How cold before pipes freeze

[Lost]

I can't believe there calling for snow today and tonight there calling for the temp to get down to around 27f for several hours untill the sun warms it up tomorrow to the mid 50s. Will that temp be enought to freeze the pipes and burst them? I've always heard that it takes a hard freeze were it's below freezing and lasts for a day at that temp. Just worried that when I go up to the trailer latter this week I'll find a mess

[SAD]

Originally Posted by Lost

I can't believe there calling for snow today and tonight there calling for the temp to get down to around 27f for several hours untill the sun warms it up tomorrow to the mid 50s. Will that temp be enought to freeze the pipes and burst them? I've always heard that it takes a hard freeze were it's below freezing and lasts for a day at that temp. Just worried that when I go up to the trailer latter this week I'll find a mess

What you describe is not enough to worry about IMHO.

[SteveC7010]

Originally Posted by Lost

I can't believe there calling for snow today and tonight there calling for the temp to get down to around 27f for several hours untill the sun warms it up tomorrow to the mid 50s. Will that temp be enought to freeze the pipes and burst them? I've always heard that it takes a hard freeze were it's below freezing and lasts for a day at that temp. Just worried that when I go up to the trailer latter this week I'll find a mess

There's no exact science to this. There are too many variables. It really depends on how fast the temp drops, and then how long it stays down there.

I usually recommend to folks that de-winterize early and then camp in spring and fall when the weather could be an issue that they consider blowing out the lines when not using the trailer. The adapter to do this is only a couple of dollars, and most small any compressor has enough oomph to push the water out.

Particular areas of concern are the toilet valve (tiny plastic parts in a tiny space), the pump itself, and any piping that is not either PEX or the braided flex hosing. If you drain all the holding tanks, you should be OK there.

Best of luck with this.

[chuck&gail]

If your furnace heats the belly, and tanks, why not just run furnace a bit?

[iamrwnut]

You will carry residual heat from the day well into the night. The freezing temps will generally come 3-6 am. Not long enough this time of the year to cause you trouble. I ran my heat this evening utill about 8:30 to ensure no issues myself.
They are calling for 30 here tonight. Below freezing between 2 and 5 am here.

[SteveC7010]

Originally Posted by chuck&gail

If your furnace heats the belly, and tanks, why not just run furnace a bit?

From the OP's original post, it sounds like he's quite a distance from the trailer and won't be able to get to it for several days.

I'm also leery of relying on the furnace to heat the belly unless the owner has verified that the ducting is in good shape and that the furnace actually does get enough heat down there to prevent freezing of the pipes and tanks. As has been pointed out a number of times, the so called "Polar Package" is not what the sales critters would like us to believe it is.

[TAZ23]

Speaking from my own experiance I dont think you will have a problem with freezing. We have been in the same situation as you exept the temps went into the low twentys overnite and have not had a problem. Travel trailers retain some daytime heat well into the night. As steveC7010 said you can buy a blow out plug at any camping store or even Wallyworld and use most any small compressor to quickly blow out your lines early and late in the year.

[Comptech]

If you have the Polar Package or similar you can camp in 0 degree weather...

Polar package plus
Cougar has been zero degree tested. The Polar Package Plus allows you to camp to zero degrees without worry of your tanks or water lines freezing up. We also add upgraded insulation to our slide-out floors to control the hot and cold exchange and unlike our competition we merge our skirt metal to the I-Beam for complete enclosure of your fifth wheel underbelly.

[JRTJH]

Originally Posted by Comptech

If you have the Polar Package or similar you can camp in 0 degree weather...

Polar package plus
Cougar has been zero degree tested. The Polar Package Plus allows you to camp to zero degrees without worry of your tanks or water lines freezing up. We also add upgraded insulation to our slide-out floors to control the hot and cold exchange and unlike our competition we merge our skirt metal to the I-Beam for complete enclosure of your fifth wheel underbelly.

YUP, if you believe that "hype" LOL However, the OP has a Montana, not a Cougar, so his "Polar Package Plus" is only a "Polar Package" <wink>

[Comptech]

Actually the OP has a Glacier Package with R-21 floor and R-38 roof insulation
according to the Keystone site... Plenty of insulation to survive one night of 27 degrees...

http://www.keystonerv.com/montana-high-country/

[Bugle Boy]

I agree with SteveC7010. Many variables. Two things are not variables however. Water freezes at 32 deg F and when it freezes it expands. When it expands it can break stuff.

I guess it depends on how much of a gambler you want to be. Could be very costly to take such a chance.

[SAABDOCTOR]

hey wait a second My montana says "Artic package" that means better glue to hold the sticker on in cold weather or my malamutes will love the cold weather. but one night at those temps you should be fine!