Sunday, December 18, 2011

Winter Plumbing

Although I make it a point not to live anywhere above the Mason-Dixon line (I don't mind visiting my northern friends, I just don't want to live up there with y'all), it's a fact that our winters in Texas still get down right chilly on more then a few days during winter.  After experiencing a slightly frozen water pipe during my first taste of winter in the Hula Hut, I knew I'd have to be much more careful and take some necessary steps not to repeat that little act.

Turning to my neighbor I sought some much needed advice.  His solution has become my solution, and so I am sharing it here.  After two (and half) winters living in the HH I have never had a concern or a problem, even when our winter got down into the 20's for days on end last year.

The summer has never been a problem - I use 6' SS washing machine hoses (I carry spares for when the H2O line is farther away than expected) as water lines, fed into a standard water canister/filter and into the bus.  Nothing fancy, and pretty much what I see others using. I'm using quick disconnect couplers wherever I can.




In winter, I change the filter out to a standard in-line style filter, and rather than have to build a mount for it, find that putting it on the wheel gives it some protection from the elements.


You may have noticed the tie wrap and the black electrical looking line?  Let me explain...

When I switch over to this winter setup, it consist of a couple parts.  Primarily I use my standard SS lines, run the length of them with a heat strip (I found it a Tractor Supply), and wrap it with 1 3/4 inch pipe insulation.  For corners and turns in the line I use corner insulation - all of which can be found at the home stores.

Close up of the heat strip before being covered by the insulation.


These are the individual parts before tie wrapping everything into place.


This set up has worked for me in weather down to 18 degrees last winter.  I plug the heat strip into an in-line fuse, weather proof, extension cord and run it under the bus to my outside electric box.  The heat strip has a built in sensor that keeps it at a constant temperature above freezing.

So, that's it.  It works for me and I hope by sharing it gives you ideas that may work for you.

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