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gquake · 12-05-2013, 06:05 AM

Hooked back up to city water this morning but no water is coming out open taps.

Any ideas?

I'm not sure where the problem is. City water is OK--full pressure when I unhook it and test it.

After I hook up to our inlet, nothing...

Thank you.

xrvr · 12-05-2013, 06:09 AM

I hope you had the furnace on to keep internal pipes from freezing. Be careful if it gets above freezing to look for leaks.

Protagonist · 12-05-2013, 06:19 AM

Most likely thing to freeze is actually the pressure regulator just behind the municipal water hookup. It's inside the wall where it doesn't get much heat, and has a small opening size that's easily clogged.

Ditto for a backflow preventer, if your Airstream has one.

I live in an area where it seldom light-freezes, and almost never hard-freezes, but I have been camping in areas subject to hard freezes. I've found that putting one of these over the municipal water inlet can help (after disconnecting the hose, of course): Duck Brand 1285247 Slide Tight Large Faucet Cover for Outdoor Faucet Insulation - Amazon.com
It won't stay on while you're moving your Airstream (it won't stand up to the slipstream), but for winter camping or storage…

To help the cover stay on better, I screw in a brass elbow into the municipal water inlet, with the open end facing down to keep it from trapping water: http://www.amazon.com/Camco-22505-De...ass+hose+elbow
With the elbow in place, there's something for the cover to cling to.

SteveH · 12-05-2013, 06:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gquake

Hooked back up to city water this morning but no water is coming out open taps.

Any ideas?

I'm not sure where the problem is. City water is OK--full pressure when I unhook it and test it.

After I hook up to our inlet, nothing...

Thank you.

I'm North of San Antonio a ways and it didn't freeze here. As a matter of fact, it's 53 degrees as I write this.

Your pipes did not freeze. However, I have had trouble with "stuff" coming out of the water heater and clogging the small aireator type filters at the faucets to the point of actually stopping the water flow. This may be your problem.

Silver Goose · 12-05-2013, 07:02 AM

On my 27FB, the back of the compartment where the water connections are located is open to the area under the shower and closet. When the furnace runs, some air circulates under there but there is no protection between the water connections and the outside temps except a thin aluminum door which is the same as no insulation. I wouldn't be surprised if the water in the connections would freeze if the temps go into the 20’s for several hours. We were in the same boat 2 weeks ago when we were in Kansas and Canada came for a visit and we had several days where it didn't get above freezing and nights were getting into the teens. I had filled the FW tank and removed and drained the hose before the freeze hit. I put a 60W lamp mechanics frequently call a drop cord in the compartment running the cord through the door to the electric post and since my remote outdoor thermometer is mounted on the floor of the compartment behind the connections I was able to monitor that area and it never got below 38° while the outside temp got down to 12°. If yours froze, I doesn't mean there will be a leak, but definitely keep an eye on it when things warm up. The good news is that a leak there is below the floor and the parts are accessible with a minimal amount of swearing.

SteveH · 12-05-2013, 07:14 AM

Everyone's recommendations above are good ones, but again, it did not freeze in San Antonio, TX last night.

Protagonist · 12-05-2013, 07:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveH

Everyone's recommendations above are good ones, but again, it did not freeze in San Antonio, TX last night.

Well, his profile says "San Antonio" but his post didn't say that's where he was. Airstreamers travel, after all. Perhaps it froze hard where he was camping?

SteveH · 12-05-2013, 07:27 AM

You're right, of course. Guess I just couldn't conceive of anyone traveling North of here this time of year, especially given the forecasts.

Skater · 12-05-2013, 07:40 AM

It's also possible the issue is in the spigot for the campground - some campgrounds will turn them off if it's supposed to freeze, for example.

polarlyse · 12-05-2013, 07:43 AM

We stayed overnight a few years ago in Roanoak, Va. It got down into the mid 20's during the night. I didn't run the furnace because my batteries were questionable and we were at a Walmart. I did run the heat for an hour or so in the evening so it was comfortable at bedtime but in the AM it was COLD. I was sure it wasn't cold enough to freeze the plumbing but the faucets had frozen and I was afraid to work them too much and tear any seals and / or O-rings. So I just left it until later in the day when things warmed up. All was OK. No problems beyond a little inconvenience of no water in the AM. It needs to get pretty cold for an extended time to do the real damage but tight places ( faucets) with a small film of water are more likely to seize temporarily.

mojo · 12-05-2013, 09:22 AM

Try using your fresh water tank and pump to see if problem is in the pipes.

John&Vicki · 12-05-2013, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Protagonist

Well, his profile says "San Antonio" but his post didn't say that's where he was. Airstreamers travel, after all. Perhaps it froze hard where he was camping?

Hopefully he's not in Central Oregon - 4 degrees here at the moment. My trailer is sitting in my driveway with a space heater on. Warms it up to a balmy 32 degrees.

Poppy

xrvr · 12-05-2013, 11:18 AM

Hopefully you also ran the furnace to keep the pipes from freezing. Unless you winterized. Jim

gquake · 12-05-2013, 11:23 AM

Thanks for all the follow up, folks. Good action items there...

I need to update my profile--I'm just outside of Portland, OR, actually. So yes--it froze fairly hard!

I'm in the process of skirting the trailer today and tomorrow--I'll put a heat lamp under the trailer to keep things warmer. I'll also follow some of your other suggestions. As you say, I hope it is below so leaks aren't so bad and I can access it easily.

Will update once I know more. Thanks again!

rogerdodger · 12-05-2013, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Birdmaestro

Hopefully he's not in Central Oregon - 4 degrees here at the moment. My trailer is sitting in my driveway with a space heater on. Warms it up to a balmy 32 degrees.

Poppy

WOW. 40 degrees here right now. And I'm complaining? LOL

xrvr · 12-05-2013, 12:24 PM

I think a hard freeze here in Fl is 28 degrees or less for over 6 hours? Am I correct? Jim

Protagonist · 12-05-2013, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zigzagguzzi

I think a hard freeze here in Fl is 28 degrees or less for over 6 hours? Am I correct? Jim

Hard freeze is the same everywhere. Cold enough, long enough, for standing water to form a layer of ice on top. In New Orleans, hard freeze happens so seldom as to be statistically non-existent; the chance is above zero, but still low enough to round down to 0 nights per year. Light freeze statistically happens about 11 nights per year (temps below freezing, but not long enough to make ice).

That said, having overnight lows around the freezing point before Thanksgiving had me concerned enough to winterize anyway at the end of my Thanksgiving weekend trip. Having done that, we may not get temperatures that cold again this winter…

xrvr · 12-06-2013, 05:44 AM

I was using the def from the local weather service. Jim

jennthevexer · 12-07-2013, 09:46 AM

My pipes are certainly frozen. FML. I'm in Austin and it hit 27 degrees last night after two days of low 30s. No water. Going out with a heat gun now to try and thaw. 1971 Airstream Sovereign. Original copper pipes. Any advice?

h8rain · 12-10-2013, 11:02 AM

Quick follow up freeze question. What are the two brass relief valves underneath the 2012 A/S Int. next to the plastic drain valve for the fresh water tank?

Tom