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Ruthless's avatar
Ruthless
Explorer
Mar 27, 2014

Will it be apparent if I have frozen pipes?

We've had a few nights when the temperature got below freezing. The coldest that it got was 25 degrees one night. I dewinterized and went camping, and since getting back, that's when we've had a few nights with the temperatures dropping below freezing. I'm taking the travel trailer out this weekend. Hopefully, I won't have any frozen pipes; but if I do, will it be as apparent as I would think?

15 Replies

  • Well, you may experience a gusher, but with the temps you stated if any leaks develop they would more than likely be small in nature. We often camp in the twenties with no issues, although we have been caught off guard (happened just last weekend) where temps dipped to the teens and froze our water lines, no water was available until daytime temps went back above freezing.

    I would check plumbing system integrity before heading out, sure don't want any of those kind of surprises to ruin an RV outing. Run a faucet and let pump pressurize system, shouldn't take long even with an empty water heater. If pump doesn't stop or stops and routinely cycles there is something amiss. Have a great trip!!!
  • It will be very apparent!

    If they're still frozen, you won't get any water.

    If they were frozen hard enough to hurt the piping and now thawed, you will have wet floors, or water dripping underneath and you'll hear the water pump running all of the time because it will keep trying to build water pressure in the ruptured line.

    Bill
  • RoyB's avatar
    RoyB
    Explorer II
    Just like in your house frozen pipes usually means no water flow and when it warms up you will have water squirting everywhere from a bust hose or pipe...

    If you winterized you shouldnt have any water inside any of the lines that would freeze up.
    My road trailer is small so we always use the blow-out method and all the lines everywhere is absence of water. This is easy for us to de-winterize by just filling up the fresh water tank again...

    Have done the real quick blow-out and drained the fresh water tank on several late season trips. Then the next morning fill up the tank and continue on. The only problems I have ever had was not disconnecting the water hose from the campground city water hookup over night...

    Roy Ken