Help! Wintering in RV, Black Hose Problem

[Ori]

Thank you for being brave to even click on my post.
We have a frozen black hose that is partially full.
We bought a new one last night, but hubby says it will pour out 2 gallons of
black tank stuff when we undo it.

THANKS for the help!

Ori

[Xmcdog]

Welcome aboard.
Glad to have you with us.

Sorry your first post is about a problem.

May I ask where you are and the current temperature and forecasted temps over the next 48 hours. If the temp will rise above freezing then I wouldn't worry about it. Wait, see if it drains and pour hot water over the slinky or wherever you think it is frozen. Hot water down the toilet may also help. Ditto salt.

If you have to disconnect the hose, keep a five gallon bucket handy to catch the overflow.

Wear rubber gloves and a mask in case of splashes.

Hope this helps.

[Mark_K5LXP]

I wouldn't think there's 2 gallons between the black tank valve and the hose coupling, though I guess on some rigs there might be. There's more than one way to thaw the hose, from warm water to warm air. Another option is to pour warm water into the open end when held up so gravity carries it to the frozen section. Repeatedly allowing that to drain and adding more warm water will surely get you there from here eventually. I would work on thawing it with any means available before accepting I had to unhook and deal with an effluent bath.

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM

[travelorer99]

Closing the black, and opening the gray, and nothing but hot water going into grey, will slow but surely thaw it out. Best to do it at the highest temp in the day. The thin white plastic pipe is your best friend for below freezing. Cut the ends off a slinky, get the best 1.5 inch electric tape and add ends, and tape. I have a new slinky, but just use the plastic pipes, of different sizes and have rubber cupplers to secure together.

[Trapper2022]

When we were forced to winter in freezing temps we only pulled out the dump hose hen needed and stored it in between dumps. Saw others that left on ground and hose became completely frozen to ground and covered in ice. Hope yours is not this bad. Run or pour lots of hot water on pipe if frozen to ground or down pipe until it thaws. Not fun. Store when not in use. All pipes left out will slowly freeze completely closed from residual water left after each dump. Good luck

Enjoy the journey

[alank]

If it's only partially full like you say, why would it spill anything when you disconnect it? Just have the black tank valve closed, disconnect the frozen one, connect the new one and dump. Cap the frozen one and bring inside to thaw, of course, if it leaks, you might want to reconsider.

You're gaining valuable experience

[ROUGHRIDER3]

Etherbond tape will work much better than electrical tape if you make up a thin plastic dump pipe. Available at most any RV store.

[NevadaNick]

Put a blanket or something over it and a heater directed under the blanket until it thaws. After you get it thawed do not leave any valves open, dump, then close the valves.

[FusionKing]

I say go buy heat tape and wrap it around it. Then plug it in and wait.
From now on don't leave the black valve open until ready to dump.

[homerbw]

I bury mine in leaves which stay put when it rains ice or snow. Hasn't frozen yet.

[LETMGROW]

Originally Posted by FusionKing

I say go buy heat tape and wrap it around it. Then plug it in and wait.
From now on don't leave the black valve open until ready to dump.

Good advice but I would add when the tank is empty rinse the tank and hose, close the valve then "walk" the hose out to empty it completely.
Leave both the black and gray valves closed until the tanks need emptying again.
Lynn

[Mile Marker 42]

Originally Posted by FusionKing

From now on don't leave the black valve open until ready to dump.

My thought exactly.

[Busskipper]

Originally Posted by Ori

Thank you for being brave to even click on my post.
We have a frozen black hose that is partially full.
We bought a new one last night, but hubby says it will pour out 2 gallons of
black tank stuff when we undo it.

THANKS for the help!

Ori

Couple of quick notes - Just connect the filled hose to make a loop and wait till it thaws - the loop - connecting both ends together saves the thawed portion till all is thawed.

Do not apply heat just wait till it warms. Weather will change.

Close the black tank Valve - most tanks will take more than a week or two to fill (Black Tanks)

Give the readers here a little more info on your RV so as to be able to give info that may help.

Do not let the Poop sit in the line when you dump it will be warm/thawed - followed by the grew Water after a shower helps.

Spent two Winters in Colorado - 17 for 10 nights straight and we never had an issue.



Best of Luck,

[Busskipper]

Originally Posted by FusionKing

I say go buy heat tape and wrap it around it. Then plug it in and wait.
From now on don't leave the black valve open until ready to dump.

- -

It will melt the Hose.

JMHO,