Don't Let Your Plumbing Freeze And Break
Avoid frozen pipes in your RV with these simple tips, and thaw out quickly, and get moving if you are caught with frozen pipes while camping.
The beauty of an RV isn’t just the freedom to move, travel and camp at your own pace, it’s also the variety of terrain and environments you can tackle on your home-away-from-home. From dusty desert day trips up to cold weather ski trips and more – having a climate controlled place to bring along really opens up a world of exploration and travel. That’s a big reason RV ownership and travel is so heavily on the rise– go anywhere, just about any time.
Cold weather destinations are a great option for staying close to home during winter months, as a budgeted way to try ski resorts or a whole new way to experience national parks and outdoor attractions. Sitting snug inside a warm camper surrounded by untouched snow and nearly empty campsites – it’s easy to see why an RV is an attractive option for year-round campers and vacationers.
That doesn’t mean RV owners don’t have their own set of camper specific problems to deal with. Sure you can camp out when and where tent-dwellers wouldn’t dare, but minor weather related problems will arise. Treacherous roads, breakdowns, mid-trip repairs, and, when the weather dips below freezing, you may have to contend with frozen pipes.
Even relatively seasonable areas can experience a sudden cold snap, or a frost that lasts long enough to Freeze part of your water system. Luckily, there are some easy preemptive measures you can take, if you know the weather will dip, to avoid experiencing frozen water lines, and ways to get thawed out relatively quickly, if the worst happens.
If you’re a new owner, and you haven’t considered the challenge of avoiding frozen water pipes you might have been wondering….
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Will RV Water Lines Freeze?
Simply – Yes, absolutely. Many a seasoned RV enthusiast will tell you frozen water pipes are more than just a bummer on a chilly morning – severely or repeatedly frozen over water lines and tanks can cause real damage to your RV’s water system and potentially other areas of your vehicle. We all know, water expands as it freezes, which can potentially burst pipes, and damage fittings where freezing is more likely to occur.
The freshwater tank, waste tanks, plumbing and lines connecting your RV to park utilities are all vulnerable to freezing, and possible cracking, splitting and failure, if the freeze is bad enough.
It’s more than a hassle. Have your RV prepared for cold-weather camping, and know what the weather and terrain will be like. It’s better safe than sorry.
How Cold Does It Have To Be To Freeze RV Pipes?
The simple answer is – anytime and anywhere that the weather drops to ‘below freezing’ i.e. 32 degrees fahrenheit, there is the possibility that any part of your water system could freeze over, although certain areas are more prone to freezing than others.
Of course, as we’ll explain, the wind chill, temperature of your RV, Insulation, skirting and other weather proofing measures will play a major role in determining how cold it has to get, and how long it will take for your RV to experience problems with the lines and tanks freezing.
Every outdoor environment takes its toll differently, but there are plenty of preventative measures to avoid problems and possible costly repairs. Any part of the water system could potentially freeze over, the most delicate and vulnerable areas depend on how your RV is heated, constructed and insulated. As a rule of thumb, several areas need the most protection…
How Do I Keep RV Pipes From Freezing
You wake up on a beautiful, crisp winter day, the snow is falling in fat, gentle flakes all around your campsite and…there’s no running water. From a mild inconvenience, to a disaster-in-the-making, frozen pipes really put a damper on any RV trip. With a few preventative, inexpensive measures, you can avoid waking up to frozen pipes, and possible expensive repairs mid-trip, and enjoy the heck out of winter camping!
RV Insulation
An obvious way to keep your pipes warmer, and prep for cold weather travel, is to have adequate insulation around your RV. It’s a good idea to have your vehicle well-insulated- it’s a money-saver in the long run, can be installed relatively easily and keeps your whole RV nice and toasty. It requires very little maintenance, and can generally be left on year-round. If you haven’t invested in RV insulation, and you’re a dedicated winter traveler, it’s a good first step to protecting every component of your vehicle.
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A contractor can install foam insulation to the RV underbelly, but there are several simple options you can even do yourself, that give you added warmth and protection with very little investment.
