How Often Should I Get My Caravan Serviced?

There are many caravans in Yorkshire, so there are many owners – and there are various checks any of them can conduct for themselves during ownership. Ultimately though, servicing your caravan professionally is a really sensible thing to do. In this brief edition of our blog we’ll explain various aspects of it – from how often you should have your caravan serviced to what is actually included and why.
 

Why Does My Caravan Need A Service?

It’s your way to gain the confidence that it is in good and safe condition, roadworthy and correctly operational. It may also be a requirement of your manufacturer warranty, to prevent invalidation – having a full service history can also be a significant draw when you put your caravan up for sale or trade it in during part exchange. In the main, a service ensures that any issues or signs of developing problems will be spotted as early on as possible and dealt with then, rather than becoming something which will may lead to further damage and expenses later.  
 

What Does A Caravan Service Include?

A caravan service can take a morning or an afternoon because it contains various checks. These include:

Electricals

All lights (both internal and external), batteries, cooking equipment (microwave, fridge, electric hob), plug sockets and anything else within the caravan that relies on electricity. The engineer conducting the service will also check the RCD to ensure it trips. This is the residual current device, an important part of an electrical system, which offers protection against electrical fires and is designed to prevent electric shocks.

Chassis / Running Gear

Various parts of the caravan’s structure will be checked to ensure there’s no damage or excessive wear and tear. These include the coupling head, ball acting stabiliser and the jockey wheel, plus other important components like the condition of the tyres and the brakes.

Gas

Those appliances in the caravan which rely on gas (e.g. the fridge, oven, hob and heating systems) will be checked to ensure that they are fully operational. The engineer will also conduct a gas leak check and ensure that the device designed to stop flammable gas going to the burner of a gas appliance works correctly. This device is known as the flame failure device. The age, performance and security of the gas regulator and hose will also be checked and recorded.

Fire Safety

Following on from the previous section, fire checks will be conducted during the caravan’s service. These include checking that smoke and carbon monoxide alarms work correctly and that fire equipment such as blankets and extinguishers are present.

Water

The caravan’s water appliances plus taps, switches and seals, will be examined to check for leaks or damages. The integrity of all tanks and toilets will also be checked and, very importantly, the toilet’s flush will be checked to make sure it works.

Vents

Checks will also be made on vents and the roof lights to ensure that they are working correctly and can open and close with nothing obstructing the flow of air.

Damp

The unfortunate fact is, that caravans are prone to damp. Water ingress can also be a major problem in leisure vehicles so during a service there will be checks for damp – the potential causes of it and the problems arising from it. The engineer will use a damp meter to establish if there are problems on both the exterior and in the interior of the caravan. The meter will indicate the level of moisture, and it is important to deal with it efficiently if it’s over a certain percentage on the meter, as this can cause serious problems if left to develop. You will receive a damp meter report at the end of the service.
 

What Is Not Included In A Caravan Service?

Although we mentioned damp tests in the previous section, it’s worth noting that not all places that conduct services have a damp test of part of their service schedule. There are additional items that are not included in caravan services, and these include:

• The solar panel
• The air conditioning
• Individual item services for equipment such as fridge and microwave 
• Repair work
   

How Often Should I Get My Caravan Service?

The recommendation is to book your caravan in for a service once a year, even if it’s not under warranty. It’s important to make sure that your caravan remains roadworthy and safe, so a service will ensure that it is in a fully operational state each time you want to use it, and that you won’t face any nasty surprises or big repair bills. Smaller issues which go undetected due to lack of servicing can develop into costly or serious problems.

At Wandahome, it’s important to us to offer excellent servicing for caravan owners – and we do! This is conducted through our NCC approved workshop, where our qualified and highly experienced engineers perform thorough and detailed testing. In person you can book a service via our Service Reception team, or you can use our our online form. We look forward to servicing your caravan so that you can concentrate on the really important part of ownership – enjoying your travels!