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Member
Posts: 23
Location: missouri | We use our trailer all year so I've never winterized my LQ. I leave a small ceramic heater on and that has always worked in the past. Last night a breaker blew (in my barn) and the heater turned off. This morning my pipes were frozen. Is there any chance my pipes won't burst and that my water heater and water pump won't be ruined? I had to go to work and I'm stressing! |
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Expert
Posts: 5870
   
Location: western PA | There's a chance that your water system is not damaged depending on the flexibility of the pipes, how long they were frozen and how cold it got. You won't know for sure until you pressurize the water system. The frozen area was at the coolest part of your system. Any part that was heat soaked may be undamaged. As you have found out, even with a heater, your water system is not protected unless it is flushed with antifreeze or purged with air. Get some heat back on asap and hope for the best. BOL Gard
Edited by gard 2007-12-03 8:54 AM
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Member
Posts: 23
Location: missouri | How do I pressurize the water syster? Just by turning the faucet on after the pipes have thawed? |
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Expert
Posts: 5870
Location: western PA | To pressurize your water system, turn on the water pump switch. Open a faucet and if you have a flow, that part of the system is thawed. Do this to each faucet and your toilet. Keep the pump on and close all your faucets. The pump should stop running. Listen for several minutes and if the pump continues to run, start looking for leaks. If the pump stays off, you dodged the bullet and you're good to go. BOL Gard |
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 Expert
Posts: 1283
Location: Home of Wild Turkey Whiskey | I assume you have water in your tank? If so turn the pump on and see if it leaks. |
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Member
Posts: 23
Location: missouri | Originally written by gard on 2007-12-03 8:53 AM To pressurize your water system, turn on the water pump switch. Open a faucet and if you have a flow, that part of the system is thawed. Do this to each faucet and your toilet. Keep the pump on and close all your faucets. The pump should stop running. Listen for several minutes and if the pump continues to run, start looking for leaks. If the pump stays off, you dodged the bullet and you're good to go. BOL Gard Thanks so much for your help. |
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Member
Posts: 23
Location: missouri | Originally written by HWBar on 2007-12-03 8:53 AM
I assume you have water in your tank? If so turn the pump on and see if it leaks. Yes. |
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Expert
Posts: 5870
Location: western PA | you're welcome, good luck Gard |
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New User
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| i also keep my trailer open all year long. i keep a ceramic heater going but i also keep the furnace on the lowest setting possible.The furnace does not run but if the 110 does go bad atleast the furnace will maintain the lowest temperature and keep it from freezing. |
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Member
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Location: missouri | Originally written by pleasure horse on 2007-12-03 9:11 AM
i also keep my trailer open all year long. i keep a ceramic heater going but i also keep the furnace on the lowest setting possible.The furnace does not run but if the 110 does go bad atleast the furnace will maintain the lowest temperature and keep it from freezing. My trailer doesn't have a furnace. |
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Veteran
Posts: 212
Location: novinger, mo | I am curious. We winterize over the winter. What is the advantage of keeping it heated vs. winterizing? We do keep the trailer plugged in to 110.
j&j |
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Expert
Posts: 1283
Location: Home of Wild Turkey Whiskey | Originally written by j&j on 2007-12-05 6:48 AM
I am curious. We winterize over the winter. What is the advantage of keeping it heated vs. winterizing? We do keep the trailer plugged in to 110.
j&j
The advantage of winterizing the trailer is the pipes won't freeze.
It only takes about 10 minutes to winterize.
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Expert
Posts: 5870
Location: western PA | Please read the thread about batteries and overcharging by leaving the power on constantly. If the water system is winterized and the trailer is not being used, I find that it's unnecessary to heat the trailer for the winter. It would also become a welcomed environment for any critters looking for a winter respite. If it were still being used often, then I would purge the water system and maintain an inside heat source. Purging is faster and cheaper than an antifreeze winterization, but I don't think it is as completely effective. For long term storage, I would recommend the antifreeze. BOL Gard |
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.jpg) Expert
Posts: 2828
Location: Southern New Mexico | How do you get the antifreeze smell out in the spring? We really didn't have that problem (filled and drained the tank a couple of times) but a friend of ours can still smell the antifreeze from LAST winter. |
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Expert
Posts: 1723
Location: michigan | Add a little bleach to the water tank, fill and rinse out. |
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Expert
Posts: 5870
Location: western PA | Make sure an RV antifreeze is used. I caught a friend of mine using an automotive antifreeze, not realizing there was a difference. Flushing with a mixture of bleach and vinegar also helps, but it may take a few times to effect a clean potable water. There are several products sold for RV usage, mostly for antibacterial or antifungusidal removal. The bleach has always worked well for us. BOL Gard
Edited by gard 2007-12-06 8:01 AM
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Frozen pipes LQ Trailer