Make sure your doors and windows are sealed, and the exterior weather stripping is in good condition. Tiny holes and gaps in the sealant can make a big impact on how warm your RV interior stays during cold weather. A warmer cabin means you are less likely to experience freezing and bursting pipes and water system damage.
You can also install insulating window coverings. Cut foil lined insulation to size and place in your windows for extra protection, and try heavy curtains or drapes over windows and doors.
It’s not a bad idea to invest in some RV skirting. The removable winter skirting keeps wind whistling under your RV and damaging sensitive components and sucking heat away from the RV. The skirting can be taken off and stored during summer months. You can also try foam insulation boards under the RV with or without the skirting, and even heavy rugs inside can curb the cold that seeps in from underneath the RV.
Hose Wraps
Every RV is different, with different plumbing. If you don’t already know where your plumbing runs, and whether it is already heated or insulated, check your RV manual or go have a look for yourself. Pipes that are uncovered or run outside of the coach are, unsurprisingly, much more likely to freeze and cause problems.
Frost King Pipe Tape
- Cuts wasteful heat loss on hot water pipes
- Prevents cold water pipes from sweating
- Easy installation
- Reduces energy loss
One of the most inexpensive options is to add insulation tape to your pipes. It’s very easy to do yourself, and if pipes run outside the cab, it’s a good bet that they could benefit from some extra insulation. Get some insulation tape and wrap it generously around any pipes, your freshwater hose and sewer hose, and the fittings and valves to keep the lines warm and give extra protection against freezing.
Heat tape is another option that can be used around freshwater hose and sewer hoses to keep the lines warm. Heat tape is trickier than insulation tape and should be applied carefully – always read the manufacturer’s suggestion when wrapping your hoses.
Keep The RV Warm
Besides wanting your vehicle nice and warm for basic comfort, keeping your cabin warm does a lot to prevent even outside lines and tanks from freezing over and causing problems. Before you do any winter-weather traveling, you’ll want to make sure your RV’s furnace is clean, working and free of debris. You can clean the furnace yourself, but you may want a checkup from a professional technician to make sure your RV’s furnace is ready for sudden cold temperatures, especially if you’re planning on traveling in areas that experience extreme cold.
Small Space Heater
- 2 in 1 heater fan: This ceramic heater provides two heat levels, 1500W or 750W and one cool air fan
- These electric heaters are made of flame retardant material avoiding any fire hazard. Automatic safety shutoff system.
- The noise this ceramic heater makes is lower than 45 decibels, quiet enough for most people to use in a bedroom while sleeping.
You might find you need additional heating in cold months, and you may have, or want to buy a space heater. Small RV space heaters do carry risk – including adding condensation or humidity that could damage components in your RV. You may also need a dehumidifier, and of course pay attention to all manufacturer safety guidelines. Running a small space heater in the “basement” or underneath the RV (as long as it is weather wrapped) can be very effective in keeping everything from freezing.
Open Cabinets that Hold Pipes
Although interior pipes are less likely to freeze, and especially if you keep the rig warm and the furnace running, plumbing can freeze. Keep cabinet doors in the kitchen and bathroom open so warm air inside can circulate around the pipes. You can even install extra insulation or insulation tape to exterior cabinet walls. If you see any holes or gaps between the plumbing and exterior, fill those too. It’s added insulation and keeps out pests.
Run Water Through the Night
Another option, to ensure pipes and tanks don’t freeze during cold winter nights, is to keep the water holding tanks open and water flowing. This method is sometimes used in residential homes to keep lines running, because running water just doesn’t freeze as easily. Again, make sure you keep the tanks open and draining.
Though whether it’s the best option long-term is up to you. You actually need about a pencils’ width of water running through the lines to keep freeze at bay. If you’re hooked up to freshwater at a campsite, this is obviously much easier. Running your own freshwater supply through the night is not recommended unless it is your last option. Keep in mind that this would keep your water pump going all night, and you would probably run out of water in your fresh tank.
