Winter weather information

Protecting your holiday caravan this winter

With the weather getting colder and winter fast approaching, it's time to start planning (if you've not already) how you are going to protect your holiday caravan.

Holiday caravans are less insulated than houses and residual water can easily freeze, causing pipes to burst, water to escape and damage to your boiler and holiday home. Now is the time to remind yourself of the simple precautions you need to take to ensure your insurance cover remains valid:

Between 1st November - 15th March
whilst your park is closed for winter:

• Turn the water off at the stopcock, and
• Drain down and winterise all equipment in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations

Between 1st November - 15th March
whilst your park is open, whenever unoccupied:

• Turn the water off at the stopcock, and
• Turn on all taps and the shower to let all water out, and
• Flush toilets, ensuring all water is drained from the cistern

Although not a condition of your insurance, you may also want to consider the following precautions:

• Set the central heating system to avoid frost damage
• Check anti-freeze levels of sealed central heating systems – note these should not be drained
• Drain the hot and cold water system of combi boilers as per the manufacturer's recommendations
• Ensure exposed piping is adequately lagged
• Add a small amount of non toxic antifreeze or salt to remaining water in the toilet, sink, bath and shower traps
• Leave external water drainage plugs open

By taking these actions, you'll make sure that you minimise damage to your holiday caravan and that your policy protects you. Rather than provide detailed technical advice on how to drain down and prepare for winter, we suggest you talk to your park, who will be well versed in draining down.

Smart ways to prevent winter weather damage

1. Turn water off at the stopcock

Prevent a burst pipe or leak becoming a disaster!

2. Drain down

Open caravan drain plugs, turn on the taps and shower, flush the toilet and remove residual water from all equipment.

Consider asking your park for a professional drain down using compressed air.

3. Set the heating to frost control (If not drained)