10 expert tips on protecting your motorhome from frost, mould, bugs and bird droppings over winter

Over the last 12 months the number of online searches for “which motorhome to buy” jumped by 400%.

It wasn't just idle curiosity. This year’s staycation boom coincided with a surge in motorhome ownership, many of them appearing to head for Snowdonia or pitching up in the coastal resorts of North Wales.

But, as winter approaches, how many of these new owners are aware of the measures they need to put in place to protect their shiny motorhomes and campervans?

READ MORE: Caravan owners 'hit by £1,000 hike in fees with no warning'

Whether you’re planning a last-minute trip, or are putting your motorhome in storage, below is a list of tips to ensure you’re prepared.

They cover everything from cleaning to insulation and checking water systems.

Providing the tips was comparethemarket.com, which also offers some advice on insurance and breakdown cover.

When cleaning the outside of your motorhome, don’t forget the roof: bird droppings can be bad news for paintwork. Then give it a couple of coats of wax sealant.

Using a breathable winter cover can protect your nice, clean bodywork from bird droppings, fallen leaves and mould.

Remove mud from wheel arches and keep an eye out for rocksalt picked up from roads, as this can cause corrosion.

Inside the vehicle, clean everything “as if the Queen is coming to visit”: leftover crumbs will attract pests or insects.

Empty the cupboards, taking out food and any plastic containers that might leak.

Leave the fridge door slightly open as this will help keep it smelling fresh.

It’s important to have good insulation, both in the vehicle and in the compartments around your water tanks and waste systems.

Newer motorhomes have sufficient insulation and heating fitted for all seasons, but if you have an older model, you might want to consider specialised windows with insulation panels.

Other areas where you could lose heat are the roof and floor, so look to add underlay if possible.

If water freezes it can cause costly damage to the heater.

So, if you’re not going to use your motorhome for quite a while, drain your water heaters by opening the valves or taps, just like you would with your home radiator.

Some motorhomes come with built-in water filter units. As these can also freeze, so it might be worth removing them and then replacing them with new filters in the spring.

Empty and drain the cassette toilet flush as you would do normally after every trip. Make sure you empty out the flush tank, too.

Your fresh water system also needs draining – and don’t forget to drain down your showerhead. Turn off your water pump.

Make sure your van is standing on level ground to help water drain easily.

Ceiling vents can get tiny cracks that may let damp in, so those need to be sealed and sorted.

Door and window seals need to be checked and repaired where necessary.

Wipe your vehicle’s electrical contacts over and spray with WD-40 to protect against water damage.

Treat and fill any chips or scratches to paintwork or chromework.

If you don’t need your battery to run your van’s alarm system, ideally you should remove it and store it in a cool, dry place.

If you keep it at home you can top it up when necessary.

Best to remove batteries from other electrical items in your motorhome, too.

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Some experts recommend increasing the pressure in your tyres before you park up for the winter, and covering them too – check what your vehicle handbook recommends.

If you will be using your motorhome all year round, fitting winter tyres can be beneficial as they help with steering control and reduce stopping distances during bad weather.

Winter tyres can be more costly, but if stored correctly in a dry space after use, they can be used year after year.

More condensation builds up during winter, leading to damp which can affect your soft furnishings.

Look to store furnishings indoors if possible, but if not, cover them with cotton sheets and place some moisture-absorbing crystals nearby to prevent mould.

Gas should also be turned off and disconnected. Safely remove gas bottles if you can and keep them somewhere secure. If you’re using a storage site, check their policy first.

You may be lucky enough to have room to store it where you live.

If not, you’ll need to find somewhere secure to leave it, ideally on flat ground.

Your best option may be to pay for storage in a specialist secured site. Check that they’re happy to accept your type and size of vehicle, that the site is open at times to suit you, and that your vehicle will be properly secure and insured.

Most storage sites provided by the Caravan Storage Site Owners’ Association (CaSSOA) accept motorhomes – and most insurers recognise these as secure storage locations.

You’ll need to check the site’s policy on gas bottles.

When getting an insurance quote, you’d need to declare that the motorhome is kept in storage. If you decide to take it to a storage site mid-way through your policy, you must tell your insurance provider.

It sounds obvious, but check your vehicle regularly and, if possible, take it out from time to time.

This helps air the vehicle out and stop everything from seizing up.

If this isn’t possible, still move your motorhome – if only a few inches – so that it doesn’t spend all winter resting on the same spot on your tyres.

Some modern motorhomes have water pipes with built-in heating systems that keep the water flowing.

You might also need to add small space heaters, although these can drain the battery. Make sure you choose heaters that turn off instantly if knocked over.

Avoid gas heaters due to the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Remember, if you intend to use your motorhome at all you won’t be able to declare that it’s off road with a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN) and you’ll need to be insured.

Given the time of year, it’s worth considering breakdown cover.