Stop Water Hose from freezing?

[dadburnett]

Its getting colder and we are staying in Oregon for the winter. I have an artic package that protects my fifth wheel but am concerned with outside water hose freezing - I know, don't leave it out, but ... I've put a heat tape on it plus foam insulators. Used several times last winter and find the heat tape is melting the foam.
Found a NoFreeze hose on line that protects to -30F but don't really want to put out the $325 plus shipping for a 25' hose.
Other than heading south, are there any other solutuions or ideas out there, or are other alternatives?

[whodo]

I don't remember the brand name, but there is a heat tape that uses a thermostat to regulate the on/off of the heat tape. If you do a Google search I am sure you will find it.

[edjhill]

If I'm RV'ing in freezing weather, I use the hose to fill the water tank and, then, put it away again. I use the water from the tank.

Then, when I run low in the tank, I get the hose out again.

My RV is a four-season coach. That means the entire water system is inside the enclosed, insulated and heated belly of the coach. It's kept from freezing by the heating ducts in the floor.

Simple solution but, then, I'm a simple guy!

Ed Hill
www.EnjoyRVTravel.com

[justcrusin]

Its getting colder and we are staying in Oregon for the winter. I have an artic package that protects my fifth wheel but am concerned with outside water hose freezing - I know, don't leave it out, but ... I've put a heat tape on it plus foam insulators. Used several times last winter and find the heat tape is melting the foam.
Found a NoFreeze hose on line that protects to -30F but don't really want to put out the $325 plus shipping for a 25' hose.
Other than heading south, are there any other solutuions or ideas out there, or are other alternatives?

You do not need the foam when you are useing the heat tape. I did live in Alaska for while and we would use it on all of our exposed pipes. [no foam]we had a mobile home. and if you have problems with the air under your 5th wheel use bails of hey or straw [unbroken bails] they make a really good skirt and easy to get rid of when summer rolls around.
Merry Christmas
:) justcrusin

[murffdog]

Home Depot has the electric heat wire, wrap it around the hose or bring in the hose. I use it on my roof and it works great for ice.

[frank]

For long term the heat tape is the best bet!

Short term we have left a faucet dripping so the water runs throuh the hose all night. Not a good solution but once in a while we get caught in really cold weather. We try to bring the line in ifwe know up front is is going to be cold.

[murffdog]

For long term the heat tape is the best bet!

Short term we have left a faucet dripping so the water runs throuh the hose all night. Not a good solution but once in a while we get caught in really cold weather. We try to bring the line in ifwe know up front is is going to be cold.

If you leave it dripping for a period of time, I hope you have sewer hookup. :)

[toddl]

The problem with leaving water running is that the sewer line will freeze also, resulting in your grey water tank filling up and overflowing.

The safest/easiest approach is to use the water line to fill you tanks and disconnect between fillups.

Last winter I stayed in Maryland and used a thermostat on the heat tape, wrapped the heat tape in foil ductwrap and then put the foam pipe wrap around the hose and the wrapped heat tape and then wrapped the hole thing in duct tape. I never had a problem with the hose freezing.

The one problem that I did have was that I left my grey water valve open to the sewer line. After a week or more of freezing weather the sewer line froze and the grey water tank filled up. I had to disconnect the sewer line and replace it with a new line until the old one eventually defrosted. I will not leave the drain lines open any more. Dump the tank(s) every few days and make sure that the sewer line drains completely.

[jimbo]

If it were me I'd use the heat tape on both the water line going in and the sewer lines, and valves going out. You will have no problems. A good heat tape with thermastat should be all you need and buy the cheap foam pipe cover to protect from drafts but probably wouldn't need it. The heat tapes should be sufficent to keep from freezing.:D

[dadburnett]

Several months have passed since I posted the questionand we are still in Portland OR. There were a couple of weeks where the temps got ddown into the high 20's and I plugged in the heat "tape" and had no problems. My 5th wheel has a grey tank and a small galley tank. I dump the grey when ever I dump the balck tank, using it to flush the line. Because the galley tank is so small, I leave it open and so far, any water freezing in the line has not been a problem ... its about a fifteen run for the sewer line and I use a "gator" to ensure that liquid does not build up in the line. All in all, we've had a good winter and hope you have too.