Caring for your conversion in winter

To keep your mobile grooming business running smoothly when the temperature drops, we have put together these essential winter care steps. Taking a few minutes at the end of each day to protect your pipework and heating systems will prevent frost damage and save you from costly downtime.

Insulating Pipework

In extreme temperatures it is advised to insulate the pump and pipework with foam insulation. Never attempt to use this system if you suspect it is frozen as it will damage it. Ensure it is thoroughly thawed out before use. See the bottom of the page with reference to this.

Emptying the System

Empty the system of water each night by following the instructions at the bottom of this page named: "Turning off and emptying your water supply at night to avoid freezing" and follow the instructions under the "In winter..." heading. This will remove any water from the system and help prevent freezing.

Overnight Heating (Bespoke or Deluxe)

It is highly advisable to leave a heater on in your van overnight. With a Bespoke or Deluxe you will need to plug your van in and turn your heater onto the snowflake setting (the thermostat) if you have one fitted in your van. If not, then an oil filled radiator will work well.

Overnight Heating (Standalone or Webasto)

In the Standalone conversion, or if you have a Webasto Diesel Heater fitted, your van has a built-in thermostat that can be programmed to come on overnight if the temperature drops. This can be used in conjunction with the blower to heat your van up without the need to be plugged in (via your Diesel Heater). If you need help setting this, please view our Wet Pets Heating Systems Guide.

Frozen Doors

If your side door is frozen on the van, trailer or parlour then you can grease the seals with Vaseline the night before, or pour warm water onto it. Never try to force the door as this can damage it.

Hosepipe Care

It is also advisable to keep your hosepipe indoors as well so this does not freeze and prevent you from filling your water tank in the morning.

Thawing Frozen Pipes

NEVER attempt to use the bath or turn on the rear water pump if you suspect the system could be frozen as it will damage the water pump and associated pipework. To thaw out the pipes use a hair dryer or similar. Wash out the filter on the rear water pipe to remove any ice.

TROUBLESHOOTING

Blown Fuses: If you do turn on the pump and it is still frozen it will blow a fuse and could strip the impeller.

Locating the Fuse Box: To replace this fuse locate the fuse box which is normally found behind the drivers seat in a Deluxe or Bespoke, or in the rear of the van with the batteries in a Standalone van.

Replacing the Fuse: Take each fuse out and find the fuse which has blown and replace it. THE PUMP FUSE IS 15AMP. *

System Restart: Make sure the pump is completely unfrozen before you turn it back on.

Turning off and emptying your water supply at night to avoid freezing:

At the end of every day, please carry out the following:

Turn the water supply to the bath off.
Go round to the back of the van and locate the white circular valve which allows water to feed from the large rear water tank to the pump which then pumps it into the bath.
When the valve is open the arrows will be inline with the pipe.
To turn the valve off, turn the valve 90 degrees to the right so that the arrows are horizontal to the pipe. This will stop any water in the rear tank syphoning through into the bath overnight.

In winter…

If there is the potential for overnight frost then we recommended emptying the water pipes as well as closing the valve just as a precaution.

Firstly, close the valve as described above.
Next, turn on the water pump that pumps the water from the rear tank to the bath.
Now go to your bath, push the lever to "Rinse" and turn on the bath. This will draw water from the rinse tank and as the level goes down it will activate the pump which will pump the remaining water through the pipes.
As the water valve is closed it cannot draw any water from the big tank, which will in turn empty the pipes.