Texan wondering if tanks are heated:

[valentine1336]

Hi Noob here! I read the manual, I’ve asked the previous owners of this RV, but I am still unclear about needed winterization in central Texas. But most importantly, I cannot find any information on weather or not I have heated tanks or not. If I do, then is that something that I need to manually manipulate myself- how do I do that? Our weather is real tricky down here. Right now it’s almost 70 but tonight it can get down to mid 30’s.

Help? What am I missing?

2022 Imagine Grand Design

 

[Scott'n'Wendy]

Based on your control panel...I would say it looks like you don't have tank heaters. they are manually turned on in our trailer so there is a switch on the panels that says...tank heaters

 

[valentine1336]

Thank you! Any suggestions for central Texas winterizing?

 

[Scott'n'Wendy]

Thank you! Any suggestions for central Texas winterizing?

Ha ha. I'm WAAAYYY north of you..different climate. I don't have any idea what central Texas gets for winter temps.
But...if you are winterizing....just have the tanks empty...don't worry about heating them. I don't and my winter temps are as cold as -40*

 

[Steven@147]

Thank you! Any suggestions for central Texas winterizing?

When we had our house we lived in Bastrop TX (Austin) and it would freeze at least once every winter. On our Imagine I just made sure the tanks were empty. Emptied the water heater tank and set the water heater tank valves to Bypass, then ran in a gallon of RV antifreeze. The Imagine did not have a nautilus water panel but it had a separate winterizing hose tucked in behind the water panel. Just stuck the open hose in a gallon jug of RV antifreeze, and set the one valve lever to external water source (IIRC) and used the demand pump to run the kitchen, bathroom and shower faucets hot and cold lines. Then ran some through the toilet. Running the faucets also ran RV antifreeze down into the traps. Was always ok.

On our Solitude, it does have a nautilus water panel, the procedure is a little different to set the valves to winterize. Red handled nautilus panel valve is the water heater Bypass. Emptied all the tanks and water heater tank, then used the demand pump with a short hose in a gallon jug to suck in the RV antifreeze and run all the faucets.

Tankless water heater? Don't know how to do that type, never had a tankless water heater.

Now that we are fulltime I have not winterized in 5 years.

 

[CedarCreekWoody]

Yes, you need to winterize in central texas. Even if you have heated tanks you need to winterize. Frozen pipes and fittings are the concern, not the tanks.

 

[Deb-n-Vic]

I'm outside of Austin and our winterization has been to completely open and drain all water from the system, including the hot water tank. We blow out the system using our inflator to make sure the low spots get emptied. That's it. No problems over the years. We did use antifreeze the year that single digits was forecast but other wise the cold snaps are too brief to mess with it.

 

[valentine1336]

But I live in mine full time. I can’t imagine draining them and not having water all season. I’m so confused. lol!!! Thank you so much for your help!

 

[kb0zke]

valentine1336, we're also full-timers, and have been for 10 years now. For us, winterizing means going somewhere that's reasonably warm. Does your furnace provide some heat to the underbelly, where the tanks are? If so, you are probably okay. Our trailer is a bit different, so details will also be different. You are using your water from your tank, so there is frequent movement of the water. True, you aren't using much during the night, but with the furnace on you should be okay. If it is going to get really cold you could open some cabinet doors to let more warm air get to the pipes, and maybe even put an electric heater in somewhere. Just remember to dump and fill when the temperature is warmer. A full tank is less likely to freeze than a nearly empty one.

 

[valentine1336]

valentine1336, we're also full-timers, and have been for 10 years now. For us, winterizing means going somewhere that's reasonably warm. Does your furnace provide some heat to the underbelly, where the tanks are? If so, you are probably okay. Our trailer is a bit different, so details will also be different. You are using your water from your tank, so there is frequent movement of the water. True, you aren't using much during the night, but with the furnace on you should be okay. If it is going to get really cold you could open some cabinet doors to let more warm air get to the pipes, and maybe even put an electric heater in somewhere. Just remember to dump and fill when the temperature is warmer. A full tank is less likely to freeze than a nearly empty one.

Thank you for your reply! I’m outside of Austin. It typically gets into the 20’s with ice for a week in February. I am unable to move the trailer further south.

So we use city water. Nothing in the fresh tank.

