cold nights

[Tractorat]

Ive been using my trailer almost every weekend for the last couple of months so I havent done anything for winter storage. But, its supposed to get colder here in Seattle in the next couple of days than it has in the last 10 years.

Because Ive been using the trailer, I havent put any antifreeze in the water system. So, tonight, I just emptied the water tank and the hot water heater.

My question is, should I leave the cap off the hot water tank ? Or reinstall it ? Or would that even make any difference ?



Any thoughts ? Especially from you guys in the really cold areas ?



Thanks in advance,

Tractorat

 

[bmoeller]

Since you are using it, draining the lines and blowing them out with compressed air might be enough. Once the lines are blown, out keep all of the drain and faucet valves open.

 

[chazj]

When I lived in Caifornia and had a rare, BUT Very Cold Spell, I just went outside and started the heater in the trailer. Left it at the low setting and opened all the interior cabinet doors. Didn't use much propane and gave me a chance to "exercise and observe" the heating system.

 

[MPerez]

I'm living in mine presentlly, but if I had to store it for the days it's going to be really cold, I would open all the cabinets near/around the plumbing, plug into a reliable source of power and run the gas heat with is set at 50 or so degrees. If you can't do that, run to WalMart and get some antifreeze and get it into the lines (since it's probably already to late to blow it out completly!)



The hot water tank must be drained as completly as possible no matter what, as it is usually well enough insulated that the on-board heat will not help protect it from freezing and the exterior side is hardly insulated at all. The good news is that any left over water should not damage the heater's tank, it's only when it's full that it can expand and break the tank.



Last winter I mostly froze my old motor home's water heater, discovered my mistake ("oh, didn't we winterize the RV this year??") during one of the below freezing times and is was frozen pretty good. Lit the water heater for about 10 minutes and it thawed enough to drain. But I was reaaaaaallly lucky.

 

[Schlickenmeyer]

I live in Minnesota. . Know this drill.



You should have a set of valves to isolate the water heater from the rest of the system. Drain and plug. DO NOT get ANY rv antifreeze in the water heater.

use ONLY rv antifreeze. Mine has a seperate hose to the water pump, I close the valve to the fresh water tank, open the valve to this hose, insert into the gallon jug of pink stuff, and start opening faucets. run until a solid flow of antifreeze in seen, both hot and cold (the isolation at the water heater makes it all flow straight thru). then toss 1/2 gallon into the black water tank. (the grey will have plenty from the procedure). If you do all the faucets (don't forget outside showers) all the p-traps will be good too.



Any other questions, feel free to email.

 

[GWest]

I live in Minnesota. . Know this drill.



You should have a set of valves to isolate the water heater from the rest of the system. Drain and plug. DO NOT get ANY rv antifreeze in the water heater.

use ONLY rv antifreeze. Mine has a seperate hose to the water pump, I close the valve to the fresh water tank, open the valve to this hose, insert into the gallon jug of pink stuff, and start opening faucets. run until a solid flow of antifreeze in seen, both hot and cold (the isolation at the water heater makes it all flow straight thru). then toss 1/2 gallon into the black water tank. (the grey will have plenty from the procedure). If you do all the faucets (don't forget outside showers) all the p-traps will be good too.



Any other questions, feel free to email.

Dont forget to pour some anti-freeze down the sink traps(drains) tub & potty

 

[Schlickenmeyer]

By running all the spigots, you have done this already, but true, I forgot to mention hold the flush lever long enough to get pink. Then, as I said, dump a half gallon straight down into the black tank.



And don't forget to close the outside hookup (the one for when hooked up at a campground). I drove myself NUTS trying to figure out why the &$^% thing would not pull antifreeze from the jug. There should also be a valve for this.

Spent an hour making up new bad words before I figured it out.