One of the core joys of caravanning is being able to enjoy all the comforts of home on the open road. From electricity at the flick of a switch, to running water at the turn of a tap, all of these features make a caravan a true home from home, but this setup requires a little effort to keep it functional and avoid any issues.
Keeping a caravan in good working order actually involves maintaining, cleaning and servicing many different systems, including the water system. You can set up your water pump, check your pipes, and have plenty of clean water ready to be supplied into your caravan, but if your caravan taps aren’t in good order then you’re not going to be able to enjoy your well-deserved break with the running water that you need.
Luckily for all new and seasoned caravaners, there are a few top tips that you can follow to keep your caravan taps and the entire water system ready for your next road trip.
Maintaining caravan taps
The best way to keep the water flowing throughout your summer adventures is to keep your water system as clean as possible, and this includes your taps. A buildup of limescale will play havoc with the system and leave you with spluttering taps and an inconsistent water supply, so make sure that you take the following steps to prevent these issues:
Turn the water off: It goes without saying, but you should always turn off the water, drain down the system completely and remove the filters before cleaning any part of your water setup.
Add the cleaning solution: Sterilise your water tank or Aquaroll before adding in the correct cleaning solution and filling it up to full capacity.
The right cleaner will differ from vehicle to vehicle, so check out our full selection in our Chemical and Cleaning range, or ask our team if you’re not sure which one is best for your system.
Flush the system: Reconnect the pump and then open up each tap to allow the cleaning solution to flow throughout the entire system. You can let a small amount of the sterilised water run out of each tap to clean the spouts and filters, but close them all off after a short burst and allow the cleaning solution to sit in the system for at least an hour.
Other solutions may require longer, so make sure you check this before you start.
Drain the pipes: Now you’ll need to thoroughly rinse the system through so open all the taps and completely drain the pipes once again. This will also give you a good opportunity to conduct your final checks on the taps and to verify that they are working properly as they help to drain the tank.
Flush the system: Fill the tank with clean water and flush it through the system at least once, but preferably twice, to ensure that all contaminants and chemical residue are washed away.
This entire process should then be done at least once a year, either at the start of the touring season or if your caravan hasn’t been used for an extended period of time, before you use any water onboard.
Caravan taps not working?
Preventing limescale buildups and removing any bacteria is usually all that is needed to keep your taps in good working order; however, if they unexpectedly stop working then it’s important to remember that they are just one part of the wider water system and that the issue might not be with the taps themselves but with a range of other features.
So, check the following before you set off on your next caravanning holiday:
The water pump: The pump requires a good pressure balance to keep water running from the tank, through the pipes, and out of the taps, so if the pump is excessively noisy, the fittings are loose, or it simply won’t start then it will need to be replaced.
The battery system: It is also important to check that the battery is fully charged up as a drained battery will prevent the system from working properly and will leave you without running water on your travels.
System connections: Most taps have a switch inside them - either a pressure switch or a microswitch - that connects the tap to the water pump and keeps the water supply flowing. Since they are small and fragile they can become worn over time, but this also means that they are tricky to replace by yourself, so you will need to be certain that this is the cause of any water flow issues before replacing the ones in your taps.
The water tank: Checking that your onboard tank is full of clean water is one of the most important pre-travel checks to tick off your list for more than one reason, as accidentally keeping the taps open whilst the tank is empty (also known as dry running) will damage the pump and mean that you need to find a replacement.
It is always better to conduct these checks well in advance of your departure to avoid any last-minute stress, and if you’re struggling to locate the source of any issues then our team is always on hand to offer the help and advice that you need.
Shop for replacement caravan taps
Properly caring for your taps ahead of time will prevent any bigger issues on your travels, but if you think that they need replacing then click here to find the right replacements in our Taps & Showers range or get in touch with our team for personalised advice.