Preparing your static caravan for winter

The Great British weather isn’t known for being predictable, but it’s a reasonable bet that we’ll experience some cold, windy, wet weather over the winter months.

Chances are, the holiday park where your static caravan is sited will close for at least a few weeks during this time and you won’t be able to use your caravan. It’s important that before this happens, you have thoroughly prepared your caravan for the winter weather, even if you’re planning on selling.

Properly ‘winterising’ your static caravan can help you to avoid the risk of costly repairs, pesky rodents and frozen pipes. Some holiday parks will offer a winterisation service that you can pay for, but if you’re planning to do it yourself here’s what you need to do.

You will need:

• Antifreeze
• Compressed air
• Bin bags

How to drain down a static caravan

First off, you’ll need to turn the water off at the mains. If you’re not sure where your stopcock is, your holiday park should be able to help.

There will be external water drainage plugs underneath your caravan which you should open. If you’re not sure where they are check the owner’s handbook. Once that’s done, turn on all the taps and the shower and leave them open so that all the water flows out. Flush the toilet until the cistern empties. If there’s any water left in the cistern, add a small amount of antifreeze.

Once the water has stopped flowing, remove the showerhead so that any remaining water doesn’t freeze and damage it. If you can, use the compressed air to blow the pipework through.

Pest proofing

If you’re leaving your caravan for an extended period of time, make sure you clear out your cupboards of any food, even if the packets are unopened, and leave the doors open. Remember to sweep up and dispose of any crumbs to avoid attracting pests. It’s also advisable to plug up any drains before you leave.

Crime prevention

The last thing you need is to return to your static caravan to discover it’s been burgled. Before you leave for winter, remove all valuable items and electronics and take them back home with you so they’re kept safe. Leave the curtains open or remove them and open the cupboard doors so that potential thieves can see that there’s nothing of value inside.

Damp prevention

The wet winter weather brings with it the added risk of damp and mildew. In order to avoid this, we recommend taking down curtains and removing any soft furnishings from the caravan. It’s also sensible to move things like sofa cushions away from the walls and prop them up on their end to promote air circulation.

Cleaning and tidying

Finally, it’s time to give your static a good thorough clean. Empty your fridge of any remaining food and switch it off before cleaning the interior. Wedge the door open or place a tea towel over the door to prevent it closing.

Wipe down all the surfaces thoroughly to remove any traces of food or mess and clean the oven. Vacuum all the carpets to ensure you get rid of any the crumbs – this all helps to prevent attracting pests to your holiday home.

Once you’ve done the inside, check the exterior for blocked guttering or any gaps that need to be blocked up. Trim or cut back any overgrowth near or underneath the caravan as a further deterrent to wildlife.

Once everything’s clean, tidy and ready for winter, all that’s left is to ensure your caravan is secure and you’re done!

Remember, if, come the new year, you decide you don’t want the hassle of maintaining your holiday home and want to explore some other holiday options, you can always get in touch with us at I Buy Caravans for a free valuation of your static.