Going below freezing?

[brad10281]

Any precautions I need to take for a couple nights that it's supposed to go below freezing? I've already dewinterized the trailer and now we're supposed to get a couple nights down in the 20's. I've emptied the fresh water tank and opened the low point drains. The under belly is not covered so the tanks have no protection. They're drained except for the black tank which has a couple gallons in it. I've turned the heater on at its lowest setting (55°). Should I dump some antifreeze in the black tank? What are your thoughts?

[5picker]

A few hours (overnight) of temperatures in the upper 20's will not hurt anything. Things don't freeze solid the moment the temperatures hit 32°. Especially inside the R/V or the insulated water heater where it will take even longer for the cold to permeate.

If you are to have 24 consecutive hours or more of freezing temperatures, you better re-winterize or run some heat in your R/V.

Adding a bit of antifreeze to your black tank AND the sink/shower traps will keep things safe but most likely not necessary.

[Reverse_snowbird]

Originally Posted by brad10281

Any precautions I need to take for a couple nights that it's supposed to go below freezing?

You've already opened the low point drains and opened the faucets to drain any leftover water in the lines. I'd leave the faucets open to let warm water in there.
It wouldn't hurt to dump a bit of rv antifreeze in the tanks, but it's probably not necessary if the temp is going above freezing during the day.

[brad10281]

Thanks for the input guys. Should only be for a few hours at night so sounds like I should be ok. I'm still going to leave the heat on. Hopefully all will be ok.

[NJKris]

Are you camping, or is it just sitting there? First thing to freeze will be the city water hose, if connected. Next will be hose from fresh water tank to pump. I installed a heat line on my fresh water tank hose to the pump, been good camping down to low 20's at night.

[brad10281]

Just sitting in the driveway. We're headed camping on Thursday but it's supposed to warm up by then.

[updhaul]

It is 25 and trying to cover the lawn with snow tonight. It is white now. We are north of you. If Wildcat was home I would turn furnace on low, turn on the hot water heater if the system had water in it and open doors below sink. Must be time to bring it home and put snow blower away.. You should have been good . Couple more cold nights.

[brad10281]

Originally Posted by updhaul

It is 25 and trying to cover the lawn with snow tonight. It is white now. We are north of you. If Wildcat was home I would turn furnace on low, turn on the hot water heater if the system had water in it and open doors below sink. Must be time to bring it home and put snow blower away.. You should have been good . Couple more cold nights.

Not supposed to get below freezing until later today/tonight. Heats on 55. I'm mostly concerned about the black water sitting in the pipes at the dump valve.

[Semperfi24]

While camping with temps in the low 20s at night, and mid 40s during the day, one thing I did with regard to the black tank (and our gray tank, located in the same place), was used cardboard to build a "room" around the tank valve/pipe and a halogen work light. The light created enough heat, and the cardboard kept the heat in there nicely. It was actually warm enough that I got concerned about it being too warm. So plugged the light into a timer and had it come on for 20 minutes, then off for an hour. Then on for 20 minutes, then off for an hour. Kept it from freezing. My concern was that it would be frozen, and we wouldnt be able to dump the day we were leaving. The light and cardboard boxes did the trick.