Frozen fresh water tank

[DABZ]

My fresh water tank froze up. I had a heat gun for 30 mins to valve to empty tank just to open it and found frozen water all the way up. Not sure how far in it is. Any suggestions on unfreezing while RV is outside in freezing weather? I was hoping to unfreeze it to prevent further damage since winter is just starting.

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[2oldman]

I guess he's gone. One and only post.

[MEXICOWANDERER]

My thoughts...
Naples is due west of Miami. If the rig was in Naples, you would read and hear screams...

EVERY FRUIT AND VEGETABLE CROP IN FLORIDA TOTALLY DESTROYED!

The first order is to prevent a disastrous flood when the tank and lines unfreeze. Even if the pipe has to be destroyed the outlet from tank to water pump has to be blocked. The water heater needs to be leak neutered as well.

I do not envy the OP

[MrWizard]

coolmom42 wrote:

SidecarFlip wrote:
Mine is an ice cube (half full FW tank) and the unit is inside a marginally heated building. Never have gave it a thought. All the plumbing is evacuated (air purged plus RV antifreeze) and low point drains, drained. Solid frozen FW rank is a non issue in reality.

Only an issue if you think it is....

Or if you need to use it.

Depends on how much water is in there
Near empty?
Near full?

Near full frozen solid, could expand enough to crack the tank

[Farmboy666]

rockhillmanor wrote:

DABZ wrote:
My fresh water tank froze up. I had a heat gun for 30 mins to valve to empty tank just to open it and found frozen water all the way up. Not sure how far in it is. Any suggestions on unfreezing while RV is outside in freezing weather? I was hoping to unfreeze it to prevent further damage since winter is just starting.

Your sig says Florida. Is that where you are at now? :?
Do you live there or snowbird?

If so we have yet to have freezing temps for more than a 'couple hours in one night' right before dawn. And come morning its back up to the 70's.

The lines will thaw all by itself come this afternoon!:C

I drain the fresh if they predict freeze temps and then just fill it back up if needed.

If it took 30 min with a heat gun to unthaw I doubt he's in Fl.

[1320Fastback]

They make oil pan heaters for Diesel engines used in cold weather. They aren't much more than about 10"x10" and some are 12V/125v. They don't get hot enough to melt plastic and are self adhesive!

Probably would be enough heat to keep things liquid.

[Lwiddis]

A severe reprimand is appropriate IMO. I’ve had a couple.

[2oldman]

Awaiting the moderator's reprimand post.

[Dennis12]

Find a warm garage to put it in. Maybe a service station would let you park it in it overnight. Throw him a few bucks.

[coolmom42]

SidecarFlip wrote:
Mine is an ice cube (half full FW tank) and the unit is inside a marginally heated building. Never have gave it a thought. All the plumbing is evacuated (air purged plus RV antifreeze) and low point drains, drained. Solid frozen FW rank is a non issue in reality.

Only an issue if you think it is....

Or if you need to use it.

[SidecarFlip]

Mine is an ice cube (half full FW tank) and the unit is inside a marginally heated building. Never have gave it a thought. All the plumbing is evacuated (air purged plus RV antifreeze) and low point drains, drained. Solid frozen FW rank is a non issue in reality.

Only an issue if you think it is....

[pianotuna]

Hi,

Find a radiant heater. One of the ones that glows cherry red. Aim it at the tank. Change of phase from ice to water requires the same amount of energy as raising the temperature of the water from 32 f to boiling. It is going to take many hours to thaw the tank out.

Radiant heaters do not heat the air--they heat the item they are pointed at. Be careful to not melt anything plastic--or cause any item to burn.

The other solution is to move the whole RV into a heated garage.

[SidecarFlip]

Frozen FW tank won't hurt a thing. Frozen PEX plumbing lines will...

[time2roll]

Done is done. Otherwise www.ultraheat.com

[ksg5000]

You will get better advice if you provide a little more info about the accessibility of the water tank.