Water in winter

As long as we keep the fresh water tank filled to from 3/4 to a full tank, we have had no problem with freezing down to -5. We keep a 100 watt bulb burning in the wet compartment on a thermostat controlled outlet, which keeps the water lines and pump from freezing.
As far as the waste tanks go, we have never added anything to them other than the waste. Never had on freeze up since we are constantly adding fresh "waste" to each tank. When they get full, we hook up and drain the tanks rather than to keep our sewer hose connected at all times.
We very seldom run our furnace since we have other heaters to warm the coach when hooked up to shore power.

booty51 wrote:
I pour rum in my water fresh water tank lowers the freezing point! SSSHHH! don't tell my wife!

Friend of mine uses the cheapest vodka he can find on sale...usually Poland Springs vodka, around $6.99/half gallon on sale.

He claims he could still taste antifreeze in his lines after several rinse-outs.

I'm pretty sure he just likes his vodka ;)

Jim

I pour rum in my water fresh water tank lowers the freezing point! SSSHHH! don't tell my wife!

Flyfisherman128 wrote:

bakstrap wrote:

I flush with windshield washer fluid, much cheaper than rv antifreeze


Seriously? How much are you saving to potentially disrupt someone's septic? A few bucks?

Seriously, Windshield wash $1.89/ gallon and antifreeze $2.94/ Gallon..how many gallons do you use?

Not only that, windshield washer fluid contains toxic chemicals such as methanol and ethylene glycol.

Windshield washer fluid ingredients

RV/Marine Antifreeze is potable. Meaning you can ingest it without having any health hazards

I too have an exposed black tank. I have camped in temps in the mid teens without freeze up. I believe the heat loss from interior keeps the tank from freezing when stationary and movement of the liquid prevents freezing when in transit. As an additional precaution, don't let the tank get more than 1/2 full. That way if it were to freeze, the liquid has room to expand without damaging the tank. I do run the water heater for about 30 minutes before bed and it is still warm in the morning.

We have light bulbs plugged into thermocubes in both sides of the tank bay, the bay where the whole house filter is, and the back of the fridge.
The monaco wet bay heater is also on.
Both furnaces are set at 42 degrees.
Water heater is on electric.

So far no problems. Fridge door water froze at first, but thawed after I put a 150w light buld behind the fridge.

If the outdoor temp will drop to below freezing and remain there &/or get colder furnace air pumped into the bays will help but will not prevent freezing if the temps drop below 10, especially if there will be high winds.

"Know" what the temp is in your water bays instead of guessing. Buy a remote temp sensor (we have a small weather station unit) so you can tell when the pump and lines are vulnerable. When we had temps drop below about 20 and stay there we put a 60 incandescent bulb in the water bay and with our temp sensor could see that the pump and lines stayed above freezing. We never had the tanks freeze solid even down to sub-zero.

Tanks aren't really the biggest worry because if they are 1/2 to 3/4 full they will remain more fluid longer than exposed lines or the pump. But if you allow any of the tanks to get lower they may freeze quicker. You can add RV antifreeze to your waste tanks but of course the fresh tank is the one you cannot amend.

So it will entirely depend at what temp you will be traveling.

bakstrap wrote:

I flush with windshield washer fluid, much cheaper than rv antifreeze


Seriously? How much are you saving to potentially disrupt someone's septic? A few bucks?

Seriously, Windshield wash $1.89/ gallon and antifreeze $2.94/ Gallon..how many gallons do you use?

bakstrap wrote:
I flush with windshield washer fluid, much cheaper than rv antifreeze

Seriously? How much are you saving to potentially disrupt someone's septic? A few bucks?

If you don't have tank heaters then I would suggest a small cube heater in the bay and or a 100 watt light bulb just to keep it from freezing.