How cold Is Too Cold?

[greg&bev]

We are going away for Christmas and lows on Friday night and sat are going to be around 28 with highs in the 40 range,do I need to worry about my pipes or tanks.
2022 hurricane 35 m,

[16ACE27]

In NSB? No. Our MH is parked at the MIL's house over in Deleon Springs; not an issue. Even if we had it at home in Lake City I would not be concerned with the predicted 24 degree low next week.

[greg&bev]

Thanks

[dkoldman]

Originally Posted by 16ACE27

In NSB? No. Our MH is parked at the MIL's house over in Deleon Springs; not an issue. Even if we had it at home in Lake City I would not be concerned with the predicted 24 degree low next week.

What about this?


This is the latest into a Winter season I have gone without my 1st Winterization of the RV. If I winterize, I will do it this weekend. Of course when the cold front passes by, I will add fresh water again until the next freeze threat

The RV is at home, and I have shorepower and plenty of propane.

[16ACE27]

Originally Posted by dkoldman

What about this?
Attachment 40386

This is the latest into a Winter season I have gone without my 1st Winterization of the RV. If I winterize, I will do it this weekend. Of course when the cold front passes by, I will add fresh water again until the next freeze threat

The RV is at home, and I have shorepower and plenty of propane.

That's put an electric heater inside on low at the lowest thermostat setting weather. Thursday night put an incandescent bulb in the wet bay.

[txc2936@yahoo.com]

Interesting we are all looking at this. Sav might get to 24 Deg. I might just go and drain tanks, water heater and purge system. Turn my heaters on Thur night. I will pass on the anti-freeze fluid. BTW why all the womens swim suit pop up adds on my side panel on this posting site? ha

[dkoldman]

Originally Posted by 16ACE27

That's put an electric heater inside on low at the lowest thermostat setting weather. Thursday night put an incandescent bulb in the wet bay.

Let me get this clear, because I am prone to screw things up when I assume.

My 1500 watt heater is digital and has option for Lo/Hi setting. I can set it as low as 39 degrees or use Lo/Hi button. Not sure what the Lo temp actually is?

So as of right now, my plan is to turn it on in side RV, I will place near center of RV close to the water heater and open a cabinet door beneath sink where water heater is located. It will be set at 39 degrees,

Then on Thursday, I will take my incandescent light and place in wet bay for that night as it is to hit 15 degrees

We are suppose to have 25 mph winds the same night it hits 15. But my RV is parked where a fence, house and boat effectively blocks real concern with wind, except maybe the roof.

[dkoldman]

Originally Posted by txc2936@yahoo.com

Interesting we are all looking at this. Sav might get to 24 Deg. I might just go and drain tanks, water heater and purge system. Turn my heaters on Thur night. I will pass on the anti-freeze fluid. BTW why all the womens swim suit pop up adds on my side panel on this posting site? ha

shhhhhh!!!! The RV talk is just a cover for women's services. As site is free, we have fiduciary responsibility to support our sponsors. It is a tough job, but some of us have to be willing to make the sacrifices to keep the lights on

I am gonna try to make it through this freeze hopefully to get a new benchmark as to how far to push? Thus far I have been winterizing on average 3 times a year. Maybe I can get that down to one time or not required at all? i.e. I may actually drive my RV next weekend on tail of this front.

[DavidEM]

Here i some guidance from my boondocking experience as well as my engineering mind:

Down to 25 at night and rising to the 40s during the day- You don’t need to do anything special but don’t plan to leave early the next morning. Wind chill driving at 65 can make things freeze much faster.

Down to the upper teens and staying below freezing the next day- Keep a bit of heat on inside, either electric or propane furnace and a light bulb in the wet bay.

Below 15 at night- As above but you may need tank heaters to keep the grey/black water tank and lines from freezing. Otherwise dump the tanks and put in a half gallon of antifreeze in the tanks. Your fresh water plumbing may start to freeze as well. If you are on board, run some water 2-3 times at night to bring in warmer water and put a light in the fresh water bay.

David

[dkoldman]

Originally Posted by DavidEM

Here i some guidance from my boondocking experience as well as my engineering mind:

Down to 25 at night and rising to the 40s during the day- You don’t need to do anything special but don’t plan to leave early the next morning. Wind chill driving at 65 can make things freeze much faster.

Down to the upper teens and staying below freezing the next day- Keep a bit of heat on inside, either electric or propane furnace and a light bulb in the wet bay.

Below 15 at night- As above but you may need tank heaters to keep the grey/black water tank and lines from freezing. Otherwise dump the tanks and put in a half gallon of antifreeze in the tanks. Your fresh water plumbing may start to freeze as well. If you are on board, run some water 2-3 times at night to bring in warmer water and put a light in the fresh water bay.

David

I added those 3 paragraphs to new section called Freeze Protection in my personal Best Practices & SOP Guide.

Questions:
How low setpoint temperature for portable heater when expected below 15 degrees?

