Can I do anything or just wait for them to defrost as they are only going to freeze again if I warm them up ?? And constant expansion will not do them any good.
2 years ago, I was going to take my van and spend a couple of nights at CAMC's Cherry Hinton site in Cambridge for a work event in January during a really cold spell like what we are experiencing right now.
When I was getting the van ready to depart in the morning, I found the fresh water tank and pipes frozen solid (the grey water tank was empty), and I had to take the car and stayed in a hotel instead.
Since then, I made the effort to drain the fresh water tank after I returned from being away for the festive period in early January, as I do not usually go camping after that until March/April, in case I get stuck away from home due to bad weather.
In addition, I had the roof top air con on winter mode which will turn itself on when the interior temperature is below 10degC. This alone was not sufficient to prevent the fresh water tank and pipes from freezing as I found out the hard way, as they are underneath the van and closer to the ground.
The above works for me.
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
Try to shove some old blankets or similar around your pipes. A couple of hot water bottles strategically placed may also help thaw them out.
If you're not using the van at present drain the system down once thawed out.
As it's a caravan probably best to leave well alone, and wait for the temperature to rise.
------------- XVI yes?
As well is two words!
How does a sage know everything about everything? or does he? or does he just think he does?
Remember, if you buy something you bought it, not brought it.
I assume you did the normal system drain down after last use, if not it really is ESSENTIAL to avoid damage from freezing. Even with a 'gravity' drain down, inevitably some water remains in dips in pipes and some fittings. Often it's not enough retained, or not in critical places, to cause damage when frozen, but better to do a thorough blow through with air to dry the system as much as possible.
It varies from caravan to caravan as to just how much water is retained in the pipework AFTER opening the drain valve and all taps to 'drain the system' by gravity as recommended for winter storage. My van seems to retain around 1/2 litre or so, which 'loiters' in dips in the pipework. After each use, and conventional 'draining down', I blow the system through (I use my electric air awning pump) to clear the residue so that the pipes are as dry as possible.
If you have the Truma Ultraflow inlet with the external shower outlet, and the link tube fitting (a blue short connection moulding on the back of the water inlet, but it's not always fitted and external shower often non-functional), that is notorious for not draining, freezing and splitting!
Freezing damage tends to occur in two ways, pipes/fittings split from the expansion of ice, and/or pipes are 'jacked' out of couplings, often causing less than obvious minor leaks, but leaks all the same!
Alde 'central heating' type systems need the appropriate anti-freeze in them or you are looking potentially at major damage and big bills!
I always open the drain valve and ALL taps, including the shower, (mid way, so both hot and cold pipes drain down) at the end of my stays, so that the journey home encourages as much draining as possible. But even hours of driving and hundreds of miles covered doesn't really result in a complete dry system, hence the air blow through to achieve a 'dry' system. You can buy a device (Floe) to assist you in the blow down (video of it's use here: https://youtu.be/9WO4mU1onWU), I use my external shower hose (on the water inlet hole, NOT the shower outlet hole) which does the same thing and saves me a bit of money on buying the Floe device. You don't need to buy the relatively expensive Floe device, it's just very convenient, any way of attaching an air pump to the inlet and getting the correct pressure (no more than 15PSI) and air flow works just as well.
Chances are you have not suffered any damage unless the water system was full, many don't bother to do a blow down to clear residual water and get away with it. If your system was not drained down at all, then you need (when temps above current freezing!) to fill/pressurise the system and systematically look VERY carefully at every vulnerable point to ensure no leaks!
It's considered good practice to drain the system when not in use, as well as removing freezing risk, it also reduces stale water and bio-film build up, both of which can make the water system a health hazard.
Quote: Originally posted by birdman101 on 07/1/2026
If you read her post on another forum she lives in the caravan and Aquaroll froze
Not good!
Insult the Aquaroll as much as possible, elevate it from the ground by putting it on a pallet etc., and keep a supply of fresh water inside the caravan would be my suggestions.
Depending on the location, cold/freezing weather might not be avoidable if one lives on a site.
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
* This post contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, as an eBay Partner Network member we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.
------------- XVI yes?
As well is two words!
How does a sage know everything about everything? or does he? or does he just think he does?
Remember, if you buy something you bought it, not brought it.
That was my immediate thought. In fact, if it had been my aquaroll I would have quite possibly called its parentage into question.
* This post contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, as an eBay Partner Network member we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.
🤣🤣🤣🤣
Actually it has been drained down as I had to fit a new water pump. No external outside shower.
It has defrosted now and running fine.
I have a 5 litre bottle of water in the caravan and we have to leave the outside tap dripping otherwise that will freeze too !! 😩
Thanks everyone 🙏👍
Quote: Originally posted by dk168 on 07/1/2026
Insult the Aquaroll as much as possible, elevate it from the ground by putting it on a pallet etc., and keep a supply of fresh water inside the caravan would be my suggestions.
Depending on the location, cold/freezing weather might not be avoidable if one lives on a site.
DK
Spelling mistake, DOH!
Glad to see some of you have a GSOH!
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
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Topic: Frozen water pipes in caravan
via mobile 06/1/2026 at 5:55pm
