Winter RV Usage

[csondt]

When using your RV in the wintertime periodically, if you keep the internal temperature at around 45°F would that be warm enough inside to protect your lines and water tank from freezing? Thanks.

[rmkrum]

The real answer is "it depends". IF all your tanks and water lines are at that temperature it should be fine. Some AS have tank heaters plus furnace air feeding into cold areas to warm them. Our AS seems to perform ok in cold weather down to the 20's when hooked up to 120 volt power and running the tank heaters plus burning a lot of propane with the under-sink door open to get heat on the pipes. I disconnect city water connection and run on internal fresh water tank in this conditions.

Different setups will behave differently. I wouldn't try it without shore power to keep batteries charged...

[uncle_bob]

Hi

If it's 40 today, it may be 30 tonight or it may be 10. The weather man doesn't always get it right. 20 with no wind may be fine. 20 with a stiff wind blowing right on *that* tank or line may be disaster. A "skirt" on the trailer is one way to address this.

One practical point some miss: It's not just the water in the tanks. Water in your *fill* lines matters as well. Water in the pressure regulator is "right there" in the cold. Water *might* be hanging around in the fresh water fill or black water flush lines. The next door neighbors learned about this one on their AS ...

If you are camping out and it really *is* in the 20's all the time ... off to dump your tanks. Hmmm.... that tank fitting and dump hose is sticking out in the air. Gunk water flows past cold pipe. Now we have gunk ice built up in the flush line. A normally yucky situation just got even worse.

The same problem you have with your dump lines, the campground has with their plumbing. They shut down water and dump before the first freeze and don't open them up until after the last freeze is expected. Running water in your TT may work for you. You may not find anyplace to dump it after you have been out doing things.

Lots of issues ....

The simple answer is that most RV's are "three season" capable. They will tolerate a quick dip below freezing in the spring or fall and be none the worse for it. The heat and other systems will keep you warm and happy. Running in real winter, where the temperature stays below freezing for weeks is not what they are set up for. Water is only one of the issues. If you need a four season RV, they do make them. You will have to do a bit of shopping to find one. When you do, there are some compromises inherent in a 4 season design (... errr .. windows .... )

Bob

[Hans627]

I agree with Uncle Bob's comment about wind. That cold air can get into almost any place when it's blowing hard. I've had personal experience with pipes freezing when it is windy as opposed to the same temperature being ok when it is calm.

[uncle_bob]

Originally Posted by Hans627

I agree with Uncle Bob's comment about wind. That cold air can get into almost any place when it's blowing hard. I've had personal experience with pipes freezing when it is windy as opposed to the same temperature being ok when it is calm.

Hi

I actually learned that one on a home we owned in Kansas rather than on an RV. It took us three years to finally figure out where / what the issue was .....

Bob

[KJRitchie]

A warm RV in the middle of winter might be a magnet for critters if its stored for several months.

[twbucksr]

We left our 22 FB connected to shore power while we were away during the week in the winter (max 20 degree F lows). Before we left we would disconnect and store the water hose, set the furnace thermostat as low as it would go, drain the HW heater and used the pancake air compressor to blow out the water lines, dump the black and gray tanks, open all the cabinet doors and put the food in a tote with a tightly sealed locking lid.

When extreme cold (below freezing) was expected, we poured a little RV antifreeze down the drains to fill the p traps.