Cold weather storage tank operation

[KAttkisson]

I have a question about cold weather operation of the gray and black water tanks on my Class C. They are located outside of the any heated space but do have heating pads attached to the bottoms.

The 3" blackwater valve is located about 6" down from the tank. The 1 .5" graywater valve is about 2 ft from its tank. My concern is these valves and the flooded line leading to them. Will they not freeze due to the tank warmers or will they still be a concern? Lets assume 20+ degrees.

[GordonThree]

Pretty sure they all use self regulating conductors, that sure is a fancy name for a basic resistive heating cable. Still need a thermostat

Frost kind is what I'm using as well

[Horizon170]

GordonThree wrote:
What's SRT? I'm using the basic 120v heat tape they sell at the big box stores. I used a lot of aluminum foil to better distribute the heat.

Self Regulating Tape.
http://www.chromalox.com/catalog/heat-trace
Marvin
PS, just found this.
http://www.chromalox.com/en/catalog/heat-trace/heat-trace-cables/self-regulating-heat-trace/srl-self-regulating-low-temperature

PPS, For my use this will suffice and it's cheaper.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Frost-King-6-ft-Electric-Water-Pipe-Heat-Cable-HC6A/202262328

[GordonThree]

What's SRT? I'm using the basic 120v heat tape they sell at the big box stores. I used a lot of aluminum foil to better distribute the heat.

[Horizon170]

So, who sells the SRT, 120 volt. Sounds a lot better than the old heat tapes for hoses. Do you cut to length and add ends or how do come shipped.

[houtrz]

I basically did what GordonThree said, I lived in my fifth wheel in Michigan with -20 degree nights one winter. I wrapped all the exposed pipes with heat trace tape. Because of the extreme temperatures I did insulate the underside of the trailer but in milder weather I'm betting the heat tape is all you would need.

[shum02]

GordonThree wrote:

Photomike wrote:
The other issue is finding a place to dump in the winter. A couple places that I go past are under a foot of ice as water collects around the drain and freezes and game over till spring or a good thaw.

^^^ That's the biggest problem I run into. Usually well before the snows come, all the dump stations close up.

Coming back from California last winter, I had to dig out about 3ft of snow from the drain hole at a dump station in Iowa before heading back much colder Michigan.

If I were serious about winter camping, I think I'd get one of those portable macerators with the 3/4" hose outlet. Then I could pump out into an outhouse at a rest area / forest service campground.

...or at home. Do a LOT of winter camping here in Ontario and that is primarily what I do. I second all the heat trace and electric pad heaters on the tanks. Routinely camp down to -20C with very few problems, or at least nothing a hair dry couldn't take care of 😉

[GordonThree]

Photomike wrote:
The other issue is finding a place to dump in the winter. A couple places that I go past are under a foot of ice as water collects around the drain and freezes and game over till spring or a good thaw.

^^^ That's the biggest problem I run into. Usually well before the snows come, all the dump stations close up.

Coming back from California last winter, I had to dig out about 3ft of snow from the drain hole at a dump station in Iowa before heading back much colder Michigan.

If I were serious about winter camping, I think I'd get one of those portable macerators with the 3/4" hose outlet. Then I could pump out into an outhouse at a rest area / forest service campground.

[Photomike]

You hit on one of the problems of winter camping. As suggested heat tape will help, I know of people that carry a hairdryer to unthaw things as well at the valve.

The other issue is finding a place to dump in the winter. A couple places that I go past are under a foot of ice as water collects around the drain and freezes and game over till spring or a good thaw.

[GordonThree]

I put heat trace tape on my sewer lines, rather than rely on the tank heater to keep that water thawed. It's worked very well for me through sub zero weather.

Step one wrapped the pipes with heavy foil

Step two ran the heat trace along the bottom of the pipes in a U shape with the thermostat sensor near the valve end

Step three more foil around the pipes

Step four adhesive reflextix around the foil

Step five Gorilla tape to protect the reflextix

The trace tapes are wired into a switch indoors and powered by inverter or generator.

[ronfisherman]

I would be afraid of outlet freezing in 20° weather. Especially if it does not get above freezing during the day.