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Topic: Freezing Weather in Houston? (Read 658 times) previous topic - next topic

Freezing Weather in Houston?

Good evening!  Forecast this evening in Houston is for a low of 28 and it looks like it will be below freezing for 5ish hours.  Coach is in storage tonight w/o access to electricity.

Do I need to do anything?  Do I need to drain the lines..........and if so, is that enough?  Anything else? Preference would be to not have to run the furnace and auto start on the generator, however, can if needed.

Don't deal with freezing weather too often down here.

Thanks in advance!
Kevin

Current  1997 U295. Build #5160
Previous 1994 U300

Re: Freezing Weather in Houston?

Reply #1 –
Kevin,

Not showing quite those temps unless you are on the north side of town:

Houston, Texas (77001) Conditions & Forecast | Weather Underground

And, not only lowest temperature, but how long below freezing.  Even 28 degrees for an hour or two before sunrise probably won't hurt, since it is 48 degrees F right now.

But, if your batteries are up, you can always set the furnace on 50 degrees if anything but a hard freeze is predicted.
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: Freezing Weather in Houston?

Reply #2 –
Water pump likely to freeze and be ruined, run furnace and auto start if no electricity, or run furnace and generator all night [quote]
[/quote]
Tim Fiedler    2025 LTV Unity MBL on Order
2000 Chevy Tracker 2 Door Convertible 4WD Now lifted 4.5"
1985 Citroen 2CV6 Charleston
Murphy Rebel on wheels with 175HP Titan
Cessna P337
1980 48' Westport MY (!/4 Share)

Re: Freezing Weather in Houston?

Reply #3 –
With 3 different motorhomes I have always used 28° as the cutoff where I didn't need to run the heater overnight or winterize.  For only 1 or 2 nights in the range of 24 - 27 I ran the furnace/aquahot as a precaution.  Never had any freezing.  It takes several hours at these temperatures to actually freeze anything inside the motorhome.
Monti
2015 Born Free Triumph Royal 4x4
Previous:  2000 U320 3600

Re: Freezing Weather in Houston?

Reply #4 –
This will be the first freezing weather since acquiring our 2005 U320.  I plan to drain water lines and leave a 100 watt light bulb on in the compartment that houses the water pump.

Thanks in advance for additional suggestions.

Re: Freezing Weather in Houston?

Reply #5 –
Quote from: Skinnywater –
This will be the first freezing weather since acquiring our 2005 U320.  I plan to drain water lines and leave a 100 watt light bulb on in the compartment that houses the water pump.

A U320 should have an AquaHot in it.  Draining lines will not protect the AH from expensive damage due to freezing (assuming you can't leave the AquaHot on).  It depends on how cold it gets and for how long, but here in north Texas we winterize with the pink, potable antifreeze since we can't just leave the AquaHot running while in storage.

Also, if you have a washer/dryer, I don't believe you can just drain the lines to protect that - there are low spots in the fill hoses that will still contain water. 

Brett and Rudy, both in the Houston area and Rudy being an AquaHot-certified servicer, can tell weigh in on if the freeze over the next few days will be severe enough to warrant winterizing.
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

2000 U320 36' non-slide / WildEBeest Rescue
2003 U320

Re: Freezing Weather in Houston?

Reply #6 –
I think we will be alright-- our coach is stored indoors (but uninsulated/unheated) and south of Houston.  With high today of 55, low tonight of 28 and only a total of 6 hours below freezing, a light bulb in the basement and small ceramic heater set on its coldest setting should work just fine.

North of town is another matter.
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: Freezing Weather in Houston?

Reply #7 –
Once again, if this FT won't take what the LD did, it needs some looking at. My LD has lines running across the coach to/from the water heater, protected ONLY by a U shape sheet metal channel, they never froze.

I will pull in the slide and set the furnace on 50°, parked under cover in my RV port.
Dave W. (AKA Toyman )
'03, 270, 36', Build 6095, Pulling whatever I hook it to.

"Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened."
Dr Seuss

Re: Freezing Weather in Houston?

Reply #8 –
Being in East Texas tonight is to be our coldest night 20 degrees.  I will put light bulbs in (1) hot water heater and pump bay (2) Sewer and valve bay.  Will put a "Mr Heater" on the inside.  Stored in a metal building but we are expected to have temps below freezing for several days.  I do nothing above 24 degrees.  Others who store there have been running their heat strips.  One individual has a Thor product and has nothing but issues since purchase :'(  and keeps his heat strips on.  He also has a huge electric bill. 
Dan & Shirley Stansel
2002 U295 4020 AGDS Build#6054
Towing Buick Enclave & M &  G Braking
Emerald Bay, Lake Palestine, Texas
MC# 16650

Re: Freezing Weather in Houston?

Reply #9 –
Quote from: Skinnywater –
This will be the first freezing weather since acquiring our 2005 U320.  I plan to drain water lines and leave a 100 watt light bulb on in the compartment that houses the water pump.

Thanks in advance for additional suggestions.
Made it through light freeze with no issues.
 

Re: Freezing Weather in Houston?

Reply #10 –
The weatherman, thankfully blew it ! 30° instead of 25°, as predicted, clear and no wind instead of blowing and freezing rain, again as predicted. Recognize this....?

"The weather is here, wish you were beautiful"
Dave W. (AKA Toyman )
'03, 270, 36', Build 6095, Pulling whatever I hook it to.

"Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened."
Dr Seuss