Winter weather without winterizing?
I've had my 2007 NL 10'2"QRR for around 1.5 years. Last winter the camper was at the dealer for some work and all they had me do was drain the water and run air through the system. Neither I nor the...
Forum Discussion
bkenobi wrote:
...I really don't want to run the HVAC since it burns a lot of propane and puts hours on the furnace for no real reason though it would keep things from freezing.
Okay, you are in the Pacific NW. Here is my thinking....
We will typically get a couple of cold snaps each season. Time when it stays below freezing all day. We will have 4-7 days like that at a stretch, usually twice. Much more common is a nightly freeze and a daytime thaw. And damp, damp, damp, damp!
My suggestion is put an electric heater in the camper - which it sounds like you have already. Set it for 45 degrees or so. You can pick up a cheap box fan for a few bucks. Turn that on in the camper too. I am assuming all the water lines are internal to the camper (ie: in a cabinet, not running on the exterior). With the cabinet doors open they should stay above freezing just fine. That should also keep the air circulating around to all the nooks and crannies. Dampness causing mold it a potentially big problem too.
The concern you articulated is around not wanting to flush out the lines from antifreeze. I agree! Yuck, I don't want that anywhere near my water supply. It is, however, fair game (and pretty darn easy) to pour some down the drains. That will keep any P-traps that might be more exposed (shower drain?) from freezing. And, of course, you have emptied your gray/black tanks, so there is no risk of anything freezing there.
When we get the occasional cold snaps, just bite the bullet and turn on the propane heat. Okay, so maybe you burn through a tank or two. Whatever. It really isn't that expensive in the overall scheme of things.
And if you really want to become the forum expert on the subject.... Get an electronic weather gauge that records highs & lows. Put the indoor sensor next to a water line inside a cabinet, and have the outside one...outside. Keep track of the low temperatures on both, and report back here. My bet is you will be surprised how well the oil heater combined with a circulating fan will do.
FWIW.... I think you are much better off compared to putting antifreeze in the lines and then sealing it up for the winter. Circulating the air in this damp climate will really help keep the interior in overall good shape.
HTH!
-Eric
