Short Term Freezing Weather Tips?

[DallasSteve]

I'm in the Rio Grande Valley (South Texas) and we are forecast for about 2 days of freezing temps Monday and Tuesday. The low right now is expected to be around 26 degrees. We are in a motor home with no skirting outside. I will keep the house temp at least 70 degrees through the night and I plan to keep the cabinets open and drip the faucets. Am I safe from frozen pipes or do I need to shut off the water and drain the pipes during the nights? Have you actually been camping through similar temps?

[Grit_dog]

So did you survive?

[DallasSteve]

cross21114 wrote:

down home wrote:
Be sure your propane tanks are full.

With what we've seen in Texas on the Weather Channel I would not drive my rig out to fill up with propane. If you have an extended stay valve on your rig, and have a safe way to get some propane, get some 20# tanks and use them. You could get 2 days per tank used sparingly.

Actually my Winnebago Intent has 2 20 pound tanks that are removable. I took one over to fill it today. I'm helping them with 2 electric heaters. Tonight is a freeze and then we have a couple of days above freezing; then one more night of freezing temps followed by 70s. I'm ready for those 70s.

[cross21114]

down home wrote:
Be sure your propane tanks are full.

With what we've seen in Texas on the Weather Channel I would not drive my rig out to fill up with propane. If you have an extended stay valve on your rig, and have a safe way to get some propane, get some 20# tanks and use them. You could get 2 days per tank used sparingly.

[DallasSteve]

OK. Thanks.

[time2roll]

No. Do not drip the faucets in an RV.

[DallasSteve]

Thanks again for the tips. One last question as the temps drop to freezing here in "Almost Mexico". I was going to leave the faucets dripping tonight, but I disconnected from the water main and drained my hose. My fresh water tank is full, but if I leave the faucets dripping it may use all the water overnight. Is it important to leave the faucets dripping?

[time2roll]

Most any RV is good to about 25F while in use with no special precautions.

[DallasSteve]

Thanks for these good tips.

[down_home]

Just looked at the forecast. Fill your fresh water tank and disconnect al hoses, as per others. Your furnaces will be running as the heat pumps won't handle that much cold. Be sure your propane tanks are full. The furnaces should keep the bays from freezing but still I wold put a drop cord and 100 watt bulb in the wet bay,where it won't melt any plastics etc
it may be a few days of subfreezing weather so you night want to get a heat tape for the water faucet itself, and a heated water hose. You won't be driving out of the cold it is all around you.
This would be advice for our old MH but if a new all electric I'm not sure. There should be some provision to keep bays warm and you may even have a wet bay heater.

[doxiemom11]

We are also in TX south of Austin a couple hours. Supposed to get down to 7-8 degrees here and daytime highs are still below freezing. Water froze overnight 2 nights ago, then thawed during the day. It was disconnected and we run off the tank/pump. Furnace set at 60 at night. We shouldn't have a problem, but 19 is the lowest we have been at before with daytime above freezing. Looking at 3 days freezing or below here now. Can't wait for sunshine !!!

[Grit_dog]

If it’s getting above freezing during the day, which you stated it will be, then don’t worry about anything except your water hose freezing. Turn off your city water source so it can drain back.

[Retired_JSO]

If you will have full hookups or where you can discharge grey water, let the kitchen faucet run a small stream which will keep the water and drainline from freezing. We’ve done that many times down to 14 degrees. An electric heater will assist the furnace keeping the belly area warm or just put a 40 watt light in the belly. Should be fine down to high 20’s.

[rhagfo]

DallasSteve wrote:
I'm in the Rio Grande Valley (South Texas) and we are forecast for about 2 days of freezing temps Monday and Tuesday. The low right now is expected to be around 26 degrees. We are in a motor home with no skirting outside. I will keep the house temp at least 70 degrees through the night and I plan to keep the cabinets open and drip the faucets. Am I safe from frozen pipes or do I need to shut off the water and drain the pipes during the nights? Have you actually been camping through similar temps?

Well for someone that is use to camping above freezing the world doesn’t end a 32 degrees. We go down to mid 20’s high teens with an insulated heated water hose and running the furnace to heat the belly.
In your case fill water tank, and disconnect water hose, keep furnace over night. Our furnace is either gas or electric and run electric most of the time. It is currently 33 degrees outside, and our basement at the outside wall is 50 degrees.

[DallasSteve]

Thanks bgum. I plan to do most of that.