Need to prepare Expecting first freeze tomorrow, what needs to be done?

[TXheat]

So we have a arctic freeze expected tomorrow, expected to last 3 days temps in mid 20’s F and while we have been through them before in one instance in another RV, failing to drain the water heater tank resulted in it freezing and busting. We want to make sure we don’t suffer anymore losses. So what’s best? Drain the water heater completely? Water heater works only on electric, we’re metered, so we won’t be keeping it warm. Also since pipes can freeze, should we disconnect the water hose and leave the city water dripping, like you do at home? If we empty the fresh water tank so it doesn’t freeze up although I’ve been told that doesn’t need to be done, but if we do, than do we use stored water in bottles for sink and flushing? Heat potable water over fire? Also filled up the propane tank but was reading they can freeze too, how much of a concern is that ? Thanks for any tips or suggestions.

 

[team bradfield]

are you living in it now or is it stored?

Stored= drain all lines, dump all tanks, drain HW tank, fill lines with RV anti freeze, dont forget washer and Ice maker.

Living in it= keep furnace above 65 and keep HW heater turned on, do you have tank heaters? If so turn them on, is your basement heated?, invest in a heated water hose, never had a propane tank freeze, I grill all winter long with no issues in northern illinois

 

[gibsito]

IT depends. It's been getting down to the upper 20s here at night and mid-30s during the day. Typically my 5th wheel is empty (I'm not living in it) so the heat is off unless I'm there doing work to it. City water line is not connected outside and water pump is turned off. I leave water in the water heater tank and fresh water tank but I do drain the lines in the rig by opening up all faucets and holding the toilet pedal down so water in the lines drains into the black tank. I've been doing that for years and have never had a problem.

It sometimes gets down into the teens here and one year got down as low as 5 degrees. That year I think I did drain the water heater and fresh water tank. This water heater is surrounded by styrofoam insulation and the holding tanks are enclosed in an insulated compartment, but I don't turn on heat in there. I have never worried about the p-traps and have never had any of them break. I have had this rig for 15 years and the only time a water line broke was when a mouse chewed a hole in it. So as I said, it depends. If you want to be absolutely sure you'll be ok, drain everything. Sometimes a little overkill is worth the peace of mind.

 

[TXheat]

are you living in it now or is it stored?

Stored= drain all lines, dump all tanks, drain HW tank, fill lines with RV anti freeze, dont forget washer and Ice maker.

Living in it= keep furnace above 65 and keep HW heater turned on, do you have tank heaters? If so turn them on, is your basement heated?, invest in a heated water hose, never had a propane tank freeze, I grill all winter long with no issues in northern illinois

Yes we live in it full time, no tank heaters, just filled the propane tank so we can keep the furnace going. Thanks for the tips.

 

[TXheat]

IT depends. It's been getting down to the upper 20s here at night and mid-30s during the day. Typically my 5th wheel is empty (I'm not living in it) so the heat is off unless I'm there doing work to it. City water line is not connected outside and water pump is turned off. I leave water in the water heater tank and fresh water tank but I do drain the lines in the rig by opening up all faucets and holding the toilet pedal down so water in the lines drains into the black tank. I've been doing that for years and have never had a problem.

It sometimes gets down into the teens here and one year got down as low as 5 degrees. That year I think I did drain the water heater and fresh water tank. This water heater is surrounded by styrofoam insulation and the holding tanks are enclosed in an insulated compartment, but I don't turn on heat in there. I have never worried about the p-traps and have never had any of them break. I have had this rig for 15 years and the only time a water line broke was when a mouse chewed a hole in it. So as I said, it depends. If you want to be absolutely sure you'll be ok, drain everything. Sometimes a little overkill is worth the peace of mind.

Thankfully it’s only going to be in the mid 20’s over the weekend, I agree with most of what you said, I forgot to mention the water heater is wrapped up good in what I believe is fiberglass insulation under the sink so I’m considering not draining the tank but keeping the iwater heater ob all weekend but concerned it is going to run up the electric bill, As you said sometimes overkill is worth Pearce of mind and who needs the grief when things fail or are damaged that could have been prevented. Thanks for the tips

 

[gibsito]

Thankfully it’s only going to be in the mid 20’s over the weekend, I agree with most of what you said, I forgot to mention the water heater is wrapped up good in what I believe is fiberglass insulation under the sink so I’m considering not draining the tank but keeping the iwater heater ob all weekend but concerned it is going to run up the electric bill, As you said sometimes overkill is worth Pearce of mind and who needs the grief when things fail or are damaged that could have been prevented. Thanks for the tips

Since you're living in it, the water heater probably isn't an issue anyway since you're going to keep the heat on. Mine is under the sink as well, and with the heat on inside it just isn't an issue, even with the water heater off. If it was going to be colder, like down near zero, I'd probably leave it on though.

If you don't have any heat tape on your fresh water hose I would definitely turn that supply off and disconnect it from the rig. Fill the fresh water tank and run off of that over the cold period. Wrap up the faucet that the hose is connected to if it isn't already protected. If it's a hydrant (with the valve under ground), it shouldn't be an issue. Just turn it off and any water above ground level should drain out.

 

[TXheat]

I

Since you're living in it, the water heater probably isn't an issue anyway since you're going to keep the heat on. Mine is under the sink as well, and with the heat on inside it just isn't an issue, even with the water heater off. If it was going to be colder, like down near zero, I'd probably leave it on though.

If you don't have any heat tape on your fresh water hose I would definitely turn that supply off and disconnect it from the rig. Fill the fresh water tank and run off of that over the cold period. Wrap up the faucet that the hose is connected to if it isn't already protected. If it's a hydrant (with the valve under ground), it shouldn't be an issue. Just turn it off and any water above ground level should drain out.

I don’t have to worry about the water pump freezing? So I can fill up the fresh water tank without heating it with no issues?

 

[gibsito]

If the water pump is in the heated area of the rig it won't be a problem. Every rig I've ever owned had the water pump in the heated area, but you should check where yours is located to be sure. I have a 1987 truck camper where the water pump is below the step that leads up to the bed in the cabover area. That's essentially in an indoor cabinet. It has a door from inside that gives access to the pump. The fresh water tank is in there too. In my 5th wheel the water pump is below the shower, in the area where return air is routed back to the furnace. That will never freeze if the heat is on. The only way it might freeze is if the heat is off and it gets cold enough to freeze inside the rig, which is possible. But it has been below freezing in there before without any damage to the water pump. I wouldn't want to take much of a chance with that though, as it's in a hard-to-get-to location and I really don't want to have to work on it.

As far as the fresh water tank, where is it located? If it's in an unheated and un-insulated area it would be possible, but probably not over the span of one night when it warms up to above freezing during the day time. But mid 20s could definitely freeze water in any water lines you have that are exposed to the outside air.

 

[TXheat]

Bothe the pump and tank are in a outside compartment, I think we will fill our portable washer from the water tank and drain off the rest and use the water in the washer since we keep it in the shower. Thanks

 

[gibsito]

Bothe the pump and tank are in a outside compartment, I think we will fill our portable washer from the water tank and drain off the rest and use the water in the washer since we keep it in the shower. Thanks

Best of luck. Let us know how it goes.