Forum Discussion

asherdasher63's avatar
asherdasher63
Explorer
Jan 05, 2015

One Frozen watee line

Last night it got down to 12°F so I left the kitchen sink, bathroom sink, and shower all run with a steady stream. Woke up this morning and went to fill the dogs bowl no water to the kitchen! The bathroom still runs just fine. We have a heater underneath the belly set on 86 pointing right at the water lines and I've blow dried the lines in the kitchen. Every once and awhile you will see little bubbles going up the pipe. There is no water leaking anywhere. This is our first winter in a 5th wheel so any help is very much appreciated!
  • GordonThree's avatar
    GordonThree
    Explorer
    Jan 05, 2015
    Leave the faucet open "downstream" of the frozen pipe, even you get even a drop of water to move through the ice, it'll melt open much faster.

    I found a short run of water lines OUTSIDE of my trailer near the water heater, and of course they froze as soon as I ran out of propane... all the rest of my water lines are inside the living space. Project for next year - heat tape and insulate those outdoor water lines - luckily nothing broke.
  • asherdasher63's avatar
    asherdasher63
    Explorer
    Jan 05, 2015
    Every once in awhile I will get one little drop that builds up. Its up to 23 degrees right now so hopefully that will start helping. All of our lines are inside the trailer just some aren't as protected I guess?
  • RoyB's avatar
    RoyB
    Explorer II
    Jan 05, 2015
    We always have any water lines outside the trailer disconnected from the city water inlet... You really need to disconnect from the city water water source to protect those lines as well.

    You should be able to use water from your fresh water tank during these periods...

    Just like at home - we never leave a water hose connected to our water tap when it gets below freezing...

    Hopefully that is all that froze up for you...

    Roy Ken
  • 2oldman's avatar
    2oldman
    Explorer II
    Jan 05, 2015
    RoyB wrote:
    ..You really need to disconnect from the city water water source to protect those lines as well...You should be able to use water from your fresh water tank during these periods...
    Yep.

    Leaving water running is not a great idea. Should your sewer hose freeze, and plug, it could be nasty.
  • Artum_Snowbird's avatar
    Artum_Snowbird
    Explorer
    Jan 05, 2015
    Hopefully you have opened cupboards where your lines go to let in warm air, and also you are running your furnace and not using electric power. The furnace should circulate the air around your protected lines and valves.
  • GordonThree's avatar
    GordonThree
    Explorer
    Jan 05, 2015
    re last two posts - it sounds to me like it's a segment of line frozen - with all faucets working except for the kitchen.

    OP is on the right track with a small heater, takes a long time to work, especially if it's still cold out.
  • asherdasher63's avatar
    asherdasher63
    Explorer
    Jan 05, 2015
    Well it unthawed when I went to the store my trailers flooded water is running everywhere because somehow the drain froze I guess
  • schlep1967's avatar
    schlep1967
    Nomad
    Jan 05, 2015
    Put a blanket over your drain lines. Build something like a tent and aim an electric heater into the tent. You want to hold heat in but make sure there is a way for some air to escape. Keep an eye on it so it does not get too hot and cause a fire.
  • ksg5000's avatar
    ksg5000
    Explorer
    Jan 05, 2015
    Depending on where the frozen pipe is consider placing a hair dryer in that cavity - may help thaw out the line.

    Edit - oops looks like your pipe already thawed. When I get a frozen pipe I make sure I turn off the water pump etc when I open the faucet valves - frozen drains are common.
  • 2oldman's avatar
    2oldman
    Explorer II
    Jan 05, 2015
    ksg5000 wrote:
    Edit - oops looks like your pipe already thawed.
    It's unthawed.

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