ANG0225 Posted December 17, 2015 Report Share Posted December 17, 2015 It got down to 14 last night. Tried to dump around noon but the Main Sewer pipes was frozen solid. So far I have put heater underneath pipe to no avail. Tried tapping on it to break it up, nope. Poured RV antifreeze down sewer, no go. Tomorrow I am going to put wifes heating pad on pipe for most of the day. Its supposed to get up to 50 tomorrow, so I hope we can break this up. Any other ideas? 2012 Chapparal by Coachman, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirk W Posted December 17, 2015 Report Share Posted December 17, 2015 Are you sure that it is the line frozen? Did the valve open as normal? Could there be something else stopping the flow? Good travelin !...............KirkFull-time 11+ years...... Now seasonal travelers.Kirk & Pam's Great RV Adventure Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daveh Posted December 17, 2015 Report Share Posted December 17, 2015 If it is frozen I think you should be okay with the pad and if it gets to 50. I probably would go with a hair dryer. That was our tool of choice with Mich winters. Dave and Lana Hasper Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biker56 Posted December 17, 2015 Report Share Posted December 17, 2015 It's to get down to 74º tonight here. Lows expected to hit 66º Sat. & Sun. nights with the cold front coming, then warm up after that. Full Time since Oct. 199999 Discovery 34Q DP | ISBDatastorm | VMSpc | Co-Pilot Live | Pressure Pro2014 MKS Twin Turbo V6 365 HP Toad Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WILDEBILL308 Posted December 17, 2015 Report Share Posted December 17, 2015 Did you leave the gray tank open? Do you have a heater in the bay? When I was camping in cold weather I kept a heater in the wet bay. I would only dump when the tanks were full. If you leave the gray open it will gradually freeze solid like you found out. Bill 2008 Newmar Mountain Aire model 4521 450 hp Cummins ISM Allison 4000MH tran. Towing a 2014 Honda CRV with a blue Ox tow bar Home base Fort Worth Texas A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other way. -Mark Twain- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray,IN Posted December 17, 2015 Report Share Posted December 17, 2015 Are your plumbing pipes, enclosed or hang under the trailer? Where are the dump valves, at the hose connection or near the tanks? If they are enclosed by the trailer under-belly, space heaters in that area will do a lot toward thawing everything. 2000 Winnebago Ultimate Freedom USQ40JD, ISC 8.3 Cummins 350, Spartan MM Chassis. USA IN 1SG retired;Good Sam Life member,FMCA ." And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country. John F. Kennedy 20 Jan 1961 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rdickinson Posted December 17, 2015 Report Share Posted December 17, 2015 Are you serious about using your wife's heating pad??? You're joking, right? Have you asked her?? I hope you have your lawyers# on your speed dial. I'd disconnect it and shut the valve if possible. and elevate one end of the frozen one. Mine froze then broke when I was handling it. The whole thing went into 2 plastic bags then into the adjacent RV parks dumpster. Destroy the evidence. With my luck it would wind up on UTubes epic failures. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SWharton Posted December 17, 2015 Report Share Posted December 17, 2015 Go to HD or Lowes and get heat tape, wrap it around the pipe and turn it on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devilishjim Posted December 17, 2015 Report Share Posted December 17, 2015 It's to get down to 74º tonight here. Lows expected to hit 66º Sat. & Sun. nights with the cold front coming, then warm up after that. I take it you're not in AZ Jim Spence 2000 Dodge 3500 1 ton QC 4x4 dually 5.9 diesel LB BD exhaust brake, 6 spd manual trans 34CKTS Cedar Creek 5er, Trail-Air hitch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biker56 Posted December 17, 2015 Report Share Posted December 17, 2015 I take it you're not in AZ Far SE Florida where we had 12" + rain last week in 2 days. Full Time since Oct. 199999 Discovery 34Q DP | ISBDatastorm | VMSpc | Co-Pilot Live | Pressure Pro2014 MKS Twin Turbo V6 365 HP Toad Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coachmac9 Posted December 17, 2015 Report Share Posted December 17, 2015 It got down to 14 last night. Tried to dump around noon but the Main Sewer pipes was frozen solid. So far I have put heater underneath pipe to no avail. Tried tapping on it to break it up, nope. Poured RV antifreeze down sewer, no go. Tomorrow I am going to put wifes heating pad on pipe for most of the day. Its supposed to get up to 50 tomorrow, so I hope we can break this up. Any other ideas? 