How do You Manage Grey Water in Freezing Temps?

[meyerske]

Looking for some advice on how to deal with grey water in freezing conditions. I just use a portable potty in cold weather to avoid black water issues. Camper is parked on some property we own and visit for a few days at a time.

[GaryWT]

Is the grey tank connect to anything? If so leave it open and let it flow out, if not maybe so RV antifreeze.

[SAD]

Originally Posted by meyerske

Looking for some advice on how to deal with grey water in freezing conditions. I just use a portable potty in cold weather to avoid black water issues. Camper is parked on some property we own and visit for a few days at a time.

Are your tanks enclosed and "heated"? What types of low temps are we talking about? What is the daytime high? What does the daily temperature curve look like - i.e. how many hours out of 24 is it below freezing?

[meyerske]

In the summer I just run a hose from grey water to a 5 gallon buried bucket that has gravel in it, and leave the grey valve open. Works great. In the winter the hose will freeze in this arrangement.

My concern is when temps never get above freezing, seems like no matter what I do, I'm gonna have freeze-up issues.

I have a polar package and so tank/valve freezing should not be an issue during reasonable temps. I've been shutting the grey valve at night and dumping the grey during the day when it is above freezing. Not sure how well that approach will work if it is always below freezing.

[SAD]

Originally Posted by meyerske

...I've been shutting the grey valve at night and dumping the grey during the day when it is above freezing. Not sure how well that approach will work if it is always below freezing.

In the situation you describe, this is what I have done as well.

Leaving the gray valve open is a mistake. Because there is no "rush" of water when tank is empty, the water will just trickle and move slow.... It will freeze in every little bend/divit in your hose; making an ice dam slowly over time.

[hankaye]

meyerske, Howdy;

When I lived in Central Utah (very cold in Winter), I was able to
get access to the gray tanks inbound plumbing and I would
'deposit' about a Big Gulp cup (32 oz.), worth of Ice Melt into the
tank after each dump. I'd put 3 or 4 gal. of water in behind it and
never had a problem.
I'd do the same for the black tank as well, just for insurance.
Just something for you to consider.

hankaye

[meyerske]

Originally Posted by hankaye

meyerske, Howdy;

When I lived in Central Utah (very cold in Winter), I was able to
get access to the gray tanks inbound plumbing and I would
'deposit' about a Big Gulp cup (32 oz.), worth of Ice Melt into the
tank after each dump. I'd put 3 or 4 gal. of water in behind it and
never had a problem.
I'd do the same for the black tank as well, just for insurance.
Just something for you to consider.

hankaye

Interesting idea. What about dumping a gallon of RV antifreeze down the kitchen sink drain after a grey tank dump?

[Jay Pat]

Originally Posted by hankaye

meyerske, Howdy;

When I lived in Central Utah (very cold in Winter), I was able to
get access to the gray tanks inbound plumbing and I would
'deposit' about a Big Gulp cup (32 oz.), worth of Ice Melt into the
tank after each dump. I'd put 3 or 4 gal. of water in behind it and
never had a problem.
I'd do the same for the black tank as well, just for insurance.
Just something for you to consider.

hankaye

Could you explain about the access to the grey tank?
I'm interested in learning more.
Thanks!
Pat