Frozen RV Water Pipes

by Dennis
(Montana)

A lesson learned as part of the RV lifestyle.

If you apply heat to thaw out frozen pipes you should WATCH THOSE PIPES !

My wife, Robyn, our Cat "Dumbass" and I are all newcomers to RV living but we are not new to frozen pipes and should have known better.

When our winter stay in Montana devolved to sub zero (18 below) as we naturally had anticipated and prepared for, we nonetheless had an ice plug form in the pipes that cross over from port to starboard. All of our insulating, skirting, heat tapes, and such did not prevent this. But we were able to locate the problem and apply a small space heater to the affected area in hopes of thawing it out.

We cracked open the faucets to be ready when, and if, the water resumed flowing. And then we went out to dinner and therein lies the problem. Returning to the unit after several hours we were met with cheerfully gurgling faucets and several inches of water on the floor and two large solid blocks of ice where our blackwater and greywater tanks formerly resided.

After about three weeks of chilly treks to the campground rest-rooms, carrying water for drinking and dishwashing, and severe self chastisement, the weather moderated for a long enough period of time to thaw everything out. So WATCH THOSE PIPES !

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