Hi I asked for advice a few weeks ago when following my first trip of the year, both my taps on my triton 430 started leaking. I was about to get someone out to replace the taps but when he realised I had bought the van new in July 23, said that that should be covered by warranty. The dealer has not got back to me when I left messages 3 weeks ago and now when I got through was told the owners are on annual leave. I have a tripped planned for 10th June and the guy who could replace them could do the work on the 7th. My dilemma is do I go ahead, pay what will be several hundred pounds and try and get that reimbursed or cancel the replacement and fight to get the dealer to do the work under warranty at some point in the future. I am really disappointed generally with the dealer. When about to buy the van last year they were always on the end of a phone, since paying my money very little to no response. I’m not actually sure taps would be covered under the warranty and the only warranty documentation I have from the dealer covers water ingress. Any advice / suggestions gratefully received.

Leaking taps are likely to have been split by frost over the winter and van manufacturers won't cover such damage under warranty. When draining down for winter it's best to take a van for a run with all taps/valves open so that as much water as possible is joggled out of the system. Some go even further and blow the water out. Then you leave taps open so that any water in them has room to expand when frost strikes. I very much doubt that you'll get it done under warranty.

I had a problem with the kitchen tap leaking on my first trip in February, the dealer changed it under warranty. I was prepared to argue as it was the first time the van had been used but the dealer was quite happy it was covered.

When I bought my 2015 Familia from Lowdhams in Huddersfield it came with an explanation of the warranty:
The van came with a two year mechanical/electrical/internal fixings warranty which is stepped:

1st year is comprehensive and includes all original fit components.
2nd year excludes tyres, glass, paint& brightwork, soft furnishings,carpets floor coverings,work surfaces, window catches, electrical connections,natural movement of internal doors and furniture, audio equipment.
6 year water ingress warranty, only as long as it has been regularly damp checked by a Hymer recognised workshop.

Thanks and hopefully lesson learnt

The dealer I bought from referred to my problem as user error and will not agree to doing any work under warranty. Suggested I take it up with hymer. Hymer say deal with dealer. All in all a pretty grim experience. Big contrast to when I bought a second hand camper from JMC in Sussex and they paid £800 to have glow plugs replaced. Top people. Sadly all businesses are that customer focussed

Glow plug failure isn't something that's caused by owners lack of care. Potentially you could crack a set of taps every winter and keep on claiming.
On another tack the gross margin on campervans/motorhomes is much larger than it is on caravans so there's more room for expenditure
The Consumer Rights Act would say that the glow plugs were faulty when the vehicle was sold, therefore the seller is liable The Eriba taps were serceable when sold and owner negligence has caused them to fail.

hi Johnny
My experience when my taps went through frost damage was the same as yours - it was classed as owner error........................a costly one I'm afraid

It was an error that I now work hard to avoid repeating itself

Good luck in getting it sorted

MikeT

Thanks Mike
Hopefully I’ll learn from it too. Got someone round on Friday to fit new taps.