Heat Tape for RV Water Lines

[pagosajoe]

Has anyone tried using water pipe heat tape for the wet bay and interior water lines of their coach?

We have winterized our 2012 Discovery 36J with RV antifreeze in the face of 18 degree overnight temps and snow on the mountains around us. My thought was that perhaps we could extend the season by using heat tape and round foam pipe pipe insulation, then just plug it in...

Just a thought....

[BFlinn181]

How about using a 100 w lightbulb in the bay? It should give enough heat to keep water lines from freezing if the bay has insulation or is reasonably weather tight. The pipe tape will work, but if you miss any of the pipe, it can still freeze. The bulb would heat all plumbing in the bay.

[popsuscdds]

We spent a winter in Wenatchee, WA in a park using heat tape on the water line. Nothing on the waste. The fifth wheel was skirted. No problems. We also used it on a log home that had an isolated room causing frozen pipes. The heat tape was left on for years. Just follow instructions.
Milt

[pagosajoe]

Originally Posted by BFlinn181

How about using a 100 w lightbulb in the bay? It should give enough heat to keep water lines from freezing if the bay has insulation or is reasonably weather tight. The pipe tape will work, but if you miss any of the pipe, it can still freeze. The bulb would heat all plumbing in the bay.

I've tried the 100 watt bulb approach, and it seems to work - I kn ow lots of folks do. I have some surplus roof heat tape about 20 feet long, and thought I may try that instead/as well.

[pagosajoe]

Originally Posted by popsuscdds

We spent a winter in Wenatchee, WA in a park using heat tape on the water line. Nothing on the waste. The fifth wheel was skirted. No problems. We also used it on a log home that had an isolated room causing frozen pipes. The heat tape was left on for years. Just follow instructions.
Milt

Thanks Milt, for the first hand experience.