Truma safety/drain valve usage?

[Derek Uzzell]

Many motorhomes have a water system that includes a Truma “Elasi” or “FrostControl” safety/drain valve that will open automatically to drain the water-heater if the temperature within the vehicle becomes very cold.

 

In this recent forum discussion

 

http://forums.outandaboutlive.co.uk/forums/Motorhomes/Motorhome-Matters/Truma-water-dump-valve/45874/#M515475

 

it has been suggested that, after a Truma ‘automatic’ valve has been manually opened to drain a motorhome’s water system (prior to the vehicle being out of use for a while in cold weather) and draining-down has been completed, it is general practice for motorcaravanners to reclose the valve rather than leave it open until refilling is carried out.

 

So, if your motorhome has a Truma ‘automatic’ safety/drain valve, do you normally reclose it after draining the water system? Or do you normally leave the valve open until you next refill the water system?

[aandncaravan]

We have suggested that it is common practise to close ALL drain down valves after draining to prevent the ingress of creatures/debris which might prevent the valve from sealing when the vehicle is re-commissioned.

Not just Truma valves.

 

 

 

[Derek Uzzell]

What this poll was attempting to establish is whether or not your suggestion had any firm evidence to support it in relation to Elasi/FrostControl valves.

 

It may well be the case that some motorcaravanners always reclose Truma Elasi or FrostControl safety/drain valves after draining the water system (I’m not interested in what they do with simple over-centre purely-manual drain valves whoever makes them). However, if a clear majority of motorcaravanners do not reclose their motorhome’s Elasi/FrostControl valve after draining, reclosing those valves cannot be considered ‘common practice’.

[colin]

Drained our van down couple of weeks ago, it won't get closed until next time we use it.

In summer we don't tend to drain down at end of trip, leaving that until refill be for next trip, so valves remain shut.

[Agaric]

 

I leave them open as I flush the system before use again.

 

 

 

 

[paul2]

I close my valve after it finished draining

Paul

[kevina]

We use our van most of the winter but if it opens in storage it is likely to do so again so I leave it open until the next time I'll be using it.

 

I've never pegged it except once when the gas ran out overnight and the valve opened a short while later (ski resort), woken by the "whoosh" and the Shurflo running. It was pegged until the gas and heater were back on. This means the logic is smart enough to recognise that although the heating was switched on it wasn't working and needed protection.

 

Truma Elasi fitted.

 

ps. I've never heard of a boiler freezing so these things must work reliably.

 

 

[colin]

kevina - 2016-12-06 12:26 PM

 

We use our van most of the winter but if it opens in storage it is likely to do so again so I leave it open until the next time I'll be using .

 

 

There must be thousands of vans in storage or on forecourts, unless the owners or dealers are constantly going around closing then they will all be open for long periods.