Community Forums

EasyDoesIt · 12-29-2010, 02:56 PM

Well the coach weathered the last 3 nights here in Clermont, Florida. Got as low as 20 on a thermometer outside. We were gone for the 3 days but put a 60W bulb in the Water Service bay and behind the refrigerator. We have a little ceramic heater set on low and on the lowest thermostat setting inside the coach with the cupboard doors open. A Hi-Lo thermometer indicated a low of 34 inside near a wall and 24 on the frame behind the door to the battery compartment. Ours is a special hassle to drain because of the Washing Machine. So far so good.

nbounder · 12-29-2010, 08:02 PM

Jimkate - you hit the nail. There's got to be a scientifically sound way to not have to surrender your beautiful coach to the elements for 4 months/year. I, too, have been looking for a solution, and found only one . . . . . ......move y'rself, family & coach to Phoenix, AZ. Then, you only have to chew on the air all winter, then git out of town from May thru October. Well, maybe that's not so good after all. If there's a chemical that had no taste and would not freeze we could use it as a substitute for water, and have the best of all worlds! Anybody out there know of such a chemical?

Elkhartjim · 12-30-2010, 04:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nbounder

Jimkate - you hit the nail. There's got to be a scientifically sound way to not have to surrender your beautiful coach to the elements for 4 months/year. I, too, have been looking for a solution, and found only one . . . . . ......move y'rself, family & coach to Phoenix, AZ. Then, you only have to chew on the air all winter, then git out of town from May thru October. Well, maybe that's not so good after all. If there's a chemical that had no taste and would not freeze we could use it as a substitute for water, and have the best of all worlds! Anybody out there know of such a chemical?

Stolichnaya Vodka?

**CLIFFTALL** · 12-30-2010, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elkhartjim

Stolichnaya Vodka?

YEAH buddy

**NLOVNIT** · 12-30-2010, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elkhartjim

Stolichnaya Vodka?

If it wouldn't cost so much per gallon, it'd be doable.

Lori-

akadeadeye · 12-30-2010, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NLOVNIT

If it wouldn't cost so much per gallon, it'd be doable.

Lori-

No need to worry about the gallon.

A few shots will get'ya where you wanna be.

Then you don't worry 'bout cost.

Don

**NLOVNIT** · 12-30-2010, 02:24 PM

And you can make vodka martinis right from your kitchen tap! I like this idea.

Lori-

nbounder · 01-01-2011, 09:01 PM

Only prob here is that we'd need a setup kinda like 'Driving Miss Daisy' to enjoy the beverage, the vista, the company, etc. PS: is Stoly OK for winterizing? Can we not use it for winterizing, then drain the tanks in Spring and use the Stoly for 'recreational" purposes? We're on a roll here guys - need only one or two ideas!

bjo · 01-05-2011, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary RVRoamer

The main issues for the OP are the water heater tank, the bay with the water inlet & drains & pump, and the icemaker water line. None of those are well-protected even if the interior is heated with an auxiliary heat source like an electric heater.

I'd bypass & drain the water heater - not a big deal to reactivate if he wants to use the coach again. Put a 100W light bulb in the wet bay, using a Greenhouse plug to turn it on/off when it's cold at night. Or a simple timer.

The icemaker water line is a bit of a nuisance. If it has a shutoff under the kitchen sink (most do), I'd shut it off and drain it for the winter and forego the ice. If not, and the fridge is turned off, just wrapping the valve area in the back of the fridge with insulation may be sufficient. Or put a 60W light bulb in there and block off the access door vents with tape or cardboard. That should keep it above 32 in there, even though the top vent is open.

Last, drain the fresh and waste tanks and add some RV antifreeze to the waste lines to keep the residual water from freezing up.

Gary... were do u get a "Greenhouse" plug?

Lorna · 01-05-2011, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bjo

Gary... were do u get a "Greenhouse" plug?

Shop EasyHeat Plug In Thermostat at Lowes.com
Plug In Thermostat

Power Indicator Light
Turns on at 38°F/3°C - Off at 50°F/10°C
125 Volts, 15 Amps
For Dry Location Only

Lakeman1 · 01-05-2011, 04:50 PM

If you go to the Lowe's site and to specs, it has 12 Amps?

neo102470 · 01-07-2011, 09:21 AM

I don't mean to hijack this thread but I'm in Michigan and it's under 32 for weeks on end in the winter. I would like to at least have the option to have a functional water system if I want to use it over a weekend. Doesn't anybody make a product (or products) specifically designed to do what I want it to do? I want to keep my 3 tanks and all my lines from freezing... that simple. We shouldn't have to resort to heat lamps, timers or oil heaters to keep things from freezing.

I understand there are heater 'mats' to put under the tanks and there is always heating pipe tape that can be turned on when it's cold but there should be a SYSTEM that we can invest in that has all the options we need (tank heaters, line heaters, with a single master controller, automated based on temperature, etc).... Why isn't there one?