Frozen! I screwed up.

[GaDawgFan]

I had to go out of town unexpectedly and did not get Motorhome winterized. Came over to do it today and was too late, no water moving. Here's what I am doing. I am leaving furnace on tonight (no heat pump on my unit). Several of my storage bays are heated. I bought a small ceramic space heater and have it blowing under kitchen sink and towards the rear of the motor home. I have opened all cabinets where there is plumbing to allow air to circulate. I also have a cord with a light at the end. There is a 100 watt bulb in it and I am placing it in the compartment with the water pump and exterior shower.

Any other suggestions. Should I turn in the electric side of the water heater?

Much more cold weather coming to the Atlanta are over the next few days.

As always thanks for the help.

[nforus]

Sounds like you've pretty well got it covered, I'm not sure I would want to turn on the hot water heater if it's frozen in there. You may also want to open your low point drains so as the water thaws, it can drain out.

Good Luck!!!

[BobGed]

If you have one, I would also suggest removing your water filter canister, and if possible dump the water, or thaw the ice, and take out the filter. If it freezes the canister can/will crack.

[Tarheel]

The only othere thing I would do is open the outside door behind your refrigerator and put a light bulb in there. You can plug it in where your ice maker is plugged in. If you only have a single receptacle, use an adapter. I've had my ice maker lines freeze while on ski trips and you can do damage to the associated plumbing if it stays frozen too long.

[skigramp]

Definitely turn on the hot water heater ... that is probably the most "expensive" thing to replace if anything is damaged ... (my brother-in-law forgot to drain his hot water heater when he winterized {Minnesota} ... he had to replace his hot water heater in the spring).

I think I would turn on the LP for your hot water heater ... I think I would turn it on and off in 15 minute intervals ... on 15 off 15 ....

I would also lift the pressure relief valve ...

[GregOk80]

Yes turn on the hot water heater but on LP no electric. As far as your fresh water tank half full would take -10 for week to freeze solid. With furnace (LP) running you should be fine. BUT don't forget the black and gray holding tanks. If they are empty now, what water you run down the drain while blowing out the lines will be there. SO take a chance and dump on ground or add LOTS of anti-freeze.

[GaDawgFan]

Thank all of you for your help. I am hoping I'll be okay. It has not been cold enough, long enough here in Atlanta to do too much damage (I hope). I was afraid to leave the hot water heater on all night without being there (I keep it in a storage facility with 30 amp available). As for the ice maker, I removed it several years ago, so that won't be am issue.

Thanks again

[homeless]

Open a cold water valve and head south until it starts running!

[GaDawgFan]

Originally Posted by homeless

Open a cold water valve and head south until it starts running!

Best advice I have gotten in a long time.

[cliffm]

As far as the gray/black tanks, you can throw rock salt down the drain. It can help thaw/avoid freezing in those tanks if need be.

[Dave5]

Originally Posted by GaDawgFan

I had to go out of town unexpectedly and did not get Motorhome winterized. Came over to do it today and was too late, no water moving. Here's what I am doing. I am leaving furnace on tonight (no heat pump on my unit). Several of my storage bays are heated. I bought a small ceramic space heater and have it blowing under kitchen sink and towards the rear of the motor home. I have opened all cabinets where there is plumbing to allow air to circulate. I also have a cord with a light at the end. There is a 100 watt bulb in it and I am placing it in the compartment with the water pump and exterior shower.

Any other suggestions. Should I turn in the electric side of the water heater?

Much more cold weather coming to the Atlanta are over the next few days.

As always thanks for the help.

My too! And in Atlanta too no less. Had my Winnie winterized but got tempted to take her out 3 weeks ago and procrastinated rewinterizing. Stupid hug! This morning she was frozen. Funny I did the same things that you are doing but it did not work out well. Don't turn on the water pump unless you have some help to look at the possible leaks. I didn't. Like a fool, I turned the pump on from the bay to see if it was working or leaking, by the time I got inside I had a flood in the bath/vanity and under the kitchen sink. It burst the purification filter and blew black carbon water everywhere. Blew the vanity cold water line and the hot water heater plug! Probably more I couldn't check yet. Crap. Plus we're going down to 4 degrees on Sunday/Monday. I have to finish tomorrow cause I have nowhere inside to put it. Bummed

[GaDawgFan]

Originally Posted by Dave5

My too! And in Atlanta too no less. Had my Winnie winterized but got tempted to take her out 3 weeks ago and procrastinated rewinterizing. Stupid hug! This morning she was frozen. Funny I did the same things that you are doing but it did not work out well. Don't turn on the water pump unless you have some help to look at the possible leaks. I didn't. Like a fool, I turned the pump on from the bay to see if it was working or leaking, by the time I got inside I had a flood in the bath/vanity and under the kitchen sink. It burst the purification filter and blew black carbon water everywhere. Blew the vanity cold water line and the hot water heater plug! Probably more I couldn't check yet. Crap. Plus we're going down to 4 degrees on Sunday/Monday. I have to finish tomorrow cause I have nowhere inside to put it. Bummed

That is terrible. I went back this evening and everything was thawed out. Bypassed and drained water heater and pumped antifreeze through all the lines. So far no signs of leaks. I may have gotten very lucky. By the way, I am in Dacula and store the motorhome in Buford.

[KIX]

Originally Posted by GaDawgFan

That is terrible. I went back this evening and everything was thawed out. Bypassed and drained water heater and pumped antifreeze through all the lines. So far no signs of leaks. I may have gotten very lucky. By the way, I am in Dacula and store the motorhome in Buford.

I read posts by those that live where winterization is important that you should also dump some anti-freeze into the sink and shower p-traps.

[GaDawgFan]

Originally Posted by KIX

I read posts by those that live where winterization is important that you should also dump some anti-freeze into the sink and shower p-traps.

Good point, and yes I did this as well.

[Dunner]

My buddy (SLC) forgot to drain his water heater last year. It split, but he was able to take it out and get it welded.

[nova 42qd]

Just got home Sunday afternoon in VA after two weeks in FL. Did the fire drill to winterize. Sure glad I did given today's cold weather.

Check out your owner's manual for the winterization procedure to be sure you don't miss anything. Good Luck!

[BlueLine]

Sorry about your dilemma GA Dawg Fan. During my review of all the responses to your problem I realized I myself overlooked something. Prior to leaving Myrtle Beach last week I added 15-20 gallons of FW to my Blackwater tank to get a rolling tank flush on the way home, forgot it, just went out and added 15 gal of hot water to the tank and dumped the system into my home septic connection and added a light to the access. Hope you've had no freeze damage.

[wa8yxm]

Did you drain the water heater before it froze? If not, you may have a Serious issue there.. Good luck

I'd add additional heat in the wet bays as well.

[mrt_1111]

Don`t forget to check the water pump. I broke one a couple of years ago when it froze.