Sorry for the newb question. But here it is. We have a camping trip booked for the first weekend in April. The way this lousy weather has been it's still pretty cold in ny. I don't have the air gadget to pump water out of lines. Mine are filled with antifreeze. So my question is, what's the rule of thumb about my pipes freezing. Is it as simple as if it gets below 32 on any given night I'm screwed ? Will the lines freeze even if I put the heat on? Or lastly should I play it safe and leave the antifreeze in lines and dry camp ): any info you guys can give would be appreciated. Sorry for long paragraph

Your plumbing won't instantly burst when temps hit 32, we've camped with the water on when the temps hit 25 at night with no problem. However, as you stated, it's still pretty cold! When the temps are constantly low, you might have a problem. If it were me, I think I'd not use water on this particular trip.

I don't quite understand your problem if your lines are still full of antifreeze !Just leave the antifreeze as is and when you get to the campground, hookup tp the water and run it through the system which will purge the lines of the antifreeze. Then if it is cold there, turn on your heat. No one blows out their lines once they have antifreeze in them. You let the fresh water clear them.Jack L

That's a tough one this spring. This March has been COLD - this morning it's 25F. In most years, I'd say no problem, dewinterize.... but you might want to wait until just before you go to check the weather. Safest bet is to "dry camp" as you say. I would think you could still use the toilet, just pour in water from jugs or buckets to flush it - as long as you have somewhere to dump the tanks.

I don't worry about pipes freezing unless the temps are going to be consistently below 25degF - assuming you're going to be occupying it. There is enough residual heat which will keep the pipes warm enough. Camped many times in 3 different campers in 25-35 degF weather and never had a pipe problem. If you're worried, turn the pump off, open all the faucets and open the low-water drains. This should let all the water out of the pipes - problem solved !!! (YMMV)You may find that the tank valves may freeze

If you are in the camper with the furnace on, you are probably good down to the mid 20's (varies a little depending on where the heating ducts run and where your water system runs)As long as you are going to re-winterize after the trip, no problem using the water system during the trip.If you put it back in storage after the trip with water in it...it doesn't take much below freezing before the pipes freeze. You might sneak by if it touches 32F early in the morning for a few minutes but by the time you hit 28-30F for a couple hours, expect it freeze.

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16 Replies

rrupert
Explorer
Mar 20, 2018
If you have heat on it shouldn't be a problem unless it gets cold and stays cold. As a precaution keep any cabinet doors cracked open if there is any plumbing passing through inside. We do that in the Fall before we are ready to winterize and haven't had a problem. Another thing to do is disconnect the city water supply and either drain the hose or put the hose on a warm area.
valhalla360
Navigator
Mar 20, 2018
If you are in the camper with the furnace on, you are probably good down to the mid 20's (varies a little depending on where the heating ducts run and where your water system runs)

As long as you are going to re-winterize after the trip, no problem using the water system during the trip.

If you put it back in storage after the trip with water in it...it doesn't take much below freezing before the pipes freeze. You might sneak by if it touches 32F early in the morning for a few minutes but by the time you hit 28-30F for a couple hours, expect it freeze.
fitznj
Explorer
Mar 20, 2018
I don't worry about pipes freezing unless the temps are going to be consistently below 25degF - assuming you're going to be occupying it. There is enough residual heat which will keep the pipes warm enough.

Camped many times in 3 different campers in 25-35 degF weather and never had a pipe problem. If you're worried, turn the pump off, open all the faucets and open the low-water drains. This should let all the water out of the pipes - problem solved !!! (YMMV)

You may find that the tank valves may freeze
Tvov
Explorer II
Mar 20, 2018
That's a tough one this spring. This March has been COLD - this morning it's 25F. In most years, I'd say no problem, dewinterize.... but you might want to wait until just before you go to check the weather. Safest bet is to "dry camp" as you say. I would think you could still use the toilet, just pour in water from jugs or buckets to flush it - as long as you have somewhere to dump the tanks.
NanciL
Explorer II
Mar 20, 2018
I don't quite understand your problem if your lines are still full of antifreeze !
Just leave the antifreeze as is and when you get to the campground, hookup tp the water and run it through the system which will purge the lines of the antifreeze.
Then if it is cold there, turn on your heat.

No one blows out their lines once they have antifreeze in them. You let the fresh water clear them.

Jack L
jfkmk
Explorer
Mar 20, 2018
Your plumbing won't instantly burst when temps hit 32, we've camped with the water on when the temps hit 25 at night with no problem. However, as you stated, it's still pretty cold! When the temps are constantly low, you might have a problem. If it were me, I think I'd not use water on this particular trip.

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De winterize ?

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