We bought space heaters for day time use and propane furnace at night.

I don’t think I have a way to heat tanks during freezes unless I manually add something now.

I will take your advice!

 

[valentine1336]

Yes, you need to winterize in central texas. Even if you have heated tanks you need to winterize. Frozen pipes and fittings are the concern, not the tanks.

Can you tell me specifically what to buy/do etc. ? TIA!

 

[valentine1336]

When we had our house we lived in Bastrop TX (Austin) and it would freeze at least once every winter. On our Imagine I just made sure the tanks were empty. Emptied the water heater tank and set the water heater tank valves to Bypass, then ran in a gallon of RV antifreeze. The Imagine did not have a nautilus water panel but it had a separate winterizing hose tucked in behind the water panel. Just stuck the open hose in a gallon jug of RV antifreeze, and set the one valve lever to external water source (IIRC) and used the demand pump to run the kitchen, bathroom and shower faucets hot and cold lines. Then ran some through the toilet. Running the faucets also ran RV antifreeze down into the traps. Was always ok.

On our Solitude, it does have a nautilus water panel, the procedure is a little different to set the valves to winterize. Red handled nautilus panel valve is the water heater Bypass. Emptied all the tanks and water heater tank, then used the demand pump with a short hose in a gallon jug to suck in the RV antifreeze and run all the faucets.

Tankless water heater? Don't know how to do that type, never had a tankless water heater.

Now that we are fulltime I have not winterized in 5 years.

Thank you!

 

[Second Chance]

But I live in mine full time. I can’t imagine draining them and not having water all season. I’m so confused. lol!!! Thank you so much for your help!

Tanks heaters are the least of your worries. Due to the mass of liquid in them and their location, things like water lines, etc., will freeze long before anything in the tanks. Not all units with tank heaters have switches for them on the control panel, either. Perhaps @huntr70 can give some more information on this...

Rob

 

[mbergthold]

Hi Noob here! I read the manual, I’ve asked the previous owners of this RV, but I am still unclear about needed winterization in central Texas. But most importantly, I cannot find any information on weather or not I have heated tanks or not. If I do, then is that something that I need to manually manipulate myself- how do I do that? Our weather is real tricky down here. Right now it’s almost 70 but tonight it can get down to mid 30’s.

2022 Imagine Grand Design

The "heated holding tanks" that GD uses on Imagines is a heater duct tube that somehow keeps the fresh water tank, both gray holding tanks, and the black holding tank warm enough to keep from freezing. For that to work (assuming it does), you have to be running the propane forced air heat. The Imagines come with two 20# propane tanks, which IMO are a joke. RV towables with tongue tanks used to come with two 30# propane tanks, and even those run out way too quickly. I considered adding an in-line fan to the duct tube that goes below the floor, but that would still require the propane heater to be running.
My approach on a previous bumper pull and a Weekend Warrior 40' 5th wheel toy hauler was to add tank heater pads (one per tank). They are reasonably priced on Amazon, and come in either 12v or 120v. You'll have to unscrew and drop the belly cover to expose all 4 tanks, clean and apply the pads to the lowest part of each tank, install a multi-switch control panel and connect to the power center. Much more effective and alot cheaper in the long run.

 

[CedarCreekWoody]

Can you tell me specifically what to buy/do etc. ? TIA!

You are fulltime? In that case your furnace running periodically during freezing spells in Austin will keep the tanks from freezing. It blows hot air into the enclosed belly. Space heaters are ok above freezing but use furnace when freezing. Many full timers fill the water tank and use pump in winter. You could try an electrical heated water hose if well insulated.

 

[huntr70]

Imagines do not have dedicated heat pads on the tanks. Running your LP furnace should suffice for what you need.

If it is going to be below freezing during the day, I would recommend using the furnace and supplementing it with an electric heater. The furnace is what gives the tanks the heat they need.

 

[440scout]

Can you tell me specifically what to buy/do etc. ? TIA!

Look on Amazon, lots of choices. I wasn't able to attach the link for three 12 volt tank heaters and the lighted 3 switch control panel (RecPro brand). $80.
I highly recommend 12 volt tank heaters versus 120 volt heaters. Why? Fyi, we were in the Austin area in February 2021 during the Polar Vortex and when it hit, power went out for 3 days but because the heaters were 12 volt, they still worked.