The winter months can be a really difficult time for static caravan owners. The nights are cold, rain is inevitable, and the days are shorter. Those who own static caravans may feel their holiday home has been taken away for several months.

Static caravans are permanent cabins on land with little natural protection against harsh weather conditions – such as those experienced in colder climates or high altitudes. However, with the right amount of preparation, winter doesn’t have to be so bleak.

Fortunately, you can take several steps to ensure your static caravan is protected from the elements throughout the year.

Read on to discover how you can winterise your caravan in nine simple steps.

Drain and flush the wastewater tank

When the weather gets cold, water inside the sewage tank will freeze, causing blockages and preventing water from draining out.

To prevent this, open the sewage drain and flush the tank using clean water. Make sure the tank is completely empty before closing it back up.

Close the windows and doors

During the winter months, the cold air can find its way into your caravan through the windows and doors. This can lower the temperature inside and make life inside your caravan uncomfortable.

To prevent this from happening, make sure you close all the windows and doors. You can also use curtains or blinds to prevent the cold from entering your caravan.

Change your batteries

The winter months are a perfect time to change the batteries in your alarms and appliances. If you don’t, they could run out while you’re away and leave you without vital equipment and protection.

As batteries are exposed to low temperatures, their life cycles are significantly shortened. For example, a cold battery will discharge faster than a warm one. To avoid this, change your batteries before winter arrives.

Fully gas up your gas tanks.

During the winter, the gas in your static caravan’s gas tanks will evaporate faster than in the warmer summer months. As a result, the gas may become too weak to power your appliances.

To prevent this, make sure you fully gas up your tanks.

Lubricate your doors and windows

The hinges on the doors and windows of your static caravan are likely to become stiff and creaky in the winter months as they are exposed to low temperatures. This can make them difficult to open and close, which can be frustrating and make life inside your caravan much less comfortable.

To prevent this from occurring, you can winterise your caravan by thoroughly lubricate the hinges of your doors and windows using a silicon-based lubricant.

Check the Windows and Doors

One of the simplest ways to really boost the energy efficiency of a static caravan is by checking the windows and doors.

If any windows or doors are damaged or have become worn over the years, now’s a good time to replace them while winterising a static.

If you have broken seals or windows, these need to be repaired.

If you have double-glazed windows, ensure their plastic seal is intact and in good condition.

Add draft excluders to your doors and windows.

If you’re not ready to replace any doors or windows, adding draft excluders is another excellent way to reduce the flow of cold air into your caravan and winterise a static.

Draft excluders come in various shapes and sizes, so you can get one that fits your window or door perfectly. If you have doors leading to your caravan, ensure you get a draft excluder for each entry.

Consider adding draft excluders to other windows and doors in your home, too, such as the windows in your bathroom.

Install thermal curtains and blinds

Installing thermal curtains and blinds can be a great way to reduce heat loss through your windows. When choosing your thermal curtains or blinds, look for a product with a high thermal insulation rating (T.I.R.).

The T.I.R. indicates how well the material blocks heat from escaping.

Reinforcing the roof and skirting

Before the winter months, you should check the skirting around your static caravan and the area beneath the roof to ensure no holes or tears. If you find any tears, these should be repaired as soon as possible to prevent warm air from escaping inside your caravan.

Conclusion

As winter approaches as a caravan owner, you’ll need to be extra vigilant when checking your static caravan for any issues, including the soft furnishings.

It’s essential to keep warm and dry as the cold, rainy season is almost upon us, and we don’t want you to suffer! Along with any winterising, you should always ensure you have the appropriate static caravan cover , just in case of any extreme occurrences.

One of the very simplest things you can do to help winterise your caravan is to ensure that you have the appropriate amount of insulation and protection in your caravan. You can install insulation boards to help maintain the heat in your caravan.

Finally, you can reinforce the skirting and roof of your caravan to keep warm air inside and prevent warm air from escaping.