295HC - pipes under sliders

[RoyHelsing]

This is probably a dumb question - but…. We have a new 2024 HC. There is heat to the water lines and tanks bellow the belly. However, under the kitchen slider and under the bathroom slider there are water pipes that are exposed from the bottom when the slides are open. Common sense tells me if I am camping in cold weather they will freeze. Am I wrong, and if not how do those of you who camp in subfreeing temperatures keep those lines from freezing?

[Gonefishing]

I have a water line under one slide it’s for the ice maker. I took a pool noodle and put it around the water line. Used zip ties to hold it on. Haven’t had a problem.

[RoyHelsing]

Originally Posted by Gonefishing

I have a water line under one slide it’s for the ice maker. I took a pool noodle and put it around the water line. Used zip ties to hold it on. Haven’t had a problem.

I stand corrected, looks like only one line (cold water) at the left rear corner of the kitchen slide - comes up right in the corner under the TV. I assume it is the water line to the ice maker in the refrigerator. Pool noodle would not work because it is zip tied in multiple places to the slide frame so it does not get tangled or sliced. That said, since that is all is serves it would be simple to simply disconnect the ice maker and drain that line in cold weather. Like I said - stupid question but you answer helped me research it more and I thank you.

[DutchmenSport]

We do a lot of cold weather camping but have only 1 water line in the kitchen slide, and that line is for the ice maker in the refrigerator.

When we are in cold weather, I unhook the water line under the slide and then I disconnect the other end where it comes through the floor and the little blue refrigerator line connects to it. This drains the water line completely.

Under the kitchen sink is a cut off valve for that water line and there is a low point drain for that line also under the camper. Everything is opened and the line is completely drained and the ice maker is put in the "off" position.

That's how we deal with it.

However, if you have exposed water lines running to your kitchen sink (if that is in the slide) and if you have kitchen sink exposed drain lines under your slide, then your best best would be to run an electric heat tape around each line and then insulate it with pipe insulation, the same as you would do with a garden hose in cold weather.

[DutchmenSport]

I disconnect the blue line that runs to the refrigerator here and this breaks the vacuum so the line under the camper will drain. Yours may be located inside a cabinet. But somewhere, the refrigerator line connects to the water line.





Under the camper, this is what the original water line looked like, where it came through exposed to the outside. I did a modification to make a low point drain so I do not have to take it apart any more when I want to drain that line:

Original:



My modification:



Here's the cut valve for the ice maker line off from under the kitchen sink (yellow arrow)



And, it was only after I installed my own low-point, I realized the camper already had one.



So, I close off the valve under sink. I open both low point drains, and I disconnect the blue line inside the camper. Everything drains, no need to use RV antifreeze on this line now (even when winterizing). Turn off the Ice make, all is good.