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Old 01-19-2025, 06:53 AM   #1
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Protecting Fridge Water Line In Freezing Weather

We are full timers and about to experience the freezing weather that's forecasted for the south. I know all about the Oasis keeping the basement from freezing. But what about the refrigerator water line, it runs outside of the basement for a bit in the full-wall slide floor? I know where the shutoff valve for the fridge is, but how do I drain that line? I can shut off the hot water line to the generator compartment and open the valve to drain that line but I can't see how to drain the fridge line.

2022 Dutch Star 4081 on Freightliner chassis.
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Old 01-19-2025, 07:57 AM   #2
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The outside portion of the refrigerator water line is thermally insulated and heated when the temperature goes below 40. I have used water throughout my coach in temperature well below freezing many times. You will be fine.
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Old 01-19-2025, 08:07 AM   #3
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You cannot individually drain the line that I'm aware of and you could say the same occurs w/your kitchen slide and the sink water lines. Despite the small portion running under full wall slide, I don't think it's a great concern if you're a full-timer since both your coach and basement will be heated and transfer some of the heat to keep the line from freezing. You also have PEX lines, which are more resilient to freezing (will expand but not rupture).

Notwithstanding, if you'll lose sleep over it, keep your ice maker on and use your the water dispenser often to move the water in the pipe and keep it from freezing, if it freezes at all. Use the floor heat, if your coach is equipped. Last [extreme] option: bring your slides in when going to bed, just don't stub your toe getting up in the middle of the night.

Lastly, realize that wind chill is not the same as actual temp. Humans and animals experience wind chill and your coach will only experience the actual temp, so if the temp is 15F w/a 0F wind chill, your coach experiences 15F.

I actually think the biggest concern is the campground's water spigot and the hose running to your coach. Hopefully you have a heated hose. If no, get one or disconnect from water and store your hose.

Good luck
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Old 01-19-2025, 11:03 AM   #4
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ThunderRidge is correct. The water line to the refrigerator is thermally protected. The issue some have experienced is the temperature control device is located in the house battery bay, this bay is open to ambient air. The problem is the sensing device is located high in the bay on the frame rail. If using floor heat it could and will radiant down to give the sensor a false reading. Some have taken the sensor and lowered it in the bay to get a closer to actual ambient temperature reading.

On the Dutch Star looking in the battery bay the sensor is approximately at the 1 o’clock position. Small control board with a green and red led lights.

Got to love Newmar in their common sense engineering
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Old 01-19-2025, 01:32 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mattebury View Post
We are full timers and about to experience the freezing weather that's forecasted for the south. I know all about the Oasis keeping the basement from freezing. But what about the refrigerator water line, it runs outside of the basement for a bit in the full-wall slide floor? I know where the shutoff valve for the fridge is, but how do I drain that line? I can shut off the hot water line to the generator compartment and open the valve to drain that line but I can't see how to drain the fridge line.

2022 Dutch Star 4081 on Freightliner chassis.
You got the right answer about the line being thermally protected, but there can be an issue if you have heated floors and are using them. Twice my water line froze but didn't do any damage. It took a while before I figured out the issue.

The heated floors heat up into the coach but also heat down through the floor. The thermostat/controller is mounted in the battery bay. On my 2019 DS, they mounted it on the right-side wall as you look in, about two inches from the ceiling. The heated floors were enough to keep the thermostat from activating as the heated floors were keeping the battery bay above freezing.

At the rear of the battery bay on my Freightliner DS, is an open area around the fuel tank. I extended the wires on the thermostat and moved it to a 2" angled frame rail near the back and down low. It now works as designed.

Here is what it looks like and where I moved it....

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