How to Keep an RV Water Hose From Freezing

By Richard Thomas

How to Keep an RV Water Hose From Freezing

One of the great things about camping out of an RV is that the creature comforts offered make winter camping relatively easy. However, to take the RV out in freezing conditions means taking steps to winterize it, and in particular to prevent the water lines from freezing. Your RV is even more prone to frozen pipes than your house, so winterizing those pipes and lines is critical for winter RV use.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Step 1

Go around the RV to wherever you can access the outside water lines and wrap them in heat tape and then encase them in foam pipe insulation. You may wish to do this inside the RV as well, if you do not intend to keep the interior very warm.

Step 2

Repeat the process of wrapping with heat tape and foam pipe insulation for the RV's water hook-up hose, or as an alternative replace your normal hose with a heated hose. Plug the heated hose into the RV's electrical system or connect it to its battery, depending on the kind of hose you use.

Step 3

Put a tank heater onto the bottom of the RV water tanks. Do this by cleaning off any grime from the bottom of the tank, peeling off the protective film or paper, and sticking the adhesive side on. Either plug the tank heater into your RV's electrical system or connect it to its battery.

Step 4

Put pipe heaters onto the holding tank piping. These are smaller, wraparound versions of the tank heating pad, so repeat the same process to install them on the outsides of the holding tank pipes.

Step 5

Install skirting around the bottom of your RV. The simplest way to do this is with an insulated RV skirt kit that can be hung without even having to drill holes and mount hooks. This will help protect the tanks on the underside of your RV from the open air.

Tips & Warnings

A superior solution to the skirting question is to measure and saw your own sections of plywood to fit around the bottom of the RV. This will form a solid wall around the underside of your RV. You can even staple a layer of fiberglass insulation on one side, further improving its winterizing qualities.

Keep the gray and black water valves on your RV closed unless you are actually intending to dump from them. Leaving the gray water valve open, as is common in summer, will result in a dam of ice forming behind the nozzle.

About The Author

Richard Thomas has been writing since earning his M.A. in international affairs in 1997, frequently writes about hiking and scuba diving for Trails.com, and also works as the Budget Travel topic manager for eHow and the senior travel editor for Associated Content. His 2009 work on Portuguese hiking and artisanal cheeses has also appeared in print.

Editor's Pick

How to Walk in Snowshoes

Unlike with skiing or snowboarding, the only real skill you need in order to snowshoe is the ability to walk. You'll find snowshoes used for everything from gnarly backcountry adventures to recreational use in city parks. An important part of walking in snowshoes is maki...
More Snowshoeing...
Popular Article

Ice Traction Accessories for Shoes

Traveling across ice and snow is a dangerous activity that should not be attempted unless you have the proper ice traction accessories. Traction devices are designed to dig into the ice and help you maintain stability and comfort when walking, hiking or climbing. Before ...
More Ice Climbing...
Featured Video

How to Hit a Jump in Snowboarding

Learn the basics of jumping and how to hit a jump on a snowboard in this free snowboarding video lesson.
More Snowboarding...