2012 Chapparal by Coachman, Is your tow vehicle broke down??? If not drive south till it thaws and then drive a little farther south and set up camp...for a couple of months!!! Seriously, the heat wrap is the way to go. Wrap it, turn it on and go back inside where it is warm!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rdickinson Posted December 17, 2015 Report Share Posted December 17, 2015 Go to HD or Lowes and get heat tape, wrap it around the pipe and turn it on. The one I got didn't kick in 'till 32f. If temps go up to 50f it won't work. There is a sensor in the plug end. If that is the case pack the sensor in ice to fool it.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retiredin1993 Posted December 18, 2015 Report Share Posted December 18, 2015 Lesson learned never ever leave water line and sewer hose hooked up when the weather is going to get down in the freezing range. I guess the OP either got the pipe cleared or his wife found out he used her heating pad or hair dryer. RonUS Army retired2010 Tiffin Phaeton 40QTH2016 Ford F150 XLT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chirakawa Posted December 18, 2015 Report Share Posted December 18, 2015 The OP didn't say that they left the water hose or sewer hose hooked up. They never mentioned either. I got the impression that the piping was exposed where it came out of the tank and before the valve. Perhaps that area is not insulated well. Or, they could have been referring to the hose, in which case they could just use a different sewer hose and drain their tank. But, they used the word "pipes". I've spent eight winters in my present RV. I always leave the sewer hose hooked up and the grey tank open during the Winter. What I don't do is put a trap in it, like some folks do by placing something under it to create a rise in the hose. This is unnecessary and will result in water trapped which will freeze and block the hose. JMO Everybody wanna hear the truth, but everybody tell a lie. Everybody wanna go to Heaven, but nobody want to die. Albert King Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WILDEBILL308 Posted December 18, 2015 Report Share Posted December 18, 2015 The OP didn't say that they left the water hose or sewer hose hooked up. They never mentioned either. I got the impression that the piping was exposed where it came out of the tank and before the valve. Perhaps that area is not insulated well. Or, they could have been referring to the hose, in which case they could just use a different sewer hose and drain their tank. But, they used the word "pipes". I've spent eight winters in my present RV. I always leave the sewer hose hooked up and the grey tank open during the Winter. What I don't do is put a trap in it, like some folks do by placing something under it to create a rise in the hose. This is unnecessary and will result in water trapped which will freeze and block the hose. JMO What I have found is if it is real cold any water flowing in the hose will freeze and over a short time will completely block the hose. Trap or no trap. The only solution I have found that works is close the gray valve and only dump when needed. I made a box that in closed the valve and kept a light bulb in it to prevent the valve from freezing. Bill 2008 Newmar Mountain Aire model 4521 450 hp Cummins ISM Allison 4000MH tran. Towing a 2014 Honda CRV with a blue Ox tow bar Home base Fort Worth Texas A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other way. -Mark Twain- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray,IN Posted December 19, 2015 Report Share Posted December 19, 2015 Perhaps ANGO225 was overwhelmed by the frozen pipes they forgot about this post. If you look up the specs for that trailer, an ultralight, it appears to be an entry-level unit. 2000 Winnebago Ultimate Freedom USQ40JD, ISC 8.3 Cummins 350, Spartan MM Chassis. USA IN 1SG retired;Good Sam Life member,FMCA ." And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country. John F. Kennedy 20 Jan 1961 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oscarvan Posted December 19, 2015 Report Share Posted December 19, 2015 This should do it. Previously a 2017 Forest River, Berkshire 38A, "The Dragonship". https://dragonship.blog/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rdickinson Posted December 19, 2015 Report Share Posted December 19, 2015 Thaw the pipe (s). Or propel him down the road? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oscarvan Posted December 19, 2015 Report Share Posted December 19, 2015 Yes. Previously a 2017 Forest River, Berkshire 38A, "The Dragonship". https://dragonship.blog/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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