Freezing for a few hours at night

[HenryH001]

Originally Posted by Glenn and Kathy

My water and sewer both connected in heated bays, so never considered that a problem.

Glenn

Thanks. A big part of my problem is I don’t know what I have or how well the wet bays are insulated.

If my signature isn’t showing up I’m in a 2003 NT 7395.

[Wellibe]

I'm assuming your sewer and gray drain dump connection is exposed? I have no experience with those in really cold weather, but I presume the exposed section of drain line could freeze solid if it gets cold enough. I doubt it would happen in the high 20s, but who knows? If that's a concern, you might want to dump every evening.

Also consider your low point drains and fresh tank drain.

[HenryH001]

Originally Posted by Wellibe

I'm assuming your sewer and gray drain dump connection is exposed? I have no experience with those in really cold weather, but I presume the exposed section of drain line could freeze solid if it gets cold enough. I doubt it would happen in the high 20s, but who knows? If that's a concern, you might want to dump every evening.

Also consider your low point drains and fresh tank drain.

Your assumption is correct. It’s not a big problem disconnecting the water line at the faucet and letting the water in the hose to drain on the ground. The sewer line is a different story. What I don’t want to do is have to unhook both water and sewer from both ends whenever it’s going to freeze slightly for a few hours at night and then get warm the next day.

I continue to read the weather reports and now see next Wednesday the low will be 18. I do not want my basement tanks and inside hoses to freeze. The sewer line laying on the ground freezing is no big deal. I’m thinking not flexing and handling the lines when it’s 35 will do less damage than just letting the tiny bit of residual water and waste freeze. I’m old and my hands don’t do what I tell them to do when it’s cold.

Even at 40 degrees it is difficult for me to unhook everything. Getting old is not for the young at heart.

[Kash]

Everyone has their own opinion as to what to do and how to do it and their own experiences. The way I look at it is that Mother Nature does not care what RV you have or how complicated or uncomplicated you water system is. My coach is too expensive for me to attempt to play with Mother Nature. That said I will tell you what we have done. Our water bay is not heated so I put a 100 watt normal light bulb from an old style mechanics work light (yes I am that old) working to keep the water bay warm. Assuming you have enough volume in your fresh water, gray and black tanks they should not freeze. I disconnect and drain out my fresh water hose so that it will not freeze. Just the way I do it with minimum freezing temps and duration. Let us know how you make out. Stay safe, Stay well, Happy Holidays to All

[HenryH001]

Originally Posted by Kash

Everyone has their own opinion as to what to do and how to do it and their own experiences. The way I look at it is that Mother Nature does not care what RV you have or how complicated or uncomplicated you water system is. My coach is too expensive for me to attempt to play with Mother Nature. That said I will tell you what we have done. Our water bay is not heated so I put a 100 watt normal light bulb from an old style mechanics work light (yes I am that old) working to keep the water bay warm. Assuming you have enough volume in your fresh water, gray and black tanks they should not freeze. I disconnect and drain out my fresh water hose so that it will not freeze. Just the way I do it with minimum freezing temps and duration. Let us know how you make out. Stay safe, Stay well, Happy Holidays to All

I have a remote thermometer in my water bays and they are well above freezing even when it gets down in the teens. I would not gamble with them. A $20 sewer hose and water line is a different story. At my S&B I’ve left unhooked water hoses out all winter and never had any problems.

From what I’ve read is that my house furnace will warm the water bays and I can not turn off the heat at night. There is even a chart telling me how high I should keep the MH for specific low temps. This is all assuming I unhook all lines. What I’m really thinking is an empty hose still connected and hanging out the bottom will not allow enough cold to transfer into the bays. At some point that might not be true. Four degrees under freezing for two hours seems safe. Now I’m looking at 14 degrees below freezing for up to six hours.

[Glenn and Kathy]

National RV was very good at providing heat to the bays as long as you are heating the coach for habitation. My coach is my second National product, and both did very well, my previous post about winter in AZ was in a 98 Sea View by National and my 06 Sea Breeze has also been used in winter camping with no freeze problems.

Glenn

[HenryH001]

Originally Posted by Glenn and Kathy

National RV was very good at providing heat to the bays as long as you are heating the coach for habitation. My coach is my second National product, and both did very well, my previous post about winter in AZ was in a 98 Sea View by National and my 06 Sea Breeze has also been used in winter camping with no freeze problems.

Glenn

Thanks. I went back and reread your post.

[twogypsies]

I's simple to fill your fresh water tank and store the hose. Run off the fresh tank. When tanks need emptying pull out the sewer hose; empty them and store the hose. We could last 2 weeks without having to get out the hoses.

[HenryH001]

It is really warm and sunny right now however 45 mph winds are going to start in another hour. I pulled in my slides and am prepared for snow and wind

[HenryH001]

Originally Posted by twogypsies

I's simple to fill your fresh water tank and store the hose. Run off the fresh tank. When tanks need emptying pull out the sewer hose; empty them and store the hose. We could last 2 weeks without having to get out the hoses.

I left my hoses out but not hooked to the faucet. They should be okay only half full of water. The sewer hose I left out but made sure it was mostly empty. The MH should be okay. I’m doing this as a test. Worst case is I’ll have to replace a water hose and sewer line.

I’m leaving the heat on at 66. According to the manual that amount of heat should make the water bay safe down to zero. The furnace sits right beside the tanks.

[Bobby F]

Originally Posted by HenryH001

It is really warm and sunny right now however 45 mph winds are going to start in another hour. I pulled in my slides and am prepared for snow and wind

You stopped too far north (or 2800' too high.) 100 miles south of you, the low tonight is 45. 60 tomorrow. Then 2-3 days of showers (which is really surprising) in the high 50's. And I'm pretty sure Yuma is even warmer, 200 miles south of you.

[Iceclimber]

If I read you right, you might be leaving your fresh water pump on when hooked to city water, no need and you might mess up your pump.

The weak spot in everything are the gate valves. Frozen open, no problem. Frozen closed, well potential problem. Previous poster nailed it the weak spot is the fresh water line. Sewer if left open, not really a problem because they are so big.

[HenryH001]

Originally Posted by Iceclimber

If I read you right, you might be leaving your fresh water pump on when hooked to city water, no need and you might mess up your pump.

The weak spot in everything are the gate valves. Frozen open, no problem. Frozen closed, well potential problem. Previous poster nailed it the weak spot is the fresh water line. Sewer if left open, not really a problem because they are so big.

No I turn it off when hooked to city. The temperature at the coldest spot is far above freezing and because of the 2003 NT 7395 water connection I should be safe. I’ve seen others in my very short experience where I wouldn’t keep it connected.

The coldest I’ve tried this was 25. Later this week it will hit 18 and I will review my plans. I have arthritis and Dupuytren’s Contracture and my hands do not function when it’s cold.

So far at 25 degrees I’m no where near it freezing. The temp at the very coldest place was 44 degrees.

[ArtJoyce]

I would not be concern with leaving the sewer hose connected. But I don't leave the dump valve open.

Water, I have a heated hose. But before that I just filled the tank every x number of days. Rolled up the hose and put it away.