Electric Heater vs Winterizing
Have you tried keeping tanks warm with a small electric heater instead of winterizing. How has that worked for you?
Forum Discussion
Using a space heater is like a light bulb in the forest. The darker the forest, the smaller the light penetrates it. A heater will do the same. The colder the surrounding area, around your camper, the more it will start penetrating from the walls inward. What you are contemplating is not a good idea.
I have spent multiple months of below 21F degree days and more, everyday. Some of the nights were -10F. There are lots of steps needed to have a water system in a camper survive. It is not just your tanks that will be damaged. The faucets, toilet, water heater and water lines are in danger, as well.
Space heaters are a great supplement, but when it gets as cold as Denver, and surrounding areas (I worked outside, in Colorado, for more than 30 years) supplemental furnace MUST be used. So plan on buying more propane and switching out your tanks, frequently.
One person in your area, that uses his Lance camper for winter trips and ski excursions, blows out his system and keeps his furnace turned down. But, he does winterize between his trips when necessary, btggraphix.
If you do plan on going through with your plans, make sure you have your camper in the sun, all the time and protected from the wind (I'm from Boulder so I know wind!) and have multiple heater cubes in all areas, not just in the center of your camper. Take all items out of cabinets where the pipes are, open doors. Open all faucets and remove shower nozzle (inside and out) and sink atomizers. Pour some RV antifreeze into the bottom of your toilet and p traps. Tap the City service inlet, to break the surface tension. Get some remote/wireless temperature monitors and put the senders in areas most susceptible to freezing (service bay, Hot H20, heater, under sinks in cabinets) and put them in your home and monitor them.
Keep two gallons of RV antifreeze handy, so you don't have to run and get some when the temps fall -30F below, some night and know the procedure to get this done, quickly.
Oh yeah, remove any can goods out of any cabinets next to camper walls. Don't ask why I know this. :B
Best of luck to you.
b
I have spent multiple months of below 21F degree days and more, everyday. Some of the nights were -10F. There are lots of steps needed to have a water system in a camper survive. It is not just your tanks that will be damaged. The faucets, toilet, water heater and water lines are in danger, as well.
Space heaters are a great supplement, but when it gets as cold as Denver, and surrounding areas (I worked outside, in Colorado, for more than 30 years) supplemental furnace MUST be used. So plan on buying more propane and switching out your tanks, frequently.
One person in your area, that uses his Lance camper for winter trips and ski excursions, blows out his system and keeps his furnace turned down. But, he does winterize between his trips when necessary, btggraphix.
If you do plan on going through with your plans, make sure you have your camper in the sun, all the time and protected from the wind (I'm from Boulder so I know wind!) and have multiple heater cubes in all areas, not just in the center of your camper. Take all items out of cabinets where the pipes are, open doors. Open all faucets and remove shower nozzle (inside and out) and sink atomizers. Pour some RV antifreeze into the bottom of your toilet and p traps. Tap the City service inlet, to break the surface tension. Get some remote/wireless temperature monitors and put the senders in areas most susceptible to freezing (service bay, Hot H20, heater, under sinks in cabinets) and put them in your home and monitor them.
Keep two gallons of RV antifreeze handy, so you don't have to run and get some when the temps fall -30F below, some night and know the procedure to get this done, quickly.
Oh yeah, remove any can goods out of any cabinets next to camper walls. Don't ask why I know this. :B
Best of luck to you.
b
