7 Tips to Keep Your RV Pipes from Freezing While Camping

A hard freeze can cause hundreds or even thousands of dollars in damage to your RV in a single night. With proper precautions, you can protect your RV’s plumbing system from freezing temperatures. Today, we’ll share several of our best tips for keeping your RV pipes from freezing while camping. Let’s get started!

What Happens If RV Pipes Freeze? 

Frozen RV pipes are not only incredibly inconvenient but also risk damaging your plumbing system. Water expands when it freezes, and while RV pipes can handle some expansion, it can increase the chances of a fitting or line failure. If that happens, your plumbing system might develop leaks. These leaks can be incredibly damaging as they may occur behind a wall and show no apparent signs. It can be weeks or months before you notice, and the damage will only get worse.

Alternatively, a burst line can very quickly create a flooded RV. If this happens below the floor in the basement or during the night, it may take long enough to notice the leak that your RV and stored possessions will be very soggy. So not only will you need to fix your leak, but also find a way to dry out your RV in the cold temperatures.

How Quickly Do RV Pipes Freeze?

Fortunately, the thermal mass of your RV will slow the freezing process. This means that you have some time between the moment the outside temperature hits freezing and when your RV pipes are in danger. If you get an unexpected overnight frost that lasts a few hours, chances are you’ll be okay.

However, if you expect numerous hours of freezing temperatures or temperatures well below freezing, you will have to take steps to be prepared. Especially be careful with water lines that run out onto slide-outs, as these will have less internal insulation if any at all. Common lines to burst are thin tubes that run to ice makers in fridges, which are frequently on slides.

Will RV Holding Tanks Freeze in the Winter?

Yes, RV holding tanks can freeze in the winter. If this happens, the liquid expansion can crack the containers. 

However, some modern RVs come with tank heaters that act as an electric blanket for your tanks. They’re supposed to safeguard your holding tanks from freezing up. If you don’t have tank heaters, you can take some precautionary measures to prevent freezing. 

If you don’t have tank heaters it’s usually okay, as long as you keep your furnace running. Manufacturers often design their tank bays to receive heat from the furnace. Just make sure you don’t run out of propane or let your bay temperatures get below freezing.

How to Keep RV Pipes from Freezing While Camping 

Keeping your RV pipes safe while camping in freezing temperatures is essential. While running your furnace is the first and easiest way to warm your RV and prevent this, there are several things you can do to additionally protect your pipes. We’ll share a few of our best suggestions here. 

1. Open Cabinet Doors to Allow Heat In

Your RV’s heat source can’t circulate through closed doors. If you keep your cabinets closed, there will be a noticeable temperature difference when you open them. Your exterior walls will show the most significant difference in temperature as the back wall is likely minimally insulated.

When you open your cabinet doors, heat can enter your cabinets and ideally prevent any pipes behind the wall or in the cabinet from freezing as well. 

2. Heat Bays

Your storage bays often contain important pipes, water lines, and electronics that freezing temperatures can affect. Four-season campers usually have a heat duct or two that pump warm air into your storage bays anytime your furnace runs. The purpose of these ducts is not to keep your storage bay at a comfortable temperature but to keep it above freezing to prevent pipe damage.

If your RV is not a four-season RV, consider placing a space heater in your bay. It can help protect your storage bay from reaching freezing temperatures and causing pipes and other items to break. 

Please note that a unsupervised space heater can be dangerous, and you should keep a close eye on any space heater inside your RV.

Pro Tip: A 4 season camper can help your RV transition easier between varying extreme temperatures and climates. Find out more about: What Is a 4-Season Camper and When Do You Need One?

3. Use Heat Tape on RV Pipes

Wrapping your essential pipes in heat tape is a great way to protect them from frigid temperatures. Heat tape plugs into an electrical outlet, and then you can wrap the tape around pipes to keep them warm. This is an important resource, especially in freezing temperatures.

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For extra protection, you could also cover the heat tape with pipe insulation. You’ll get an added layer of protection and ensure you get the maximum benefit from the heat tape to your RV’s pipes.

4. Skirt Your RV

RVs naturally sit off the ground and allow cold air to flow under them. RV skirts prevent that, practically surrounding your pipes. You can create your own RV skirting or purchase a specifically designed RV skirt.

Skirting your RV is an excellent option if you plan to be stationary during the winter. Consider installing it before the temperatures drop too much. This skirting will not only protect your RV from cold air but also snow and ice as well.

Pro Tip: Winter-proof your RV with an RV skirt. We put together a list for you of Why & When You Need RV Skirting.

5. Close Gray Valve and Use Onboard Fresh and Waste Water Tanks

If you’re at a full hook-up site, close your gray valve to prevent small amounts of water from entering your sewer hose and dump valves. Any water in cold pipes can cause clogs and potentially broken valves.

Use your freshwater tank to avoid a frozen hose and allow your wastewater tanks to fill up. The more water you have in your tanks, the more difficult it will be for them to freeze. This is especially great if the freezing temperatures are temporary and you expect temperatures to rise above freezing soon.

6. Insulate Your RV Bays

Extra insulation is one of the best ways to protect your RV pipes and bays. As you add insulation, caulk holes and cracks that might allow cold air entry. Also, keep storage bays closed to keep warm air in and cold air out.

If you find areas that lack insulation, take a quick trip to your local home improvement store. You can pick up 8ft x 4ft sheets of insulation board and cut them to the size and shape of any problem area in your RV.  

7. Head to a Warmer Location

RVs are mobile, and so heading to a warmer location may be easiest. In a typical winter, you don’t often hear people in Florida or Arizona dealing with freezing temperatures. If they do, it’s only for a short while, and temperatures will rise above freezing.

The RVing lifestyle can provide tremendous freedom regarding when and where you stay. While warmer locations likely see more visitors during the winter, setting up camp in a warm location may still be your best option. This is why so many people choose to chase 70-degree weather!

Pro Tip: Find out what to do if, despite your best efforts, your RV pipes freeze.

Keeping Your RV Pipes From Freezing Doesn’t Have To Be Hard 

Keeping your RV pipes from freezing while camping is incredibly important when it’s cold. If you’re planning to use your RV in cooler temperatures, keep an eye on the weather. You don’t want freezing temperatures to catch you by surprise. 

Stock up on propane and other essential items to get you through the elements, and take some of these precautions to protect your RV.  

What are your best cold weather tips to keep you and your RV safe during freezing temperatures? Drop a comment below.

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