Occasional low temps 20-30 overnight?

[JimLuk]

We are looking to relocate to SC or North FL with a 21 40IP... What precautions should we take to reduce the risk to the coach, basement and wet bay safe from freezing in their occasional "freezing" temperatures. Would Portable heaters, or "shop lights" work? Covered or in-side storage... I assume that it depends on the temperature and length of time below 32 deg. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated...

[Bigd9]

Are you going to be living in it during the freezing times?

If you are going to be storing it, to be absolutely safe, I would simply winterize it and not worry any longer. Problem with providing supplemental heat to keep the wetbay above freezing, like a light bulb or heater, is if the electricity was to go off. Heated storage would have the same concerns.

Living in it makes the question easier to answer. Carefully heat the wet bay with a incandescent type light bulb and monitor the bay temperatures using a indoor/outdoor remote thermometer. If you do lose power, you can always start the generator.

[Lt Dan]

You mentioned inside storage so if you are storing it you can use the coach heat for occasional freezing temps. I haven't winterized mine since new and we get the occasional 20 degree and even down into the teens nights. I set the furnaces at 45 degrees and add a small cube 200 watt heater to the wet bay. That's protected it even down to 15 degrees for a couple of nights with no problem. I have a multi sensor thermometer that I can monitor while away and the temps have stayed well above freezing.

[Chuck&Pam]

Same here as Lt Dan except I use a brooder light in the wet bay if needed.

[rockriver]

we have been in 20's this week...
camper stays in an enclosed metal building...

bought a 45? dollar electric heater and put it near the wet bay set on 40 degrees. if temp drops to 40 it is supposed to come on...

bought a $13 dollar thermometer and humidity checker at walmart.. it tracks temperature for the last 12 hours showing high and low... for that time period...
outside got to 27-28 2 nights this week... temp in building only got to 50 -52.

builder put his white insulation next to metal siding.... i came back and added framing and fiberglass insulation to walls... roll up door has a thin ? reflectix type insulation on it...

no concerns.

[Grsfed]

How do you monitor the thermometer when you are away?

[RVFunlovers]

I use a little product called temp stick to monitor my temperature when away from the Coach.

It measures every few minutes and runs on WiFi.

You can set low and high alerts.

It does require WiFi to use. I run it off a jet pack.

It does not use much data.

Temp Stick is handy when you are using your RV and away for the day as well. Especially if you have a pet in the RV.

[rockriver]

we don't monitor thermometer when we are away...

however...
1. this barn and a couple of other structures are on their own meter... just contracted to have a small solar system installed with battery that would cover all needs including some refrigerators and freezers. (rest of that story is that installer is having listening and honesty issues show up before he started so i'm finding someone else and asking for my $$ deposit back!)

2. we have a security system and cameras at the house... but not on the barn.
adding the above solar system would have given me the added security of constant electricity and made adding a small camera system more secure..

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hmm. i'm not technically up to date... getting a little behind times... i need more info on the "jet packs" or someway to have reasonable cost internet for the barn? maybe the next time the kids come home!

[JimLuk]

As a Newbe... I hope this gets to this post... THANK YOU TO EVERYONE regarding low temp protection ideas... My major take away is to do everything that makes sense when its warm. Like adding wifi temp sensors throughout the storage areas, insulating exposed pipes, store a spare water pump, adding local heat generators where needed, setting a reasonable low temp on the rig heating system. If I forgot anything feel free to add.

[Larry F.]

Originally Posted by Grsfed

How do you monitor the thermometer when you are away?

I use the LaCrosse system. It works well.

[Vanslam]

I don’t know who makes the 40IP but in my rig this not an issue since the bays are heated. I do keep a remote temp sensor in the water bays to monitor the temps from Walmart but have never had an issue. Got to love Newmars.