drain tap

Hi,
Having returned from 3 very nice weeks in the Pyrenees, it's time to winterise.
I've opened the 3 hot and cold taps and then the drain valve but no water has drained. I've done this at end of season for many years with no problem. Am I missing something? I know there's water in the hot water tank and pipes to the kitchen sink but it hasn't drained even overnight.
Any suggestions?

This might seem a silly question but is your water pump turned on and working?

Tinwheeler wrote:This might seem a silly question but is your water pump turned on and working?

I don't think it needs to be, mine drains without pump being on. Im wondering if the drain valve is sticking , try opening and closing several times, maybe it will free it .

So it was a silly question 

It does sound as though the drain valve has stuck shut.  If further proof of this is required, the pump could be turned on with water in the freshwater tank and the taps closed to pressurise the system.  If pressurised water doesn't come out of the drain valve when its opened, its clearly faulty.

It's not too difficult to remove the drain tap at the end of the hose. If water comes out, then the problem may be the drain tap - possibly snapped inside or otherwise clogged. possibly with road muck (I assume you've already prodded it to remove any gunge). If no water comes out when the tap is removed, the blockage is further up the pipe, nearer the tank

Cymro wrote:It's not too difficult to remove the drain tap at the end of the hose. If water comes out, then the problem may be the drain tap - possibly snapped inside or otherwise clogged. possibly with road muck (I assume you've already prodded it to remove any gunge). If no water comes out when the tap is removed, the blockage is further up the pipe, nearer the tank

I think he is referring to the Truma drain valve rather than the freshwater tank drain.  But the Truma valve could be blocked as you say and it could just be muck off the road blocking the short pipe that leads from the valve.

Time for another silly question...is the OP asking about drain tap on fresh and or waste tanks, or dump valve from boiler, some answers seem to imply the former, and others the latter.

I will go back to my darkened room to lie down and promise to try not to overthink things again!

Edit..Caraman beat me too it, posting as I was typing

Peter Brown wrote:With either a Truma Ultrastor or Combi water heaters, you should have one of these vents at the hot water outlet.  If the vent is blocked the water wont drain.  Its easy to disconnect the unit from the boiler and see if the water then drains.

If the hot water taps are closed water won't drain out of the hot water tank if the above is faulty but if the taps are open, water should still drain out.  The vent is to let air into the hot water tank when the taps are closed.

Thankyou everyone for advice. I was referring to the winterising drain tap which is opened by lifting the yellow lever from horizontal to vertical - at least on a 2010 Broadway.
Having fitted a new kitchen tap today ( the old one was leaking), I gave the (Shurflo) pump a spin and Hey Presto! So Paul, you were right - it had somehow stuck. No amount of waggling the lever or poking delicately from underneath with a screwdriver had any effect.
So, today, I've filled the freshwater tank to 25% and refilled all pipes as well as the hotwater tank to check for integrity of my new tap and fittings. All good - Phew! Then flicked that same drain tap  and, Yes, It obliged!
Thanks again.
Oh I did try to contribute last evening but Pay Pal warned me against using my Credit card. I'll try again.

I was glad to help, I have the same drain valve.