Forum Discussion

brianosaur's avatar
brianosaur
Explorer
Oct 17, 2023

Will pipes freeze overnight?

I usually winterize mid-October by fully draining & bypassing the hot water heater, then blowout & antifreeze all freshwater Pex lines.

This year I am thinking about some November weekend local trips. Here on Long Island the late fall days will normally be above freezing, yet the nights will commonly go below it.

My TT is parked in my yard between trips and if I don't winterize until winter, should I be concerned?

Could I just leave my faucets open? (city water & pump off obviously)

TT has an insulated & covered underbelly. Should I set up an electric space heater to kick on when it gets below freezing or should I not be worried too much for several hours of overnight temps below 32 degrees?
  • LouLawrence wrote:
    A small electric heater in the wet bay and one inside in the kitchen/bath area will like work well. Open cabinet doors that have plumbing inside. Should be cheaper than running propane but is certainly a viable open as well.
    Don't leave water in there and hope for the best. That can be a costly mistake.


    ^^This.....

    Winter temps along the panhandle are not so much different than here on the inner coast of Vancouver Island. That's exactly what I do here, and have never had a problem.

    I removed one of the access panels to the plumbing area from inside the cubby, and left the small heater run on medium full time. That space in my rig is vented to the living area thru vents in the stairs to the bedroom, and so gave a bit of heat to the rest of the trailer as well. That's assuming that you are plugged in to shore power.
  • I never winterize. Electric heater inside and another in the wet compartment in the basement turned on as needed. Its parked here at home in NC where it does sometimes go down to Zero.
  • This is not a question we can answer. Far too many variables.
    The right answer is maybe.
  • A small electric heater in the wet bay and one inside in the kitchen/bath area will like work well. Open cabinet doors that have plumbing inside. Should be cheaper than running propane but is certainly a viable open as well.
    Don't leave water in there and hope for the best. That can be a costly mistake.
  • Or, just leave the furnace running, set at about 45 or 50 degrees. Watch to be sure you don't run out of propane though.
  • Yes, a pipes can freeze in few hours! Probably not a full hot water tank, but pipes can, especially if they are near a wall or floor.
    I would blow out the water, but not add antifreeze.
    P.S. there usually is a disconnect to the toilet, be sure to blow out the valve then disconnect! Don't ask how I know!