How to Winterise Your Campervan or Motorhome

A UK winter of minus temperatures can do more damage in three months than a full year of touring. Water freezes, expands and splits pipes and tanks; a leisure battery left flat sulphates and loses capacity; and a sealed-up van turns into a mould farm. An afternoon of winterising in November is far cheaper than the repairs that follow.

Drain every drop of water

Open all taps, flush the toilet, and drain the boiler, water heater and fresh tank. Most vans have a low-point drain valve underneath — open it and leave it open. Pour a little campervan-safe antifreeze into the sink and toilet traps so the U-bends can't freeze. Never use car engine antifreeze; it's toxic.

Switch to propane before it gets cold

Butane stops vapourising when the temperature drops to around freezing, which is why UK winter camping is all about propane. If your bottle is butane, swap it for propane or fit a propane-friendly regulator. Close the valve at the bottle when the van is parked up, and if the bottle lives in a gas locker, that's fine — it stays connected but shut off.

Protect the batteries

Charge the leisure battery fully, then leave it on a smart maintenance charger or disconnect it and top it up every four to six weeks. Do the same for the starter battery if the van won't be started. A fully discharged battery left all winter is a write-off — more on looking after them in our campervan leisure batteries guide.

Ventilation beats mould

Don't seal the van airtight. Leave a roof vent cracked open and place moisture-absorbing traps in the wardrobe and under the bed. Clean the fridge, remove any food, and prop both fridge doors open so mould can't grow inside.

A monthly check keeps everything honest

Every few weeks, visit the van: open it up, run the engine to temperature, check tyre pressures and look for any new staining on the ceiling. Starting the engine regularly keeps the injectors and seals healthy.

Tip: if the van lives outside, keep the roof clear of leaves and the gutters running, or rainwater backs up under the roof seal.

A van that's been properly winterised presents far better when spring comes around — and it shows in the adverts. Compare campervans for sale to see the standard well-kept vans are held to.