakers.com.

​After reading our how to get wifi in a caravan page check out our instructions on the winterising caravan page then cleaning caravan water system and caravan interior.

​Draining Down A Caravan

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