Forum Discussion

luggage's avatar
luggage
Explorer
Jan 07, 2014

Heating concern below freezing

I have done my due diligence and prepped the 5th wheel for winter. Hopefully I did a good job but have heard of folks that prepped and still experienced bursting/cracked pipes. I have put a 1500 watt electric in the lower inside part of the camper to keep the temp at or above freezing. The only problem is an electric heater run for 24/7 runs the risk of overheating the cord. Does anyone know of any supplemental heat source to help keep the fiver protected? I just got the camper and do not yet have a metal cover/shed for the unit. I live in Alabama and am not used to the norm that my fellow campers up north are used to. We are experiencing 12 -16 degrees cold spell. I know this is nothing to folks up north. I lived in Michigan for 3-4 years and have experienced the "frozen chosen" temp. Any advice will be appreciated. My fiver is a 2002 Mountaineer by Montana (Keystone) 289RLS. Old in years but new to me and in great shape.
  • golf_bears's avatar
    golf_bears
    Explorer
    Jan 07, 2014
    A 1500 watt heater will only draw about 12.5 amps plus the draw for the long cord. If it's that cold outside the cord should not overheat. Not to worry, your good to go.

    Enjoy the temps, you'll be able to share this experience with your grandkids!!!!
  • JKrussow's avatar
    JKrussow
    Explorer
    Jan 07, 2014
    Luggage, are you full-timing in it or prepping it for storage?

    Just went through night #1 in Alabama with temps in low teens and tonight will be even lower. Being that I full-time I made a heated water hose and have extra propane on hand. At 13 above I had a moment this morning of no water but that only lasted about 15 minutes. Tonight I think I'll let the water trickle when I go to bed (gray tank open of coarse) and see if that helps.

    In colder weather than this (Minnesota) I would just pull all water connections inside (the basement) and run off of the water tank. I would also keep my thermostat turned up to 72-74 to make sure the furnace pumped warm air into the underside of our coach.
  • HappyKayakers's avatar
    HappyKayakers
    Explorer
    Jan 07, 2014
    Most of the electric heaters I've seen have 2 settings. Running mine on high (1500 watts) did result in overheating plugs/cords after running a long time. Running it on the lower setting (900-1100 watts) kept temps OK and cords/plugs cool to the touch.
  • jesse_m_jm's avatar
    jesse_m_jm
    Explorer
    Jan 07, 2014
    JKrussow wrote:

    Just went through night #1 in Alabama with temps in low teens and tonight will be even lower. Being that I full-time I made a heated water hose and have extra propane on hand. At 13 above I had a moment this morning of no water but that only lasted about 15 minutes. Tonight I think I'll let the water trickle when I go to bed (gray tank open of coarse) and see if that helps.


    That may not be the best idea, as leaving a trickle of water with your grey valve open could lead to the trickle of water freezing in your dump line, and could cause a blockage there...
  • HappyKayakers's avatar
    HappyKayakers
    Explorer
    Jan 07, 2014
    jesse.m.jm wrote:
    JKrussow wrote:

    Just went through night #1 in Alabama with temps in low teens and tonight will be even lower. Being that I full-time I made a heated water hose and have extra propane on hand. At 13 above I had a moment this morning of no water but that only lasted about 15 minutes. Tonight I think I'll let the water trickle when I go to bed (gray tank open of coarse) and see if that helps.


    That may not be the best idea, as leaving a trickle of water with your grey valve open could lead to the trickle of water freezing in your dump line, and could cause a blockage there...


    I did that one winter in Amarillo. Temps were in the teens for several days. When I finally checked the sewer hose, it was a 30 ft popsicle and several fittings were cracked. :(
  • JKrussow's avatar
    JKrussow
    Explorer
    Jan 07, 2014
    HappyKayakers wrote:
    jesse.m.jm wrote:
    JKrussow wrote:

    Just went through night #1 in Alabama with temps in low teens and tonight will be even lower. Being that I full-time I made a heated water hose and have extra propane on hand. At 13 above I had a moment this morning of no water but that only lasted about 15 minutes. Tonight I think I'll let the water trickle when I go to bed (gray tank open of coarse) and see if that helps.