My coach has ducting to heat the holding tanks, so I can turn on furnace in extreme as backup plan, but assuming we will not be in the RV, what is the lowest suggested Set point for the thermostat?

Furnace lowest setpoint = 33 degrees
Portable heater lowest setpoint = 39 degrees

[Chateau_Nomad]

Originally Posted by dkoldman

shhhhhh!!!! The RV talk is just a cover for women's services. As site is free, we have fiduciary responsibility to support our sponsors. It is a tough job, but some of us have to be willing to make the sacrifices to keep the lights on

I am gonna try to make it through this freeze hopefully to get a new benchmark as to how far to push? Thus far I have been winterizing on average 3 times a year. Maybe I can get that down to one time or not required at all? i.e. I may actually drive my RV next weekend on tail of this front.

Winterize 3X ??? I have ours down to a science... From November to at least March there isn't much outdoor camping in Ohio. The only ones out and about are Nanuck the Eskimo looking for Bigfoot. So I winterize once... then forget it until spring! (Pretty obvious... I HATE winter and cold weather).

[Pete'sMH]

Originally Posted by Chateau_Nomad

Winterize 3X ??? I have ours down to a science... From November to at least March there isn't much outdoor camping in Ohio. The only ones out and about are Nanuck the Eskimo looking for Bigfoot. So I winterize once... then forget it until spring! (Pretty obvious... I HATE winter and cold weather).

We do it 3 or 4 times most winters so we can travel. Last year I did it in under 15 minutes at an interstate rest stop on our way back to Indiana from Florida. Started the day in the mid 50’s and ended it in the mid teens when we got home. With practice it’s no more burdensome than dumping the tanks.

[dkoldman]

Originally Posted by Chateau_Nomad

Winterize 3X ??? I have ours down to a science... From November to at least March there isn't much outdoor camping in Ohio. The only ones out and about are Nanuck the Eskimo looking for Bigfoot. So I winterize once... then forget it until spring! (Pretty obvious... I HATE winter and cold weather).

I don't use the pink stuff; so it is the only way to be sure all of the water is gone.

No seriously that 3 times is on average after 3 years. Basically I winterize on demand. Demand previously had been defined as temps below freezing. I leave winterize until next trip add water and repeat if weather dips below freezing again.

I was afraid having a brand new RV and subjecting it to freeze damage. I have more knowledge now and believe some of those winterizations were unnecessary. My RV is never considered in storage mode. The day may come where I remove my Use / Store switch. I really don't need it.

[dkoldman]

Originally Posted by Pete'sMH

We do it 3 or 4 times most winters so we can travel. Last year I did it in under 15 minutes at an interstate rest stop on our way back to Indiana from Florida. Started the day in the mid 50’s and ended it in the mid teens when we got home. With practice it’s no more burdensome than dumping the tanks.

While I never winterized mid trip, I do have my Makita Air compressor and blow device to blow out the water lines in an emergency. My new Garmin RV890 makes it easier find a dump station if I had an emergency. But generally speaking, as long as I am in RV; there is no danger of freezing especially; if I turn on furnace which heats the holding tanks.

I can't afford to let my RV sit 4 months out of the year unless I can buy it at 2/3rds of the costs.

[saddlesore]

My "Winterization" Consists of remaining well south of I-8/I-10

[dkoldman]

Originally Posted by saddlesore

My "Winterization" Consists of remaining well south of I-8/I-10

I am about 7,700 miles well South of I-8 /I -10; but that apparently is not far South enough for my winterizations

[16ACE27]

Originally Posted by dkoldman

I am about 7,700 miles well South of I-8 /I -10; but that apparently is not far South enough for my winterizations

You're in Antartica?

[dkoldman]

Originally Posted by 16ACE27

You're in Antarctica?

Damn Ace, I am not sure where I am; but my wife is pissed



I forgot the Pi (3.14159) in my equation.

So I meant to say 24,190 miles well south of I-8/I-10. Looks like that portable heater didn't work

[24.4 Vegas 2022]

We’re going to Indiana where freezing temps in the teens for 5 days and night temps in the single digits. Will have the RV at a campground for 2weeks.
With holidays won’t be in it much.
Plan is foam board around the bottom and ceramic heater underneath.
Tank heaters will be on with heater on.
Question
Would you use another ceramic inside and what temp would you set your furnace.

John

[Chateau_Nomad]

Originally Posted by Pete'sMH

We do it 3 or 4 times most winters so we can travel. Last year I did it in under 15 minutes at an interstate rest stop on our way back to Indiana from Florida. Started the day in the mid 50’s and ended it in the mid teens when we got home. With practice it’s no more burdensome than dumping the tanks.

I didn't put pink in the supply lines this winter - just blew everything out following a process I found online... careful to get the suction side of the pump really well. Only pink I used was in the traps and toilet.

So next spring should just involve a simple bleach sanitation process (as usual)... flush it out, and we're off and running... fingers crossed.