Stuck in Freeport, Texas with Below Freezing Temps Predicted!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Suzm99]

So I came down to the Freeport, Texas area to spend the month of February before the High Season rates start. The weather was outstanding to start but, WHOA!!!! Starting Sunday, 2/16/21, the temperature is predicted to stay below freezing (as low as 16 degrees) through Tuesday morning. I'm at a Brazoria County park and they will be turning the water off in preparation for the hard freeze. Is there anything I can do to protect the pipes in the underbelly during this time?

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!

 

[Ynot4me2]

Keep that furnace going. That is what heats the underbelly. Worse case, if its really going way below freezing for a few days is to blow the lines.

Sent from my SM-P610 using Tapatalk

 

[FT4NOW]

Keep your fresh water tank full, dump tank valves shut, and furnace going. Keep an eye on propane and know where to fill it, dont wait until both tanks are empty. When we lived in our Momentum, we went through a 30lb tank in about 2.5 days when it was in the low teens.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

 

[Suzm99]

Thanks for the tips!

Unfortunately, I've got the small tanks. I'm using the gas sparingly right now and will get them refilled on Sunday before the deep freeze starts. The roads will be treacherous if we get rain. I would have to cross over the Intercoastal Waterway bridge to get to a propane supply place on Monday but they may have that bridge closed.

My gray tank valve is broken in the open position. Should I wrap it with something?

Thanks again!

 

[FT4NOW]

My gray tank valve is broken in the open position. Should I wrap it with something?

If you can wrap it, do it. I would use fiberglass insulation and wrap the sewer hose and everything not in the underbelly.

One of my black valves was leaking and had a small drip. I only figured it out when temps were in the teens and my entire sewer hose froze solid, froze some of my sewer pipe on the camper. I wrapped it all in foil, added heat tape and then fiber glass insulation, it was thawed out the next day.

You might be ok with the valve being full open since it wont be a small drip, just keep an eye on it.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

 

[Suzm99]

Maybe I should buy a third small tank?

 

[Grandesigner]

Might even consider a larger tank, depending on cost difference.
Good luck.

 

[D2Reid]

Maybe I should buy a third small tank?

Or rent one. A rental equipment company near me rents 30/40/100 pound propane tanks, to pricey for an extended period of time but ok for a week. With both propane tanks filled to start off with leave them both open. You have a cutover switch that will switch between the tanks automatically when one empties. On that switch is a color indicator and a lever, when the color indicator turns red the tank the lever is pointing to is empty, switch the lever, turn the tank valve off and go fill.

Fill your water tank then disconnect the hose and drain it. Refill when the temps come back up.

Sewer hose, the key to that is a smooth even flow without any dips or kinks. Slinkys, stiff plastic hose guides, or rain gutters work well for this. So long as there is no place for the water to back up you can leave the valves open, the water will come out warm enough to run the length of the sewer hose into the ground. Warning, sewer hoses get very brittle when it freezes, try not to move it below 25f.

It is imperative that you run the propane furnace to keep under parts from freezing, but you can use small electric heater to supplement, just don't get carried away with it.

At night open your cabinet doors and drawers, this helps to disperse the heat evenly throughout the trailer.

 

[Steven@147]

Yeath, old mother nature is going to play a rude joke on us here in southern Texas. Just follow what other members are saying and you'll be fine. But stay off the roads, here in South Texas the counties and state do not have the equipment to deal with snow and ice effectively and Texas drivers are nuts in this kind of weather, they won't slow down for anything and the flyovers in big cities will be deadly! Just hunker down for a couple days then it will be back up in the 70's.

 

[fmartinmn]

Yeath, old mother nature is going to play a rude joke on us here in southern Texas. Just follow what other members are saying and you'll be fine. But stay off the roads, here in South Texas the counties and state do not have the equipment to deal with snow and ice effectively and Texas drivers are nuts in this kind of weather, they won't slow down for anything and the flyovers in big cities will be deadly! Just hunker down for a couple days then it will be back up in the 70's.

Hey Steve, I am down here in the Austin area. Still winterized, but using the black tank with bottled water. I want to add more RV antifreeze to my tanks, but none can be had in this area. I did find a Prestone product that is Propylene glycol based. Can I use that in my black & grey tank? Thanks, Frank.

 

[Dick Noble]

Regular anti-freeze is poison. Use Jack Daniels.

 

[fmartinmn]

Regular anti-freeze is poison. Use Jack Daniels.

Love it!

 

[Suzm99]

Another issue - gray tank 2 is showing full. I thought I had seen a label on the lower edge of the trailer and just went out to check it. There is a rod but no handle!!! Is there a way to pull that rod to open the valve to empty this tank? Geez! Here I knew that the valve for tank #1 was bad and now I don't have a handle for tank #2!! Would I be able to move handle 1 to make a handle for 2? Could this get any more fun????????

 

[CoChris-MGRV]

Another issue - gray tank 2 is showing full. I thought I had seen a label on the lower edge of the trailer and just went out to check it. There is a rod but no handle!!! Is there a way to pull that rod to open the valve to empty this tank? Geez! Here I knew that the valve for tank #1 was bad and now I don't have a handle for tank #2!! Would I be able to move handle 1 to make a handle for 2? Could this get any more fun????????

Yes, you can move a handle between two dump valves. There should be a nut or screw (depending on the styles) in the center of the handle. It is probably recessed. Remove that and the handle should just pull off. You could also try a pair of pliers or vice grips if you have them. Just be careful not to damage any exposed threads. Try grabbing the smooth rod a few inches from the end.

Chris

 

[Suzm99]

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I will give these a try. Another saved the day moment by the Forum!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Suzm99]

I moved the handle from the back valve and put it on the front one, after dropping the screw in the cold wet grass, of course. Found it with a magnet that I had no idea why I had it with me. Anyway, I can close it and open it but nothing releases. I will be doing my dishes in a tub and dumping it in the bathroom sink. Not a bad option under the circumstances.

 

[Steven@147]

Hey Steve, I am down here in the Austin area. Still winterized, but using the black tank with bottled water. I want to add more RV antifreeze to my tanks, but none can be had in this area. I did find a Prestone product that is Propylene glycol based. Can I use that in my black & grey tank? Thanks, Frank.

Wish I was close by I would give you a couple RV gallons. I have been carrying 3 gallons with us ever since we were up in Northern Indiana, never needed it. Propylene Glycol will work in the black and grey tanks and in the traps but it "may" harm septic system bacteria that keeps them operating, I am not a chemist and I really don't know the differences between Propylene or Ethylene Glycol, of course the more you dilute any AZ it the weaker it gets.

I dont think the 2970 has holding tank heaters, if they started installing them, turn them on. Otherwise just keep your furnace on to keep heat in the underbelly and supplement the interior with electric heaters if necessary. Your 20# tanks will go fast running the furnace a lot, locate the nearest propane refilling station just in case, keep the unit winterized for the fresh water lines.

Just looked it up, Propylene Glycol is used in many RV antifreezes and is much less toxic. It should not harm septic systems in low quantities. On the other hand if a jug was just labeled Propylene Glycol as in Serria type automotive antifreeze, I would not trust it in fresh water supplies because of whatever else might be in it. If a jug was labeled RV antifreeze containing Propylene glycol I would tend to trust it more for potable water supplies.

 

[Suzm99]

Might the Propylene Glycol be okay in my gray tank that is full and I can't drain? Thanks!

 

[Baja Fog]

I’m voting “yes” and think you’ve got a good idea there. But if you do, don’t drink from it, cook with it, brush your teeth or water your pets.

 

[Suzm99]

great now to find it before the roads feeze