Date: Sun, 13 Mar 2011 12:32:48 -0500
Reply-To: mcneely4@COX.NET
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dave Mcneely <mcneely4@COX.NET>
Subject: Re: Water tank
In-Reply-To: <4D7CF6F4.9070401@pottsfamily.ca>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
> It'd have to freeze solid to hurt the plumbing, that'd take more than a
> day below freezing in my experience.
the tank does not have to freeze solid to hurt the water lines, which are only a half inch or so in diameter. Unlike in a home, leaving the faucet dripping (common practice in the southern U.S. where house insulation can be inadequate to protect pipes) is not a reasonable approach, since the faucet depends on an electrically operated pump. the pump itself could even freeze and be damaged if it is cold enough.
As I said, down to mid-twenties with daytime temperatures in the fifties, I've had no problem with anything freezing. Colder weather than that, with daytime near or below freezing, I expect the lines would freeze.
This was the idea I was addressing a good long while back, when I asked how cold is problematic for the water system in our campers. I got a little bit of a ribbing for allegedly not knowing that water freezes at 32 F. Of course, what I was trying to understand was how cold does it have to be outside to get cold enough in the van to freeze the plumbing. That depends on other conditions, though, like how long has it been cold, is the van heated, was the van warm at nightfall, was it sunny or cloudy during the day ................ .
mcneely
>
> In years past I've left cardboard cartons containing garbage bags filled
> with water outside to make raw material for ice sculpture at Winter Bus
> Camp; after a full week outside at well below-freezing temps the ice was
> still only about two inches thick. Ponds might freeze abruptly but only
> because they are directly exposed to cool air. A water tank in a westy,
> not so much.
>
> You could try topping the tank with boiling water before bedtime, if it
> helps you sleep better, but I wouldn't worry about it.
>
> Happy Trails,
>
> Greg Potts
> Toronto, Ontario Canada
> 197x Westfakia "Bob the Tomato"
> 1987 Wolfsburg Weekender Hardtop (ND Graphics graphics wrap)
> 1988 Wolfsburg Weekender Hardtop (Colleen's ride)
> Engine conversion blog: http://www.pottsfamily.ca/wordpress/
> www.pottsfamily.ca
>
> BUSES OF THE CORN - AUGUST 12-14th, 2011
> www.busesofthecorn.ca
>
>
>
>
> On 3/13/2011 11:56 AM, Mark L. Hineline wrote:
> > Next weekend I'm going to be on the Colorado Plateau for three nights.
> > Daytime temps in the 50s, nighttime down into the 20s.
> >
> > Are there any tricks to keeping the water tank happy and unfrozen?
> >
> > Mark
> >
>
>
> --
--
David McNeely
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