Keep an RV Water Hose from Freezing

Most recreational vehicles are not constructed to endure freezing temperatures. If a cold front is approaching, RVers can take precautionary measures to keep an RV water hose from solidifying. The most inexpensive, common sense step to take when cold weather camping is to fill your fresh water tank in preparation of disconnecting from your water supply. For campers who plan on enduring lengthy cold spells, special hose insulation materials are available at RV supply shops and hardware stores.

Steps

Disconnect the Water Hose

  1. Fill your fresh water holding tank with water. A full tank ensures you will have ample fresh water supplies after disconnecting your water hose.
  2. Disconnect your RV water hose. Detach it from the RV connection and water supply line. Place it in a covered area away from cold.
  3. Place a heating pad over your RV water pump. Plug the heating pad into your campsite's electricity supply.
    • Lay several towels over your water pump. This helps insulate the pump from the cold if an electric supply isn't available.
  4. Cover your holding tanks with towels.
  5. Place a small lamp inside your freshwater holding tank compartment. Set it between the tank and the water pump for additional protection against a frozen RV water supply.
  6. Empty your gray and black water tanks. This ensures ample room for overnight waste in the compartments. Rinse the hose to prevent solid waste from freezing inside.
  7. Close your sewer valves. This enables you to store water in the tanks.
  8. Use your fresh water supply for ordinary household use. Conserve water to avoid flooding the tanks.

Insulate Your Hose

  1. Purchase heat tape. This tape features a heating element and thermostat which warms the hose and keeps water flowing when plugged into a standard electric outlet.
  2. Locate heat tape at a RV supply shop or home hardware store.
  3. Wrap the heat tape around your RV water hose in a barbershop pole fashion.
  4. Leave the heating element hanging off one end of the hose.
  5. Cover the heat tape with foam insulation tubes. This material is designed for wrapping water lines and available where you find heat tape.
  6. Ensure the foam tubing matches your hose length. The tube should cover the entire length of your water supply hose.
  7. Wrap the foam insulation around your hose.
  8. Wrap duct tape around the hose. This secures the foam tubing around the heat tape.

Open Water Lines

  1. Empty your gray and black water holding tanks. This ensures waste water won't freeze in the tanks. Follow up with a sewer hose rinse to prevent existing solid and liquid waste from solidifying in the hose.
  2. Leave the valve open for your RV grey water tank, but close the black water valve. An open gray water valve enables overnight waste to flow into the septic system instead of filling up your tanks. Closing the black water valve prevents excessive odors.
  3. Open your kitchen and bathroom faucets. This is to allow for a slow, steady drip of water and ensures water won't freeze because it's moving through the supply lines at all times. Avoid wasting water--wait until bedtime to leave faucets open.
  4. Ensure all sink drains are open to avoid a flood.



Tips

  • Special water hoses equipped with built-in heating elements make winter RV camping more comfortable. These hoses are priced starting at about $250 USD.

Warnings

  • Sewer valves and supply lines can become brittle during freezing weather. Never force your sewer valve to open or close or handle your hoses until the temperature rises above freezing.

Things You'll Need

  • Heating pad
  • Towels
  • Small lamp
  • Heat tape
  • Foam insulation tubes
  • Duct tape

Sources and Citations

Retrieved from "https://kipkis.com/index.php?title=Keep_an_RV_Water_Hose_from_Freezing&oldid=356832"