    That may not be the best idea, as leaving a trickle of water with your grey valve open could lead to the trickle of water freezing in your dump line, and could cause a blockage there...


    I did that one winter in Amarillo. Temps were in the teens for several days. When I finally checked the sewer hose, it was a 30 ft popsicle and several fittings were cracked. :(


    That is one of my fears but that's what the park advised. I think I'm going back to removing the hose for the night and use tank water for my morning shower/coffee.
  • JIMNLIN's avatar
    JIMNLIN
    Explorer III
    Jan 07, 2014
    I'm in northern Oklahoma where temps yesterday morning was 7 below. We have had one night at 26 below a couple of years back. These are actual temps and not a wind chill.

    I run the blue stuff in all the water lines and traps. I also open the grey and black tanks however I do cover the dumps with wire mesh to keep the critters out.

    I also remove all products/foods that can freeze and burst. I also pull the batteries and place them on a charger in my heated garage for the winter. Never left any kind of heater going in any of the campers we've had. There simply was no reason for heat.
  • jesse_m_jm's avatar
    jesse_m_jm
    Explorer
    Jan 07, 2014
    JKrussow wrote:
    HappyKayakers wrote:
    jesse.m.jm wrote:
    JKrussow wrote:

    Just went through night #1 in Alabama with temps in low teens and tonight will be even lower. Being that I full-time I made a heated water hose and have extra propane on hand. At 13 above I had a moment this morning of no water but that only lasted about 15 minutes. Tonight I think I'll let the water trickle when I go to bed (gray tank open of coarse) and see if that helps.


    That may not be the best idea, as leaving a trickle of water with your grey valve open could lead to the trickle of water freezing in your dump line, and could cause a blockage there...


    I did that one winter in Amarillo. Temps were in the teens for several days. When I finally checked the sewer hose, it was a 30 ft popsicle and several fittings were cracked. :(


    That is one of my fears but that's what the park advised. I think I'm going back to removing the hose for the night and use tank water for my morning shower/coffee.


    So, just because I am curious, when you made your heated hose, you took heat tape, wrapped the hose with it, then put foam insulation around that, and then taped up the insulation? If so, did you happen to leave a little extra heat tape out each end? I found that if you leave a little extra out each end, you can wrap a little of it around the faucet connections on each end and that helps too. Not sure we get as cold of temps as you are seeing now, but we had a spell of 20 degree weather for a couple weeks last month and we never lost our water supply at all. Also make sure the pipe coming out of the ground is wrapped and insulated if possible too.
  • rhagfo's avatar
    rhagfo
    Explorer III
    Jan 08, 2014
    jesse.m.jm wrote:
    JKrussow wrote:
    HappyKayakers wrote:
    jesse.m.jm wrote:
    JKrussow wrote:

    Just went through night #1 in Alabama with temps in low teens and tonight will be even lower. Being that I full-time I made a heated water hose and have extra propane on hand. At 13 above I had a moment this morning of no water but that only lasted about 15 minutes. Tonight I think I'll let the water trickle when I go to bed (gray tank open of coarse) and see if that helps.


    That may not be the best idea, as leaving a trickle of water with your grey valve open could lead to the trickle of water freezing in your dump line, and could cause a blockage there...


    I did that one winter in Amarillo. Temps were in the teens for several days. When I finally checked the sewer hose, it was a 30 ft popsicle and several fittings were cracked. :(


    That is one of my fears but that's what the park advised. I think I'm going back to removing the hose for the night and use tank water for my morning shower/coffee.


    So, just because I am curious, when you made your heated hose, you took heat tape, wrapped the hose with it, then put foam insulation around that, and then taped up the insulation? If so, did you happen to leave a little extra heat tape out each end? I found that if you leave a little extra out each end, you can wrap a little of it around the faucet connections on each end and that helps too. Not sure we get as cold of temps as you are seeing now, but we had a spell of 20 degree weather for a couple weeks last month and we never lost our water supply at all. Also make sure the pipe coming out of the ground is wrapped and insulated if possible too.


    I have heat tape, but last week the temp was going to drop to 28 to 26 overnight on our last night at the park. I simply filled the fresh water tank and ran the last night off the pump.

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