Note: Northern RV Services will not be held liable for any misleading information contained in this website, all plumbing and electrical work should be carried out by a qualified tradesman.
How often do I need to change the sacrificial anode in my hot water service?
This can depend on how often you travel and where you travel to. The hardness and or acidity of the water can vary in different places around Australia affecting the rate of corrosion. To be safe we recommend you replace the anode every 12 months and give the system a good flush to prevent your pipes and strainers from clogging up with the corroded anode rod.
My fridge has stopped cooling when running on 240v or 12v but it still cools down when run on gas, what do I do?
Book in to have the fridge serviced. Some parts will most likely need to be replaced.
My fridge does not light when running on gas, but it still cools down when running on 240v or 12v, what do I do?
Book in to have the fridge serviced. Some parts may need to be replaced, or it may only require a service.
My hot water service supplies hot water to my kitchen sink, but in the ensuite it is only warm, why?
As per AS3500 regulations for water installations, sanitary fixtures must be installed to provide only tempered water. Your tempering valve may need adjusting or replacing.
Why does water come out of my hot water service PTR Valve when I connect to mains water supply?
This is caused by either a faulty pressure limiting valve at your city water inlet, or you may be connecting your mains water supply to a connection on your caravan that is not designed to be used as a city water inlet.
My water pump is constantly running, do I have a water leak?
Not necessarily;
1. Check that the caravan is level
2. Turn off the pump at the switch
3. Fill the tanks completely
4. Turn the pump back on
5. One by one, open each tap to the hot and cold side until the air is bled out and water appears to be running in a constant stream, close the tap and move on to the next tap.
6. Repeat this for all taps, toilets, washing machine taps and a-frame taps etc.
If the water flow out of the taps is not consistent and has spurts of air, the pump may be drawing air on the non-pressurized side of the pump, or the pump may be faulty.
When filling tanks, how do I avoid water coming back out the filler?
1. Remove the hose quick connection from the hose used to fill the tanks
2. Try and push the filling hose further into the water filler
3. Slow down the pressure of the hose filling the tanks by turning the tap in a clockwise direction until the water stops coming out of the filler
4. If water continues to spurt out and the tanks are not full, there may be an airlock in the breather hose
Why after long periods of using my split system air conditioner, does water spill out from the head unit?
This could be caused when the caravan is not leveled correctly. Otherwise there could be a blockage in the condensation hose.
My shower is not draining, what do I do?
The one way waterless trap under the shower could be blocked up with hair and soapy deposits, have it serviced by a qualified plumber.
DO NOT attempt to clear it with sharp or pointy objects. Another cause could be the sullage hose connected to your common waste outlet could be too long, too small and/or blocked up.
The drain under my hot water service is constantly dripping, is it faulty?
This is normal while the hot water service is on and maintaining temperature, however if it is dripping while the hot water service is off and the water is cold, the PTR valve may need to be replaced, or you could have an issue with your city water inlet.
Why doesn’t my AES fridge work on gas?
1. Disconnect the 240v lead supplying the caravan, so the caravan is running on battery only
2. Ensure that the caravan is disconnected from the car
3. Make sure the gas bottle has gas and it is turned on and the changeover valve on the regulator is pointing towards the gas bottle
4. Check that the appliance gas cock is turned on
5. Turn the fridge on
6. The fridge should soon automatically select gas
7. If the fridge doesn’t select gas, press the AES button to turn off AES
8. If the fridge lights on gas this way then there may be a wiring issue
9. If the fridge doesn’t light on gas, but your other appliances are working on gas, then your fridge may be faulty.
How often should I change my filter cartridge?
Every six months if it is used constantly, or every twelve months even if the RV has only been used for one trip in that twelve month period. This is recommended to help prevent bacteria build up in the filter cartridge.
What do you do if you smell gas?
1. Immediately turn off all gas supply at the LPG bottle
2. Leave RV well ventilated by opening all doors and windows
3. Isolate 240v and 12v supply
4. Call a qualified gas fitter
Is it important to have a carbon monoxide in my caravan?
We believe it is, and believe it should be mandatory in every caravan and motorhome. Law states that every RV must have a smoke detector, but not a carbon monoxide sensor.
You can smell smoke, but you cannot smell carbon monoxide, the damage is done by the time you feel the effects of carbon monoxide, so ensure adequate ventilation in your RV and also install a carbon monoxide sensor.
Do you recommend a Diesel Heater or a Gas Heater?
This is a common question which some experienced travellers already have their own answer for. Some factors which may determine your decision are;
What type of travelling do you do? A common opinion amongst travellers is that diesel heaters are more suited to remote destinations and long travel periods due to the fact that diesel is more regurlarly available than LP Gas in remote areas. You would not want to sacrifice your LPG to run you fridge, cooking or hot water during extended free camping periods.
Are you going off road? Mud and dust can quite easily clog up the exhaust and air intake for the diesel heater, which are located underneath the caravan, a way around this is to engineer your own filters and plugs to use while travelling, but make sure you remove them before operating the heater. Gas heaters have a flue to allow burnt gases out and fresh air in, the flue comes with a travel cap which helps to protect most dust from entering.