Florida freeze question

[BarbRN]

We have a rare event coming, sub freezing temps overnight expected. We don't winterize usually so what precautions do we need to take in our Winnebago tonight? It's parked and not used right now at the house. Would the propane heater heat the lower compartment if we set it on low?

[TDiGuy]

my heat ducts run thru the basement. I would think yours do to... Should be alright
on propane heat.
Weather Forecast Winter Haven, FL | Winter Haven Weather | Wunderground
Looks like you will be at just 25'
I winter camp here in Indiana. Last night it got to 14'... I use a little 6" square ceramic heater I got at walmart. I have 2 edenpur like heaters uptop and it started out at 70 and by morning it was 62'. My gas furnace is set for 60 and never ran.
I have a remote temp gage and it got to 52' last nite in the basement. I would set the temp about 70 or so to make sure it stays warm in the basemnet. If you are still worried get a little electric heater... My 6" only draws 5.6amps
Make sure the doors are all tight. Hope that helps...

[CLIFFTALL]

Originally Posted by BarbRN

We have a rare event coming, sub freezing temps overnight expected. We don't winterize usually so what precautions do we need to take in our Winnebago tonight? It's parked and not used right now at the house. Would the propane heater heat the lower compartment if we set it on low?

I would disconnect fresh water hose and place a 75-100 watt light in those compartments that have plumbing.

[lwasouth]

If your in Pasco Co. or North - I would drain your lines (Near the pump, with all faucets open, Put a light bulb (75 Watt) under kitchen and bath sink cabinets (Keeps traps from freezing) Drain hot water heater. I woud not put any heater with open flame ie. Propane in my coach, too much of a chance of burning it up. I use RV antifreeze in my traps when stored here in Florida.
Don't forget the one in the shower. If you are plugged in you could use an electric heater in the coach. We are in Citrus Co. and this is what we do !

[BarbRN]

Originally Posted by TDiGuy

my heat ducts run thru the basement. I would think yours do to... Should be alright
on propane heat.
Weather Forecast Winter Haven, FL | Winter Haven Weather | Wunderground
Looks like you will be at just 25'
I winter camp here in Indiana. Last night it got to 14'... I use a little 6" square ceramic heater I got at walmart. I have 2 edenpur like heaters uptop and it started out at 70 and by morning it was 62'. My gas furnace is set for 60 and never ran.
I have a remote temp gage and it got to 52' last nite in the basement. I would set the temp about 70 or so to make sure it stays warm in the basemnet. If you are still worried get a little electric heater... My 6" only draws 5.6amps
Make sure the doors are all tight. Hope that helps...

That was my question, DH thought he would set the thermostat to 39 and we should be alright but you are saying the temp in the basement won't be quite as high. Good points.

[Arch Hoagland]

I don't think it will be cold enough long enough to drain your systems.

We routinely camp in places where it gets down to the low 20's overnight (one was in Tallahassee Florida last January) and all I do is remove the water hose to the campground water source.

[rek]

I asked the same question when we moved to South Carolina. We lived in S.C. about 50 miles from the coast and never winterized our fifth wheel. I was told that it never stayed below freezing long enough to freeze the pipes. It always goes above freezing during the day and I am sure it will not stay below freezing in Florida once the sun comes up.

[GaryKD]

Hi BarbRN,
The following assumes all plumbing is enclosed in the coach or the basement. For me, I'd do nothing. It will take several days with overnight lows in the teens and below freezing during the day to freeze the water inside your RV. I have a house in Sevierville, TN. I have never winterized the plumbing and never had a problem.

[Gary RVRoamer]

I don't think it will be cold enough long enough to drain your systems.

Low 20's for 12+ hours isn't long enough? An exposed line, e.g. an ice maker feed or a sewer drain, will likely freeze up in that time. Tanks or water heaters probably won't, though.

[Barlow46]

One other thing to remember when in Fl. There are a lot of lakes and shoreline and the water temp is still in the 70's around here. (Daytona/East Central). If your RV is parked near a lake or intercoastal, you have a good sized heater right next door and even though the predicted temps are in the high 20's (usually predicted for low lying areas in central Fl), the real temp is quite a few degrees higher near the water. I rarely see a thin layer of ice in my birdbath (couple of time in Feb. usually) . Also, the heat absorbed by your coach from the sun daily continues to work for you well into the night. Not trying to minimize the dangers of freezing to your plumbing but having lived in central FL area for 55 yrs, I have seen very few nights (some low to mid 20's at night and mid 30's in the day)that would freeze things inside your coach.

[blackf3504dr]

We live in Leesburg, FL. (Lake county) and have never winterized the motor home in the ten years we've lived here, no draining of any lines or running heat in the bays. Nothing has ever froze and we are further north then you if you are in Winter Haven.

[jzick]

We winter near Davenport, Fl. The motorhome is in a storage lot near our home. Our situation is a bit different in that we are in covered storage (no walls) with other rvs parked next to us. We have never winterized or drained lines and have never had a problem. A few years ago I put a monitor in the wet bay overnight when the temperatures were predicted to reach the mid twenties. The coldest temperature recorded in our bay was about 42. In most things I am pretty cautious (suspenders and belt kind of guy) but, to me, the risk of temperatures low enough and long enough to cause damage here seems pretty small. Obviously, you should do whatever you feel most comfortable with.