[AT] Freezing pipes

[Don Bowen]

Indiana Robinson wrote:
>   The error of
>
> his ways??? He ended up with the thermostat inside of the nice toasty
> warm basement. The tape was outside but the thermostat never called
> for heat since it was already warm... :-)
>
If all else fails, read the instructions.  Real men do not need 
instructions.

The heat tape I purchased from Lowe's about a week ago had a drawing on 
the back showing the placement of the thermostat and the written 
instructions explained the thermostat location.  It is not taped to the 
hydrant, along a short hose, over the sediment filter and long the hose 
to the trailer.  Filter is wrapped in bubble wrap and hoses are wrapped 
in two layers of foam pipe insulation and the whole thing covered with a 
blue tarp.  No problems after several nights and days of below freezing, 
the trailer is a different story.

I only planned to be here a week or less so did not spend any time or 
money to skirt the trailer.  The under side is exposed to the wind such 
that the 40 gallon fresh water tank became a 40 gallon block of ice.  
During my all too frequent night time trips to the bathroom I always 
turn on the faucets to get a little water flowing.  The kitchen sink is 
about three steps steps away but on a cold night that electric blanket 
is many steps closer.  The water lines to the kitchen sink froze.

I opened cabinets, heated the trailer with expensive propane and almost 
as expensive electric but the ice would not let go of its cosy home in 
my pipes.  I bought a small heater with a fan and borrowed a hair dryer 
as weapons of war against mother nature. 

While getting ready for battle (and wimping out in the cold) I was 
standing by the space heater exhaust when it came on.  It could have 
been a flash of inspiration or more than likely a slap on the forehead, 
I came up with an idea.  I have a three point carryall that I leaned 
against the trailer with the top above the heater exhaust.  On top of 
that I placed a piece of foam insulation then covered the whole thing 
with a plastic tarp.  Another sheet of foam was placed against the 
trailer as a skirt.  This directed the waste heat from the exhaust along 
where the pipes run under the trailer insulation.

I went inside then turned on the errant faucet and sat down to regain 
feeling in my hands and feet by cranking up the trailer heat.  It took a 
little less than a half an hour to rejoin the 21st century.  The 40 
gallon block of ice is now a large ice covered wet spot under the trailer.

Today's project, get the pump thawed out so I can purge the lines with 
RV antifreeze then head for warmer warmer temperatures of Southern 
California with Jimmy Buffet blasting from the stereo singing about 
changes in latitude, changes in attitude.

-- 
Don Bowen           KI6DIU
http://www.braingarage.com/Dons/Travels/journal/Journal.html