Preparing Your Holiday Caravan For The Winter

As summer draws to a close, you should be thinking about preparing your holiday caravan for the winter. If you’re planning to store your caravan away for the winter months, here are a few tips to help to ensure that everything is in working order when you want to get back on the road again next year.

General

  • Take the time to make regular visits to your caravan, so you can keep an eye on any problems that may occur.
  • Loss or damage caused by escape of water: If your caravan is left unoccupied for more than 48 hours between 1st November and 31st March inclusive, you must ensure that the main water supply is turned off by means of a stopcock at the first available point of entry of the water supply to the caravan and all fixed water tanks and pipes are drained. This is a condition of your holiday caravan insurance.
  • Check your holiday caravan insurance policy for any other conditions relating to winter storage to ensure that you are properly insured.

Interior

  • Empty the fridge and clean it with anti-bacterial cleaner. Open the fridge door slightly and leave it open to stop any mildew building up and the door sticking.
  • Protect your caravan from rust by coating hinges with a lubricant such as 3-in-1 oil or WD-40.
  • Leave cupboard and wardrobe doors open to aid circulation. You could even put in some dehumidifiers to prevent damage from damp.
  • Pack away any valuables. If you have space in your home to store upholstery, then you should, this is less attractive to thieves and it will keep it damp free during the winter.
  • Clean everywhere thoroughly throughout so that you can make sure that nothing has been forgotten. Leave the windows open while you are doing it to let in some fresh air. Lubricate your window seals to prevent them from sticking when they are opened again, reducing the risk of them tearing or getting damaged. 

Exterior

  • Put your caravan on level ground and try not to leave your tyres standing in the same tread for long periods. Ideally you should turn them every couple of months, checking the pressure to avoid the risk of flat spots on your tyres.
  • Make sure your pipes and guttering are in good order and block any gaps where insects can gain access. Check the roof to make sure there are no leaks or loose joints.
  • Make sure all locks on doors and windows are secure. Ideally, do this a few weeks before you are due to leave the caravan, so you have time to fix any issues that may arise.
  • It’s important that you disconnect your gas supply by turning it off, disconnecting the gas bottle and storing it away safely. Some caravan parks do not allow you to leave your gas cylinders on site, so you may have to find alternative storage.

This is a marketing article from My Holiday Home Insurance, a specialist provider of insurance for holiday homes, leisure homes, holiday lodges and static caravans. Our team of experienced advisers are always happy to help, so for more information call our Northampton office on freephone 0800 988 0890.

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