More cold weather questions / Refrigerator Ice Maker

[Community Alumni]

At the end of this week we will have temperatures below freezing for about six days down to at least 10 degrees over night and maybe some snow or freezing rain some sunshine. (Coffeyville, KS) I have taken precautions heaters and trouble lights and heated hose.

Question is, will the refrigerator during its normal operation stay warm enough to keep the ice maker water flow valve from freezing?? Yep I know its cold and ice will not be used a lot but I like ice for my diet drinks.

JimR

[Opie431]

If it is going to be that cold why don't you put some ice cube trays outside?

[Community Alumni]

sowego wrote:
Yup, propane usage is huge in extreme weather. We used 2 1/2 residential size tank per heating season. At least find a back up tank because your onboard tank will only last a few days at sub-zero.

good luck

Yep I have the extend a stay hooked up.

jimR

[sowego]

Yup, propane usage is huge in extreme weather. We used 2 1/2 residential size tank per heating season. At least find a back up tank because your onboard tank will only last a few days at sub-zero.

good luck

[Community Alumni]

Update

So far all that I have done is working staying warm (somewhat) and no frozen pipes. Got to a low of 7 and is and will be below 32 for a few more days with a little snow.
One item I did underestimate was propane usage went through that faster than planned but on the way to Independence, the only place open on Sunday, to get Propane I got to see a Bald Eagle no big deal but it made the cold day just a little better.

JimR

[Community Alumni]

GaPete wrote:
They make smaller ones.

Yes I know it just seemed somewhat humorous to me I did get a trouble light in there and used a small aluminum disposable loaf pan (kitchen stuff) to hold it in place and away from wires and plastic.

As said earlier I will DC the water to the ice maker and just buy ice at WM.

JimR

[Community Alumni]

sowego and others

Thanks for the reply the 20 degree temp on the refer has been referenced more than once on a couple of different forum sites.
I still have the water on but after looking at the updated forecast for Coffeyville I will shut it down tomorrow I did all the hard stuff over the past couple days. One thing I was glad I did was trace where the water line to the ice maker came from and found that it is off the water filter that is in the galley there is a valve there to simply turn off and then drain down the line behind the refer. I do have a trouble light in there to turn on when needed probably by Friday as the temp is forecast at 11 degrees on MS site and 07 degrees on Accu Weather and 10 degrees from the US weather service all to cold for me.
I may run the engine heater block heater for a night or two but that is a subject with a few opinions.

Again Thanks

JimR

[GaPete]

They make smaller ones.

[Community Alumni]

bamcote wrote:
I would use one of these Clicky along with this Clicky or similar near the Ice Maker water valve.

The plug will work but the light will not fit in there at 10 and a half inches.

Thanks for the idea

JimR

[sowego]

Your refrigerator should operate okay down to about the 20s but if those temps remain in place or go lower long term you should close off a couple of the vents behind the unit, put in a 60W bulb, disconnect and drain your water line and icemaker valve then just buy ice.

Our icemaker valve froze at 29 and with pressure to the line it ran water down the driveway and flooded the inside too. Those durn valves are plastic so if they freeze they are broken.

We fought it for a while then decided, especially since we don't like tank water ending up making ice now and then we just unhooked the water line and buy ice. Commercial ice tastes a lot better than ice from "where ever" you have been and sure saves a lot of hassle.

Friends of our gave up on the icemaker situation too and bought a table top unit they can fill with bottled water. But those take up a lot of room but it is a fulltime option.

[eHoefler]

While my fridge is a Dometic, I installed fiberglass insulation along the bottom of the back of the refrigerator to insulate the water line and valve. I tucked it in under the piping to allow air flow for the cooling fins above. We experienced temps in the teens and always had ice.

[bamcote]

I would use one of these Clicky along with this Clicky or similar near the Ice Maker water valve.

[Community Alumni]

Thanks for the link

I should have said the refer size and location it is a Norcold 4 door and the valve is behind the access door to the refer in a class A. I think that is common to a lot of rigs.

On edit I have done most of the items listed on the list that applied to me I was thinking about putting in a trouble light but can only get 60 watt I did not think about blocking the two of the three vents on the access door. If all else looks bad I will DC the line and drain it and just get ice at Wallyworld.


JimR

[pianotuna]

Hi,

That would depend on where the valve is. Here is a thread on Winter Camping that has the fridge information and many other useful ideas.