Sudden Cold Snap: Frozen RV plumbing?

[Cudedog]

I am becoming concerned that it might be possible for an (unexpected) cold snap to happen while on my way to West Yellowstone.

Is there anything that can be done to prevent my trailer's plumbing from freezing, either while driving on the way or actually parked at the campsite if a sudden and unexpected cold snap should occur?

Thanks!

Anne

[Irmi]

Anne, what we do is turn the heat on, put water in the fresh water tank and disconnect the outside hose from the RV and spigot. Turn on the water pump to use your water.

[JudyJB]

The answer partly depends on how cold the "snap" is and how long it lasts. I also disconnect my water hose and use water in my tanks, but if the cold snap is overnight and lasts only a few hours, it is usually not a problem. I have had several times where it has dropped to maybe 27-28 degrees for a few hours with no problems. An almost full fresh water tank and partly full grey and black tanks will take a long time to freeze, so overnight is usually not a problem.

It also helps to open cabinet doors where pipes are so they get the benefit of indoor heat.

If there is an enclosed place under your rig, you can always put a light bulb in there or even use heat tape, but those are people who are staying in one place for a long time.

[Bethers]

I've had cold snaps where it didn't reach freezing for a few days. Even those can be handled. But getting into the 20's overnight is common in the desert where many of us winter and no big deal. Like above, I use my tanks. I also leave the hot water tank on. It is where many people have problems (between it's location and smaller amount of water held, it could freeze faster. But not with upper 20's for a short time overnight. Keep the inside of the rig comfortable and opening cabinets as said is smart.

[snowball]

when are you coming to Yellowstone again?
it can happen seen it snow in July however that is not a normal thing...
as others have said use the tank unhook city water and have heat on
I have so given it the opportunity to freeze and so far the only one that has frozen
is one that is not being used so disconnected it totally however my kids tell me I ought
to plan on leaving earlier than I do...maybe they want to get rid of me???
sheila

[Cudedog]

Thanks all for your responses on this thread: Beth, Sheila, Judy and Irmi.

VERY much appreciated!!!

I am still concerned, however (LOL - that's just me - I worry about everything ). I might be planning a trip to the mountains in a couple of weeks, and looking at WeatherUnderground the temps look like they will be in the mid-30's (but not freezing - but close enough).

I am used to not having plumbing while travelling in my van - have a porta-potti, and just use campground bathrooms (when I think I can "make it" ) and showers, so (although I would like to use my trailer for these things) it would really be no hardship not to. I could just heat water on the cooktop for washing up, and use a dishpan in my trailers sink to do dishes, then toss the water outside somewhere.

So the next question: will it hurt my trailer's plumbing if the temps get below freezing, if there is no water in the tanks nor in the lines?

Or, alternatively, when I am on full hookups, I could "dump tanks" each evening before bedtime, so there wouldn't be much in the tanks and lines to freeze. Would this be safe, freeze-wise?

Thanks!! . All of the kind information I receive from this forum is invaluable to me, and I don't know where I could easily find answers to these questions elsewhere.

Anne

[BirdbyBird]

If I am worried about cold temperatures when traveling I leave my fresh tank empty and put some pink stuff in the gray and black tanks and live with water jugs. Also leave the hot water tank drained. Might be too extreme for what you need but this is me in cold Ohio in those shoulder months.

[Cudedog]

If I am worried about cold temperatures when traveling I leave my fresh tank empty and put some pink stuff in the gray and black tanks and live with water jugs. Also leave the hot water tank drained. Might be too extreme for what you need but this is me in cold Ohio in those shoulder months.

Thanks! This does not sound "too extreme" to me at all - it sounds "just right". My biggest concern has been destroying my trailer's plumbing on my first (well, second ) trip out.

I do not live in a cold climate (California, near Sacramento) so it is difficult to know the best thing to do - when those who do live in a cold climate know what to do just as a matter of course.

Thanks again!

Anne

[MelissaD]

1st does your camper have an enclosed belly. Is there a plastic liner covering the bottom of you camper? Most new ones do. Look by the door and see if it has a sticker stating Artic or 3 season package. If there is and you run the furnace there will be heat directed into the "belly" of the camper to help keep the tanks and piping warm. A space heater will not heat the belly, must run furnace. I have often camped in the spring and fall when temps would dip into the 20's overnight. I would disconnect and drain my FW hose and just keep water in my fresh water tank. I run the furnace around 70 where I am comfortable. Below 70 condensation builds up in my CPAP machine air hose at night and that gurgling bothers me. I also leave the hot water heater on (Melony likes to shower in the middle of the night) and I want my hot shower when I wake up.

Water will not freeze the moment temps drop to 32 degrees. If you look at the energy curves for freezing and boiling water it requires a bunch of energy to change phase. Point is it takes time, several hours. How long does it take ice cubes to freeze in your freezer and it's set around 0 to -5 degrees. Pure water freezes fasted than dirty water, so FW tank will freeze 1st. More water (mass) the longer it takes to freeze so if it's full it takes a long time to freeze a 30+ gall FW tank. It's the expansion of the water freezing into ice that does the damage so you have to freeze it solid at least in one plane.

Draining your black tank before it's 2/3 full will lead to build up in your black tank. Need flow to drag the chunks out. Gray tanks can get stinky when they dry out.

I store my camper by draining and blowing out all the plumbing and hot water heater with air. Put anti-freeze in P-Traps (drains) and call it done. If it's dry it can't freeze.

Don't over think it and have fun.

[MandysMom]

Ann, you know I live in Roseville, and in 13 years we have never winterized my van other than emptying B&G tanks at end of each trip. Unless you are much higher elevation and colder than here, you shouldn't have an issue at home. And, of course Melissa is spot on.
Velda