A Women's RV Forum run by Women RVer's!

Hey Everybody,

I just posted an introduction on the intro forum in case you were wondering who I am. I was out this weekend and my grey water valve froze. The black was fine, so I was able to dump that, but not the grey. I have a four season unit, tank heaters, and kept the furnace running, so I'm not sure how to keep that from happening again. Anyone have any thoughts or solutions?

Thanks,
Amy

Amy, I'm sorry you're having trouble in the cold weather.

Before answering your question, I need to ask ... do you live in cold country ... that is, do you have freezing temps at home? If so, (assuming you were using your water system in the freezing weather) and you don't store your rig in a heated facility, you'll have to winterize it to keep pipes & such from bursting. You can have that done at a shop if you don't know how to do it.

In answer to your question, I have another question: Are your black and grey tank valves on the exterior or in their own bay? Mine are in a bay, and I run an extension cord to a clamp-on light in the bay to keep it from freezing. The heat from the light bulb is just enough to keep the compartment above freezing (which is all you need). I don't know which throw off more heat ... the regular filament or halogen bulbs.

With the external valves, I don't know how to keep them from freezing.

To deal with your frozen valve, I have a "Flush King", which uses pressure from a water hose to create back-pressure to rinse out the black tank & keep sludge from building up. You hook the Flush King on where you normally hook your sewer hose, and the sewer hose hooks onto the bottom of the Flush King. Perhaps you could hook the Flush King up to a warm/hot water valve to melt or knock loose the part that is frozen (I doubt the whole tank is frozen).

Here are some more holding-tank tips: Try to get your grey tank as full as possible before dumping your black tank. Empty the black tank first, then grey. The grey water rinses the black tank "gunk" (for lack of a better word) out of the hose. In freezing weather be sure **not** to keep your sewer hose attached (gosh, you can be SO sorry! ). Only hook it up to dump your tanks, then disconnect it and allow it to drain before putting it away.

I apologize if you already know these things ... Good luck & let us know what you find out.

(EDITED SEVERAL TIMES FOR MORE CLARITY ... )

Thanks Janice,

Yep, I'm in Colorado and the temps have been in the teens during the night. The valves are exposed, so I'm wondering if a light would still work there. I saw some other RVers with lights under their rigs, so I'm assuming they were keeping things "warmish."

(I used to have a cat named Kiwi. He was the best cat ever.)

Amy

I also should mention that when it's not out and about, I keep the RV in a heated hanger at the airport (thanks to my generous dad). So I haven't felt the need to winterize while it's not being used, but I suppose I should be more careful about that. You never know if the hangar might lose heat for some reason.

I have used the pink stuff in the tanks, but have also heard that some use salt. Anyone else tried this?

Amy

Well if you have it parked back inside where it's heated and if it is indeed frozen it will thaw out. Hopefully the valve handle isn't cracked a little tiny bit open from trying to open? Or you might end up with a pile on the floor! If not then if you can reach it with an extension cord you can use a hair dryer or heat tapes wrapped around the valve.

Pink stuff is what the rv people use as the antifreeze stuff, never heard of using
salt and I'd be really wary of the salt, but I understand VODKA never freezes
I used to be married to a plumber and he used to use my blow dryer to thaw out
pipes, but for prevention I'd put the light bulb on that valve. And, btw....
I'm also from Colorado, but I've been transplanted in Arizona no more snow!

avalen wrote:....I understand VODKA never freezes

Whaaaaat? And waste all that hooch?

It might not be such a waste if ya gotta do 'you know what'.

Would it still work if ya drank it first and then??????

OMG! You guys crack me up!

But seriously, booze is the last thing to be sacrificed. Although, now I'm curious about drinking it first and then....

No, you have it all wrong. Vodka IS the antifreeze of choice for the fresh water tank, but it MUST be diluted with orange juice in order to prevent the tank from becoming, oh, what is the technical term?

Oh, yes. Snockered.

To be serious, Amy, I suggest you contact your motor home's manufacturer and ask whether the unit you bought is truly a four-season rig. I can't imagine why a motor home that is designed for use in freezing temperatures would expose those drain pipes. I'd hate to see you do damage to it with winter camping if it isn't designed for freezing temps.

Getupngo wrote:To be serious, Amy, I suggest you contact your motor home's manufacturer and ask whether the unit you bought is truly a four-season rig. I can't imagine why a motor home that is designed for use in freezing temperatures would expose those drain pipes. I'd hate to see you do damage to it with winter camping if it isn't designed for freezing temps.

You're right. I've been listening to the salesperson, but should check with Jayco. I'm not overly impressed with the service people where I bought my unit, which is part of the reason I'm here, to get the real story. (And, not to mention, the humor...) : )

Getupngo wrote:No, you have it all wrong. Vodka IS the antifreeze of choice for the fresh water tank, but it MUST be diluted with orange juice in order to prevent the tank from becoming...

And in case of emergency, you can always lay on your back underneath the tank with your mouth open...

..

mitch5252 wrote:

Getupngo wrote:No, you have it all wrong. Vodka IS the antifreeze of choice for the fresh water tank, but it MUST be diluted with orange juice in order to prevent the tank from becoming...

And in case of emergency, you can always lay on your back underneath the tank with your mouth open...

..

Ewwwwwwww

Oh wait? Your talking only about the drain valve for the fresh water. RIGHT?

I was going to say, you'd better make sure you got the right tank! Could be in for a nasty surprise and then you would really need to wash your mouth out with alcohol!! Eeeewwwww!!!

Barbie

Uck!