Caught in Freezing Temps

tomanni

I have a 2015 T@b Outback that is parked in a carport in freezing temps with water in the tanks. I have it hooked up to shore power and the inside is warm enough, but I think the pipes may have frozen already as there's no water coming through the sink faucet or the toilet flush and the fresh water valve under the trailer is frozen in the closed position. Should I keep the Alde heater and/or the hot water heater running until I can get the camper to my service center to thaw out and winterize, hopefully before the pipes burst, or should I just turn everything off and hope for the best? Freezing temps are predicted for the remainder of the week. Thanks for any advice you can provide.

dragonsdofly

@tomanni, to protect interior plumbing from freezing, I'd leave the alde running while keeping the cabinet doors and the bathroom door open. Pour as much pink rv antizfreeze into the black and gray tanks as you can without flooding them, making sure to get some in the sink and shower traps. That's as far as my knowledge takes me. I would not turn everything off and hope for the best, as Murphy's Law applies in all cases. If you can keep the interior lines/fittings from splitting you can avoid interior water damage. Not sure if exterior damage or splitting has occurred, but I know the gate valves do split when frozen. Good luck and if anyone else has any suggestions, please pipe in!

tomanni

A few folks on another forum suggested the same things you did, in addition to putting a small space heater underneath the trailer and fashioning a skirt of sorts made from tarps or cardboard around the bottom of the trailer to trap the warm air and promote a thaw. Thank you so much for taking the time to respond.

Sharon_is_SAM

Tomanni - Keep the propane off while using that heater under the TaB.  Maybe turn the Alde electric heat up to 2 and leave the hot water setting at the base setting - you want to keep circulating the glycol for cabin heat.

tomanni

@SAM Thank you!

pthomas745

Ok, so how is everything working out for you?

tomanni

Hey everyone, just a quick update on my camper. I had to leave it parked in an open air carport for over 48 hours in freezing temps. I let the Alde heater and hot water heater run the whole time with the inside shower door and cabinet doors open, but I was unable to effectively heat the underside of the camper and outside tanks. My service center was able to pull my trailer into their garage bay to thaw out as soon as I could get it to them on Tuesday evening and it is now winterized and no worse for the wear. I want to thank everyone for reaching out and responding with helpful suggestions. This community is the best! Thank you again.

ericnliz

@tomanni, Glad to hear everything came out well for you. Curiosity question though...did they blow your lines out, or use the antifreeze method? Just really glad that you came through the ordeal unscathed! 

dragonsdofly

@tomanni, me too!

tomanni

@ericnliz, they use antifreeze. Thanks for the well wishes!

ericnliz

@tomanni, Just make sure you flush the antifreeze out REAL good in the spring, or when temps allow. travel safe out there & have fun!