AngeMahl0703
New Member
It is sad to say that I am not new to RV living - yet have made a massive rookie mistake!!
We are currently "moochdocking" in the backyard of family in Virginia Beach VA. We've been here for roughly two years and typically below freezing nights are followed by sunny days in the high 30s/low 40s so I've never been overly concerned about freezing water. Of course that has all changed with this recent cold front. We've had temperatures in the 20s since Tuesday evening which were accompanied by snow Tuesday night and the temp has not risen above 26 in the last 36 hours.
My biggest immediate concern is frozen Dump Valves & Pipes but my black tank and grey tank are also over half full (No onsite Dumping). I left my black tank valve open when I last dumped into my portable tank and so the water in the pipe is frozen as is the valve. The pipes are connected to a flange with a release valve and that valve is frozen shut along with the water in the valve. We have been running the furnace, so hoping that the water in the tanks is not completely frozen.
I reached out to GD Customer Service and in addition to some YouTube research, the best I've come up with is to add some skirting (yes I know
) and run a space heater near the pipes to try and melt the ice. I'm working with a small Honeywell that doesn't quite blow direct heat so it seems counterproductive. I've been hesitant to work with a ceramic heater or anything more intense as I am concerned about damage to the pipes and underbelly, but it feels like a "Lesser of Two Evils" type of situation. I do have access to a diesel heater and a "Mr. Buddy" so I am able to ratchet up the heat if needed.
I'm ready for the scolding for not being better prepared and attentive of the weather. But I desperately need some guidance to get a handle on this situation. Highs are slowly moving above freezing today and tomorrow, but lows will remain in the 20's. GD Customer Service recommended that the best resource in this circumstance would be the GD Community so I'm hoping that you guys have some suggestions that I can put into practice immediately. Let me know - thanks!!
We are currently "moochdocking" in the backyard of family in Virginia Beach VA. We've been here for roughly two years and typically below freezing nights are followed by sunny days in the high 30s/low 40s so I've never been overly concerned about freezing water. Of course that has all changed with this recent cold front. We've had temperatures in the 20s since Tuesday evening which were accompanied by snow Tuesday night and the temp has not risen above 26 in the last 36 hours.
My biggest immediate concern is frozen Dump Valves & Pipes but my black tank and grey tank are also over half full (No onsite Dumping). I left my black tank valve open when I last dumped into my portable tank and so the water in the pipe is frozen as is the valve. The pipes are connected to a flange with a release valve and that valve is frozen shut along with the water in the valve. We have been running the furnace, so hoping that the water in the tanks is not completely frozen.
I reached out to GD Customer Service and in addition to some YouTube research, the best I've come up with is to add some skirting (yes I know

I'm ready for the scolding for not being better prepared and attentive of the weather. But I desperately need some guidance to get a handle on this situation. Highs are slowly moving above freezing today and tomorrow, but lows will remain in the 20's. GD Customer Service recommended that the best resource in this circumstance would be the GD Community so I'm hoping that you guys have some suggestions that I can put into practice immediately. Let me know - thanks!!