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Old 12-11-2013, 11:20 AM   #1
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Black water release handle froze shut

We are dealing with the extreme load temps here in Branson as is the rest of the country. No problem with our well insulated Washington by Crossroads staying warm but we try to heat with electric rather than $$$propane. Electric is included in our site fee.
Once the temps dropped below freezing for several days, I was unable to release the black water.
Has anyone encountered this problem?
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Old 12-11-2013, 11:24 AM   #2
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The problem with heating your unit with electric and not propane is the propane furnace is ducted thru the underbelly and helps keep things thawed out thru radiant heating. Electric does not. Your valve sounds like it is frozen and will need to be thawed out, try a heat gun or hair dryer and hope it doesn't crack.
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Old 12-11-2013, 11:27 AM   #3
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or run your furnace for a while to heat the underside and that may be enough to thaw it out. that is if ist hidden under the plastic cardboard liner.
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Old 12-11-2013, 11:30 AM   #4
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I agree with Jason about the heating of your rig.
Where is the valve located for the black tank release? If it's outside of the trailer you could try pouring warm water over it, if it's inside, maybe place and electric heater in with it, or try the hair dryer. I wouldn't get the hair dryer to close for any length of time for fear of damaging the valve.
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Old 12-11-2013, 12:15 PM   #5
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Same problem here. I'm running a heater inside basement area behind panels. Last two days. No luck with that. This morning a wrapped heat tape around small section of black pipe exiting belly of trailer. Praying that works. Been around 10° to 20° here for over a week. Waiting for it to warm up. Might just use RV anti freeze in bathroom next time. Cheap way to not freeze up.

Now trying heat gun up drain pipe..wish me luck.

Dumped rock salt into black tank. No luck with heat gun.

Some how need to install a heat vent hose from furnace into black tank space
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Old 12-11-2013, 02:37 PM   #6
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Hot water in the black tank will thaw it out.
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Old 12-11-2013, 02:54 PM   #7
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Not if black tank is too full....
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Old 12-11-2013, 04:15 PM   #8
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A 100 watt bulb (work light) will generate a fair amount of heat in basement that along with running the furnace may do the trick. It may be a good practice to use the light reguarly in cold weather. Be sure it is hanging free and clear with good air space.
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Old 12-11-2013, 04:57 PM   #9
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Valve open...yee haw...
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Old 12-11-2013, 05:10 PM   #10
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Our next unit we intend to full time in so I plan on having the Cheap Heat system installed when the unit is delivered to the dealer. This will allow us to heat the trailer and under belly and keep us from burning through propane during cold spells. I also plan on getting tank heaters and the water inlet heat taped from the factory. We do not plan to be in really cold weather during the Winters but if we get caught in some I prefer to be prepared.

http://www.rvcomfortsystems.com/
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Old 12-11-2013, 06:39 PM   #11
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Might be on my Christmas list soon.

http://www.annodindustries.com/shop/tank-heaters
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Old 12-11-2013, 07:28 PM   #12
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Cheap Heat

Keith,
Your dealer will install this, over your propane heat or in conjunction with it? How many AMPS and how will this be hooked up through the electrical system? Separate or through a lead of its own, like the 20AMP on the pedestal through the basement?

Travel well,
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Old 12-12-2013, 05:32 AM   #13
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Jim, it is conjunction with the propane heat. You can switch between the two if needed. It also gives you the choice of low/high fan speed. It is wired into your existing electrical system but how it is done I don't know, that is up to the dealer to do. Even though the BTU's are a little lower than the propane unit this is a more efficient system because you are not losing heat out the vent on the side of the unit like you do on propane. Here are the wattage ratings below on the units they offer, and I think I read on the web site that the 30 amp unit draws 16 amps and the largest unit 21 amps per leg on a 50 amp unit.

The 30 amp DH-18 does 1920 watts or 6551 btu.

The 50 amp DH-37 does double that at 3840 watts or 13102 btu

The 50 amp DH-50 does 5040 watts or 17197 btu
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Old 12-12-2013, 11:13 AM   #14
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At last

Quote:
Originally Posted by mickeynbranson View Post
We are dealing with the extreme load temps here in Branson as is the rest of the country. No problem with our well insulated Washington by Crossroads staying warm but we try to heat with electric rather than $$$propane. Electric is included in our site fee.
Once the temps dropped below freezing for several days, I was unable to release the black water.
Has anyone encountered this problem?
I took several of y'all's suggestions and a few of mine. I turned furnace up to 85F for several hours, dumped a gallon of RV Anti-freeze down the commode, installed a 115v lamp inside the service area next to the pull handle and put electric heater in basement area, the I ran hot water from the shower hose into the commode.
I was able to pull handle out about an inch, then 1.5 " then finally after four hours about 2". Today it is going up to forty degress and i'm going for the SUPER FLUSH!
Happy Trails
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Old 12-12-2013, 07:58 PM   #15
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The key is keeping some heat in the basement area.

Check the post I made about this subject about a week ago. I put a small ceramic heater in the baggage area and bought a small wireless thermometer so I can monitor the temp iside the baggage area. I dumped the black tank saturday morning when the temp was near 0 degrees.
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Old 12-13-2013, 08:42 AM   #16
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Originally Posted by concreteman View Post
..... I dumped the black tank saturday morning when the temp was near 0 degrees.

Now THAT is my idea of camping

all that's missing is a freezing drizzle and I'd be apoplectic !
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Old 12-13-2013, 03:45 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hunter11 View Post
Our next unit we intend to full time in so I plan on having the Cheap Heat system installed when the unit is delivered to the dealer. This will allow us to heat the trailer and under belly and keep us from burning through propane during cold spells. I also plan on getting tank heaters and the water inlet heat taped from the factory. We do not plan to be in really cold weather during the Winters but if we get caught in some I prefer to be prepared.

http://www.rvcomfortsystems.com/
Here is a story about what hunter11 is talking about. It was in a Trailer Life magazine recently. http://www.trailerlife.com/trailer-h...heating-costs/
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