slackercruster Posted December 2, 2020 Report Share Posted December 2, 2020 My gate valve is frozen shut from the cold temps. I had put some valve grease in it last year hoping it would keep it operating in winter. Any tips on how to keep them operating in the winter. I just use my camper a few times in winter so it stays unheated for the most part until use. I have a cap on the valve that has a little hose connector. Maybe I should keep that off until I use the valve. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigjim Posted December 2, 2020 Report Share Posted December 2, 2020 Heat gun, hair dryer, even warmed cloths and you can poor warm water on it. Lots of time they will thaw in the later part of the day depending on the timing and situation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rynosback Posted December 2, 2020 Report Share Posted December 2, 2020 Put a heating pad on the pipe that goes to the valve. Keeping the liquid warm should keep it from freezing. Quote 2015 Ram 3500 RC DRW CTD AISIN 410 rear 2016 Mobile Suites 38RSB3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat & Pete Posted December 2, 2020 Report Share Posted December 2, 2020 Wrap a short heat tape around the valve . Plug it in a few hours before you want to use it . Best to wrap the tape with some sort of insulation , like an old towel . Quote Goes around , comes around . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slackercruster Posted December 2, 2020 Author Report Share Posted December 2, 2020 5 hours ago, bigjim said: Heat gun, hair dryer, even warmed cloths and you can poor warm water on it. Lots of time they will thaw in the later part of the day depending on the timing and situation. Yes, that is what happened today. I got it open once it warmed up. Sometimes it does not warm up, so will try the other suggestions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slackercruster Posted December 2, 2020 Author Report Share Posted December 2, 2020 Thanks for all the suggestions! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigjim Posted December 3, 2020 Report Share Posted December 3, 2020 When I went to dump about 2 weeks ago I was going to do it in the early AM and mine was stuck which I recognized immediately by experience. I just waited until about 4-5 pm then it all worked fine. I just did the same yesterday. My valve was catching good sun though still fairly cold. Later in the winter I may have to get out my heat gun from Harbor Freight. Don't run it too hot or too close trying to speed things up. Move it around. If you are in a really cold place with multiple days of cold don't let the tanks get more than about 2/3 full or so and you will have to dump later as what is in the tank could freeze. If it is completely full it could expand and split the tank and you won't have any leeway for usage to get past multiple day serious cold spell. I have considered the heat tape and tank pads over the years but I haven't done it although I do think these are good ideas. I usually only am at a 30 amp hook up so I don't have much of a margin and I do use a heat tape on my water hose. A year or two ago I went to putting my used TP in a plastic bag and tossing it instead of putting it in the toilet and I think it has improved the breakdown. I use a short clear connector to the drain hose so I can observe how well it had broken down and how well it flow. Not pretty but very usefull. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat & Pete Posted December 3, 2020 Report Share Posted December 3, 2020 The heat tape I have can be left plugged in , as it turns on/off at about 37° . Quote Goes around , comes around . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigjim Posted December 4, 2020 Report Share Posted December 4, 2020 The one on my hose does too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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