Forum Discussion

D_and_A_plus_6's avatar
Dec 28, 2015

Heated RV Drinking Water Hose

Bought a new Camco 50 foot heated water hose, was using it over the weekend, it was only 20 degrees outside and it froze up. I did have to use an extension cord to get power to the hose, but used a 12 gauge cord. The plug on the hose was always light up. The plug in end was at the camper, and seams to be where it froze. I connected it directly to the city water hook up.

What was I doing wrong? Box says keeps from freezing down to -20.

Is there a way to see if it is working?
  • Sounds like a failed heater hose.
    I made my own using the EasyHeat product electrical taped to the water hose, and then cheap foam pipe insulation over that. Worked in -20*F, but I also left a little bit on each end of the hose to wrap the trailer connection and the water spigot.

    I don't doubt that the Camco hose is a good product, and should have been fine, you need to swap it out for another one.
  • That's for that info, I probably need to run water more often to keep from freezing also.

    Usually only cold weather camp over Christmas in the Des Moines IA area, which is usually 3-5 days.
  • If the hose did not freeze in the first 36 hours, Pre warming the hose before hook up would not have helped.
  • I think there might be a good chance the hose bib or the connection to the TT is what froze up. Heated hose won't help much if either or both ends can freeze.
  • We used Ace Hardware heat tapes and pipe insolation to protect our hoses for many years. buy as other have said you must protect the connections
  • I wrapped a regular water grade hose with aluminum tape from Walmart. I then taped pipe heat tape from Home Depot to the hose using electrical tape. The aluminum tape distributes the heat more evenly along the hose. I have never had any problems. Works better than that special made expensive electrical hose. I normally carry an extra short length of heat tape and wrap the fauset and pipe coming out of the ground.
  • We used a heated hose last year temps to the mid-teens at night. Had to wrap the faucet with insulation and my basement is heated never had a problem.
  • There are heat pads that can be attached to the water tank. There are similar units for the pipes and waste tank valves. That may be a better direction to follow.

    It is also possible to run hot water into the tank by adding a hose from the water heater to the fresh water tank. Control the flow with an electric valve using a thermostat on the side of the water tank.
  • I only run the hose to fill the heated holding tank. I roll up the hose and store inside the heated trailer until I need it again .

    When you have your heated hose hooked up and you experience a freeze-up. Check the brass connections at each end by unscrewing the hose. Check to see if the hydrant is frozen or your trailer connector inlet is frozen.
    Test/thaw using a hair dryer. If all is good, I would then suspect the unit you bought as being faulty .

    as suggested : The alum foil wrap then heated using heat tape is a good idea if you do not have a heated holding tank.
  • Sometimes the temp sensor is located near the plug. If the plug is in a warm area the sensor will not detect the cold temp outside.

    I would also be suspicious of the hydrant freezeing.

    An easy check would be to coil your heated hose in a bucket outside and when it has chilled, plug it in outside. It should be a bit warm in a few minutes.

    Some of the newer heat tapes use temperature sensing wire and do not have a separate temp sensor.