Hi all. As the cold weather begins to draw in we've locked up our Sterling Europa 540 for the winter, however, following the advice of this very knowledgable forum we decided that the Ultrastore water heater should be drained down ready for the frosts. We consulted the operating instructions that came with our 2006 model and discovered that there should be a tap to drain down the heat store. So imagine my consternation when after removing the cushions and raising the seat bottom there was no tap in order to drain the damn thing. There was a clear hose underneath the chassis leading from the store which was dripping water. Is this right or have I gone way off the mark and missed the tap completly? Any advice would be very welcome. Thanks.
I would guess that the clear hose would be the overflow. There is normally a yellow tap with the ultrastore, more like a lever, laid down and that is lifted to drain.
Phil
------------- If you're not on a fell your wasting your feet and for 2014 it's.......Feb Castleton Mar North Yors Moors; Apr Sutton on Sea; May Thirsk; Jun Clapham/Riverside (Lakes); July Wharfedale; August Crakehall; Sept Knaresborough; Oct Wirral Park/Clitheroe
It's a good idea to drain down the water heater every time you tow the caravan - apart from anything else, it's a lot of extra unnecessary weight to haul about (10 litres of water equals 10kg, or 22lbs).
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Thanks. I would have noticed a bright yellow tap but mine's obviously not yellow. I'm going down tomorrow to have a good look and hopefully get the thing drained down. Thanks again.
Some are other colours - but the design is standard. It doesn't look like a tap is you're looking for something you turn. This type flip up - move the top bit through 90 degrees until vertical to open it.
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Well, I've been back to the van and had a good look but there is no such tap, or tap of any description, anywhere to be seen. There is a hole in the floor about 1/2 inch in diameter along side the store and there's also a drain hose leading from the unit out through the floor.Tthere is water dripping from this hose but alas no said tap. I've opened the taps on the sinks but I'm worried the effects frost will have on the unit if there is still water in it. Truma didn't make Ultrastore cylinders without drain taps did they? Totally flummoxed.
It seems to me that either the drain valve was never fitted or somebody has removed it. It should be connected into the cold water supply pipe from the outside water container or internal tank. It is screwed to the floor with the outlet pipe passing through a 18mm hole in the floor. My heater has 2 pipes underneath the van one is the drain valve the other is the ventilation hose which should only protrude below the van floor by about 20mm.
Sounds like our drain hose has been removed as the hole in the floor looks like it had been fastened down as if permanent but no pipework. It looks as if we'll sustain a fair amount of water damage once the frost takes a hold unless a drain can be retro fitted. Any ideas anyone?
The hole is probably a ventilation hole for the gas
Phil
------------- If you're not on a fell your wasting your feet and for 2014 it's.......Feb Castleton Mar North Yors Moors; Apr Sutton on Sea; May Thirsk; Jun Clapham/Riverside (Lakes); July Wharfedale; August Crakehall; Sept Knaresborough; Oct Wirral Park/Clitheroe
these water heaters are designed to be full constantly as a safety measure even when the water barrel is empty.looks like it was missed off the tap..you will need to find a way to drain it. ask here
Our drain taps don't look like that! We have two, one either side of the heater and they're just opaque plastic screw taps. Seems like you need to look very carefully first.
Pete
Gloucester.
I have looked very carefully and on a few occasions too just in case. The guy at Truma said that they can be in obscure places but short of turning myself into a contortionist I think I've covered everywhere. The hole in the floor is approx 1/2 inch in diameter and straight into the floor there is no finish to the drilled hole which makes me think this is where the drain was originally but removed by previous owner. Then again why would someone remove it? I am trying to source the drain tap, Truma themselves recommended a supplier and I've found a couple of others, and hopefully get it fitted before the frost arrives and causes some real damage.
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Topic: Truma Ultrastore water heater
