Heated Water Hose

[ljp]

Looking for the best way to keep water in our exterior hose from freezing and found a PIRIT heated hose for sale at CW. Any thoughts if this is the best and safest option available?

[Javi]

that's what I use

[sourdough]

It's been years since I camped in an RV in really cold weather....I'm tryin to just hit FL What is this "heated" fresh water hose? I think I want it...

[JRTJH]

The PIRIT water hose is one of the more common brands that's available. Funny thing about you wondering about where to get one at the same time that CW has them on sale..... However, I would think they can be found for less money with some internet searching.

Here's the CW link so you can get an idea about what they are and what they do. http://www.campingworld.com/search/i...1119_OSN_Top10

[hankaye]

howdy All;

Had a PIRIT hose when I lived in Utah, 1st one crapped out in a day or 2.
The folks were great about getting me a new one next day UPS. That one
worked fine till the outside temps stayed above 39*F. then it melted .
This is what I am currently using, I have 3 or 4 different lengths.
http://www.amazon.com/Easy-Heat-AHB-...or+water+hoses
I then cover it and the hose with
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Pratt-Ret...8?N=5yc1vZbuy9
I like the 1" Inside diameter.
The beauty of this kind of set-up is the if there is no 15 or 20amp 120vac
at the electrical box (like the Park I'm currently at then I can switch ends
with the heat tape and keep my extension cord as short as possible.
With the PIRIT you're stuck with only a short pigtail and a LONG ext. cord.
That's my thoughts on the matter. Never had a problem with the current
set-up.

hankaye

[ljp]

Regarding the Amazon AHB hose, the specs indicate "Approved for rigid plastic and metal pipe; UL listed." How safe can it be when used with a standard garden hose?

[hankaye]

ljp, Howdy;

Originally Posted by ljp

Regarding the Amazon AHB hose, the specs indicate "Approved for rigid plastic and metal pipe; UL listed." How safe can it be when used with a standard garden hose?

I'm curious as to where you found that information.
Been using them since the winter of 2010/2011 and haven't had an issue
yet. It is probably the most used method to keep water hoses from freezing
that I've witnessed both in Central Utah with it's sub-zreo temps. and here
in Southern N.M. with it's more temperate climate.


hankaye

PS. Here is a PDF that is available from the Manufacturer;

http://ec1.images-amazon.com/media/i...L000034113.pdf

[Richard6959]

We are using a 30ft heat tape inside the round foam split insulation tubes you get at home depot. The tape and the water hose will just barley fit inside so we ought some insulation tape and wrapped it every couple of feet to make sure the tubes stayed close.

The last few days we have had temps down to 20 degrees at night and 30 during the day. All is well. I grabbed the hose in a couple of spots and found it toasty warm.

For good measure I wrapped about a foot of the tape around the water source and the last remaining foot around my water connections since I can't close my door all the way.

I also purchased a tempminder to watch the temperatures in that compartment and the outside kitchen. When it was 20 outside, those two areas didn't drop below 37.

[ljp]

Hello Hankaye -

I located the information I cited relative to the AHB hose when searching the Amazon site you posted. The same information is listed for all hoses, 3'-80' except the 9' hose.

[hankaye]

ljp, Howdy;

Originally Posted by ljp

Hello Hankaye -

I located the information I cited relative to the AHB hose when searching the Amazon site you posted. The same information is listed for all hoses, 3'-80' except the 9' hose.

AHHHH, ok, I use a 24' and didn't think to look there, generally the
info remains the same for those type of multi list items.
Thanks for that. Makes it sound like they are not only good for RV
hoses but also good for hard plumbing doesn't it?

hankaye

[filmtex]

I slapped one of those Easy Heat AHB-019 I bought from Home Depot. Sunday night our hose froze. Sheesh. It's south Texas-go figure. BY 9 am it was thawed out. Put the heater on that after noon and Monday night was even colder. Worked like a champ. Couple more nights down at freezing and haven't had a single problem.

[mikell]

I used a 50' one of those for 5 years till someone cut it intentionally. They probably didn't like what happened after that either

[Packed2Go]

Many years ago a product called "Blue Stuff" (??) was introduced. It was a space age material that conducted when the temp dropped below 34F. You bought the length you wanted off a roll and added the watertight 2 prong plug for one end and a waterproof cap & cinch strap for the other end. I believe it used a maximum of 3 watts/foot. The advantage was that you could leave it plugged in year round and if it did overlap or butt up against itself it wouldn't melt or cause a fire. I believe I saw a similar product a couple years ago that had a stainless steel braid outer sheath that deterred rodent gnawing the cable. I really liked the original product, however, because of the low wattage/foot, it did take awhile to thaw a line that was already frozen.

[webslave]

I, too, had lousy luck with the Pirit hoses. I've known folks that have used them trouble free for years, but, that wasn't my experience.

I'm using these this year:

http://www.amazon.com/Camco-22902-Ta...ed+water+hoses

I haven't used them but a couple of nights here in Benson, but, I've been very pleased with them so far. They come with a male-male connector so that you can hook them up, opposing end to end (if using two hoses) so that the power connector (which is pleasantly long) of one is at the pedestal and the power connector for the other is inside the trailer (in my case) or at the trailer's wall. Self regulating according to the instructions, but, I use thermo cubes to control the on/off of the hoses so that I can just "forget" about it. Low power consumption to boot. In my opinion, Camco has a "home run" with these. Pricey, but, they seem to be well built, sturdy, with a long power cord that makes it easier to go from water bib to pedestal at many campgrounds.

[hankaye]

webslave, Howdy;

Be interested to see how you feel about it in the Spring.

hankaye

[Richard6959]

Is there an issue with using the CAMCO heated hoses all year long? Just leave it unplugged in the summer?

[hankpage]

The only problem I see is the wear and tear and UV damage on an expensive hose instead of saving it for winter and using a cheaper hose when heat is not needed. JM2¢, Hank

[grdsman]

I've used mine in -22F (ambient) temperatures! I'm a believer. The trick at that point is getting the campground water spigot to not freeze. I had mine wrapped in heat wire and then insulated with foam insulation and then wrapped in foil. Make sure to keep the thermostat for the spigot heat wire inside of the insulation. Otherwise, it will turn on when it doesn't need to. You only want that one to turn on when the temperature inside the insulation gets below the threshold (40 degrees or so).

Mike

[hankaye]

grdsman, Howdy;

Genreally when water lines are buried to a proper depth
the ground water will be in the trip the thermostat range.
I realize that the manufacturer's directions state to include
it inside the wrap. Personally, I keep mine on the outside and
it works just fine. I also can control when mine is on or off (O/I
in modern speak) from inside. Right now the outside temp is in
the upper 50's F, and tonight's temp will be in the lower 40's F.
Why pay for unnecessary electricity and why run the water to
get past the warm to the cool water for a drink?

hankaye

[MBD]

I don't want to say I'm cheap but, all of the commercial heated hoses were too expensive or had really poor reviews.
I bought a heat tape at home depot, along with the rubbery foam insulation ( not the closed cell type). I found the appropriate sized fresh water hose at Wal-Mart. I wrapped the hose with aluminum foil and then the heat tape. Covered it all with the insulation using electrical tape in a wide spiral wrap. The plug was at the trailer end.
I put a trouble light with an incandescent bulb at the water spigot and covered both with a plastic storage bin/ box.
Both the hose and the light were plugged into an outlet from home depot that was activated when the temperature dropped to 34. This made the entire operation hands free and also worry free.