The summer season brings with it many things to look forward to including longer, warmer days, family holidays, outdoor activities, BBQs, a summer wardrobe and so much more. For static caravan owners the coming season means flexible holidaying at the static caravan – some long-awaited time for relaxation and enjoyment in a scenic place not too far from home.
Most static caravans are left unoccupied and closed up for the winter season – draining down involves disconnecting the caravan from the mains supply of electricity, water and gas. Upon return in the spring, the caravan will need to be reconnected and thoroughly inspected for any issues for the start of the new season to ensure that everything is in tip top shape.
We have put together a list of tips and ideas on how to prepare your static caravan for the summer season.
We recommend packing a selection of cleaning products for cleaning the interior and exterior of the static caravan, as well as putting together a comprehensive tool kit as this may come in useful for a number of small repair jobs.
A thorough visual inspection provides the opportunity to check the caravan for any signs of damage or other changes, both internally and externally.
The interior should be inspected rigorously including the windows, seals and skylights; all fittings and fixtures should be inspected for signs of damp, mould or pest infestations which could have appeared over the winter period.
The UK has a damp climate, this only gets worse during the winter months where excessive rain and moisture can penetrate residences and other structures, causing issues with condensation and mould. During the winter when the static caravan is closed up, the heating is off and there is a lack of ventilation, damp and condensation becomes even more of an issue, making it important to check all soft furnishings and cupboards thoroughly for damp.
On the outside of the static caravan, it is important to visually inspect the roof, guttering and underneath the static caravan to ensure that it is free from any structural damage, such as cracks or other issues that may have occurred during bouts of bad weather, and that nothing is blocked up from debris or leaves.
A thorough clean of the static caravan is the best way of reopening the caravan after the winter break, removing any dirt, dust and cobwebs that have accumulated over the winter period will help to ensure that all the furnishings are fresh and ready for use. During the clean it is a good idea to check all the fittings and fixtures, light bulbs, carbon monoxide detectors and smoke detectors are in good working order.
At the end of every season, most static caravans are drained down for the winter period, this involves disconnecting the caravan from the mains supply of water and electricity. As part of preparation for the new season, the caravan will need to be reconnected to the water and electricity supply and the gas bottle will also need to be connected (we always recommend purchasing a spare).
Some people choose to do the reconnection themselves, however, most choose to use onsite services. Once everything has been reconnected, it is a good idea to check that everything is working by switching on the oven and the hot water – if there are any issues, we advise contacting a certified gas engineer. All the taps should also be turned on to ensure that there are no leaks or cracks in the pipes.
We recommend using the following as an essential checklist guide:
The Presteigne static caravan management team has many years of experience in the maintenance of static caravans. For help with draining down or reconnection, or for advice on how to prepare your static caravan for summer, get in touch today.
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