|
12-28-2009, 08:01 PM
|
#1
|
3 Rivet Member
2008 25' Safari SS SE
Colleyville
, Texas
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 233
|
Freezing temp ext. Water line
Hello Forum,
Need your expert advice on my exterior water line. I am on a trip and the temp tonight will drop to 17 degrees. This is all new to me and I am asking if I should be taking any precautions. My furnace is on. Should I let the faucets drip or disconnect the ext. water line completely? Thank you in advance for your help!
|
|
|
12-28-2009, 08:14 PM
|
#2
|
Rivet Master
2019 30' Classic
Byhalia
, Mississippi
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 821
|
Disconnect and drain the outside hose. At least you can hook it up in the morning and have running water. Leave any interior doors (closet, cabinet, drawers, etc) open where interior water lines are located so that some heat will get to them. And build a big campfire.
__________________
Greg
|
|
|
12-28-2009, 08:17 PM
|
#3
|
Moderator
Vintage Kin Owner
...
, ...
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 11,696
|
We've camped in the mid teens with no problems. I just drop the water supply line and run the heat.
Good Luck,
Kevin
__________________
"One of the best lessons I've learned is that you don't worry about criticism from people you wouldn't seek advice from."
William C. Swinney
|
|
|
12-28-2009, 09:18 PM
|
#4
|
Rivet Master
1963 16' Bambi
1962 22' Safari
Yreka
, California
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,937
|
If we are traveling in the really cold.... we drain our whole water system and pretend we are tent camping and use bottles of water. It is a bit inconvenient, but not nearly so as the pipe or drain that will crack or break that is always at the most difficult place to get to!
Keeping the heat on inside and opening the cupboard doors as well as draining the outside pipe will go a long way to keep things "running" I am sure.
|
|
|
12-28-2009, 09:38 PM
|
#5
|
Rivet Master
2005 25' Safari
Salem
, Oregon
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 8,367
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by LisaP
Hello Forum,
Need your expert advice on my exterior water line. I am on a trip and the temp tonight will drop to 17 degrees. This is all new to me and I am asking if I should be taking any precautions. My furnace is on. Should I let the faucets drip or disconnect the ext. water line completely? Thank you in advance for your help!
|
Hi, there are several choices or ways of handleing this situation. From my experiences:
(1.) Open the gray tank valve and let the faucet drip all night.
(2.) Leave everything connected and when your fresh water hose freezes, turn on your water pump and use water from your tank. Note: my hose has been frozen several times and I have not had any damage.
(3.) Remove your fresh water hose and reconnect it when things get warmer.
(4.) Buy or make a heated water hose and plug it in when temps start to get too low.
(5.) In all cases of freezing temperatures, run your furnace and make sure you start with full propane tanks.
__________________
Bob 2005 Safari 25-B
"Le Petit Chateau Argent" Small Silver Castle
2000 Navigator / 2014 F-150 Eco-Boost / Equal-i-zer / P-3
YAMAHA 2400 / AIR #12144
|
|
|
12-29-2009, 07:36 AM
|
#6
|
3 Rivet Member
2007 28' International CCD
West Hollywood
, California
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 141
|
NoFreezeWaterHose ( No Freeze Water Hose - Eliminate Water Line Freeze)
I've used this in New England over the last winter, and it worked great. A bit pricey, though.
It weaved with self-regulating heating material (designed to only conducts electricity in colder temp, thus the hose becomes heated as the temperature plunges).
I believe this to be more reliable than typical 'EasyHeat' heat tape (sold at HomeDepot), which is On-or-Off by a temperature sensor.
|
|
|
12-30-2009, 06:38 AM
|
#7
|
3 Rivet Member
2008 25' Safari SS SE
Colleyville
, Texas
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 233
|
Thanks everyone! We have managed the cold. We filled our fresh water tank and disconnected the hose. Everything has worked out great. I do love the idea of the heated hose . I think I will invest in one when we get home. This Airstreamining is fun stuff. Once you think you have it all figured out you learn something new! What would we do without this handy forum! Our trail on this trip ...Dallas, Santa Fe, Gallup, Sedona,Phoenix, Big Bend and home. Happy trails!
|
|
|
01-13-2010, 09:27 AM
|
#8
|
Mudmuffin
1991 29' Excella
1993 30' Excella
Crossett
, Arkansas
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 17
|
Aother suggestion which has worked down to -3. Take the water hose and cover with pipe insulation (black foam stuff that comes in 6 ft lengths, split along one edge, available at Home Depot, Lowes ect), tape securely with good old duck tape. Buy enough sewer hose with connectors for the hose length. On really cold nights, put the insulated water hose in the sewer hose, sealing the ends around the park connections and at the Airstream. I have placed a pipe heater in the sewer hose if I was really worried (18 ft length about $25). Unless it is going to be real cold (below 20, that is cold where I live) the insulated water hose works just fine without the sewer hose. During the warm season I store this water/sewer hose and use a regular water hose. Never use the sewer hose for it's intended purpose!
|
|
|
01-09-2011, 02:02 AM
|
#9
|
tarheelbornbred
2010 28' International
1972 29' Ambassador
Hot Springs
, North Carolina
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 61
|
Any ideas on how to get electricity outside the trailer without leaving a hatch open? This in order to supply a heater hose with electrons.
In my '72 Ambassador, to only outside 120 supply is inside a curbside hatch. In order to run the electron hose from there means I have to leave the hatch open. This would expose supply lines and drain lines, not to mention the bunk right above. Plus snow and sleet can get in.
I thought about installing an exterior 120 outlet to that hatch door, but do not like the idea of cutting a hole and altering the Airstream that way.
I also though about punching a hole from the rear compartment into the bumper compartment and running the line out the bumper hatch the same way the electric supply comes in. I have electricity in my rear compartment through a line run from the bathroom outlet.
Any big ideas?
|
|
|
01-09-2011, 02:06 AM
|
#10
|
tarheelbornbred
2010 28' International
1972 29' Ambassador
Hot Springs
, North Carolina
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 61
|
Or should I be looking at coupling/adapting and drawing electrons from the electric supply box on the pole outside?
|
|
|
01-09-2011, 07:21 AM
|
#11
|
Rivet Master
1958 26' Overlander
Mesa
, Arizona
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,742
|
Tarheel,
I installed a 110v exterior outlet on my '72 Sovereign. It was extremely simple to do. I used the wiring for the old 110v outlet mounted on the inside of that hatch. You can find the exterior aluminum 110v kit at either Home Depot or Lowes.
__________________
1958 Overlander
2011 Wolf Creek 850N TC
2011 Ford F-250 Crewcab (6.2L), 3.73RE
WBCCI #5661/AIR #5661/TAC # AZ-6
4CU 1st VP
My '58 Overlander Restoration and Travel Blog:
https://mellomikesairstreams.blogspot.com/
|
|
|
01-10-2011, 02:45 AM
|
#12
|
tarheelbornbred
2010 28' International
1972 29' Ambassador
Hot Springs
, North Carolina
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 61
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by mello mike
Tarheel,
I installed a 110v exterior outlet on my '72 Sovereign. It was extremely simple to do. I used the wiring for the old 110v outlet mounted on the inside of that hatch. You can find the exterior aluminum 110v kit at either Home Depot or Lowes.
|
Looks good, Mello. That's what I'm gonna do. After the snow melts . . .
__________________
John K.
2010 International 28'
1972 Ambassador-retired
2013 Ford F-150 Eco-Boost
|
|
|
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
|
|
Thread Tools |
Search this Thread |
|
|
Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
Recent Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|