Frozen outside water and pump question

[ChaosTheory]

So I'm a newbie when it comes to RV'ing in general, and especially in winter. I've been staying on the coast of Oregon the last couple of weeks where temps have been around 32 degrees at night, and 45 in the day. NO issues with water until this morning.

Temps were 29 last night, and now the water hookup from the RV park is frozen, and I have zero water inside now. No big deal I guess, it will thaw later today. The pipes inside my RV are not frozen, but I learned now to always have SOME water in my holding tank in case this happens again.

But for now, my question is: Even though I'm hooked to water at the park, because it's frozen, will it damage anything if I run my pump to access the hot water from the tank until the 'cold' water unfreezes? Would that add too much pressure to my system?

[MikeThompson]

Your pump will not "pull" water from the water heater, it pushes water through the system.

We're also on the Oregon coast, at Harris Beach State Park.

[ChaosTheory]

Originally Posted by MikeThompson

Your pump will not "pull" water from the water heater, it pushes water through the system.

We're also on the Oregon coast, at Harris Beach State Park.

Ah cool, Cannon Beach here. Little snow this AM. So would using the pump to access the water in the water heater damage anything until the outside pipes unfreeze?

[Riverman]

Camco sells a heated water hose (faucet to trailer), you might need one. eBay has them.

[MikeThompson]

You may try and unhook your hose and flex it as much as possible to see if you can clear the ice out. If the water supply at the site is not frozen, it may not take much to clear the hose.

The pump will not pull water out of the water heater.

[wags999]

Originally Posted by ChaosTheory

Ah cool, Cannon Beach here. Little snow this AM. So would using the pump to access the water in the water heater damage anything until the outside pipes unfreeze?

your pump doesn't "pull" water from anywhere except your water holding tank. It pulls that water out and pushed it through your system. If you have no water in your holding tank, there is nothing to push, hence no water from the hot water tank will flow, water coming INTO the hot water tank, pushes the hot water out.



Is the campgrounds water pipes frozen or just your hose from the campground connection to your RV frozen?





If it is your hose that is frozen, next time it's going to get below freezing, leave a faucet drip to keep water moving, moving water is much harder to freeze than standing water.



Good Luck

[ChaosTheory]

Originally Posted by Riverman

Camco sells a heated water hose (faucet to trailer), you might need one. eBay has them.

My water pipe from RV to the source is not frozen, but the pipe provided from the site is. It rarely gets that cold here so there is no insulation on the water pipes coming up from the ground.

I appreciate the answers, I'm not looking for "how to keep your pipes from freezing" advice, there is ample info out there already. I was just wondering if running my pump when there is no water pressure from the hookup would harm anything, as I can (am) getting water from the water heater when I run the pump. Must mean I have SOME water in my storage tank, then.

[wags999]

Originally Posted by ChaosTheory

My water pipe from RV to the source is not frozen, but the pipe provided from the site is. It rarely gets that cold here so there is no insulation on the water pipes coming up from the ground.

I appreciate the answers, I'm not looking for "how to keep your pipes from freezing" advice, there is ample info out there already. I was just wondering if running my pump when there is no water pressure from the hookup would harm anything, as I can (am) getting water from the water heater when I run the pump. Must mean I have SOME water in my storage tank, then.

Or your system had pressure in it still, and that pressure is pushing some water out.

[Screwby]

Originally Posted by wags999

Or your system had pressure in it still, and that pressure is pushing some water out.

Either residual water or left over pressure in the lines. The water pump has a line that runs down into the water tanks for water. Empty tanks, no water to pump, easy as that. You won’t hurt your pump if you run it and water is coming out. If that’s happening then you have some water in your tank. You’ll know when there is no water in your tanks when the pump won’t stop running after you turn off the faucet and or sputtering air and water start coming out of the tap. At that point you shut off the water pump switch because you are done.
I’m assuming you can hear your pump when it kicks on and runs so you can monitor this

[Brooksb]

I would turn off water and unhook from trailer. Then turn back on the water and c if u can get the hose flowing water. I doesn't take much to stop a hose up when its attached to trailer. U could even roll hose up and connect it back to itself and bring inside to that.
Anymore, we tank everytime we camp. In the heat water sets in hose and becomes hot. And can freeze if cold. But we have tank heaters for the cold. And 136 gallons on board as well

[Jagiven]

You will not hurt the pump, by turning it on and letting it cycle dry. I this a few times by accident and the pump has run any where from an hour to days with no water in the tank.

If you have a water can, most RVs can have the tank filled via jerry can and a short hose. Basically set it up to winterize, and send the water to the tank.