Frozen water intake piping

[luckydog]

Do any of you know what to do about this, other than garaging the van. I leave the cap off--van plugged in overnight--water heater/furnace on--anti-freeze in system--but when I get home after grooming the dogs for the day I can't fill. I come straight back so van is warm inside--water in running full hot from inside the house--hose is lifted off the ground. Is there anything left? I thought the vans were supposed to be usable in conditions colder than this.

[diamienono]

I had that same problem with my trailer. My dad is going to instal a T so that I can fill inside or out.

[furrybestjob]

I had this problem on Monday...how frustrating! I ended up calling WNT and they told me to turn the furnace all the way up (to 90). I did that, waited about an hour and then took a hair dryer and pointed it at the intake, It worked, but what a pain in the butt..... Hurry up Spring!

[barknpurr]

Use your ceramic heater!

I used to take the ceramic heater that was plugged in the back outlet and point it directly at the intake valve. It would take a minute or two, but it does open the valve up enough to allow you to fill the tank.

Yup - I do not miss my WNTs during weather like this!

[workingchihuahua]

i got tired of the outside fill line freezing and then having to pour hot buckets of water to defrost it and getting the hair dryer out. i had a plumber install an inside water fill and it is the best money i ever spent.

[Rozie26]

i keep an old hair dryer in the back and every night when i come home i thaw it that way. it does suck and boy can i not wait for spring.

[HavensHubby]

In cold weather like this, I built a wind shelter for the intake. I put a tarp on a shelving unit, cut a hole in one side, and put insulation foam around the hole to seal the shelf to the van. I put a ceramic heater on the shelf and leave it on low. I let it sit like this when temps are in the single digits. When we return from grooming and the intake is frozen, I put the shelter up with the heater on high for a few minutes.

[luvpups]

I take one of my shampoo mixing bottles and fill it with hot, hot water from in the van. It never had shampoo in it, only water. It has the top with the pointy thing where the water comes out. I put the hot water on the outside to get cap off. Then squirt it directly into the hole. It has worked for me every time so far. I have had to use the whole bottle of water to get it unfrozen.

[luckydog]

All good ideas, I'll try some. Today, I just ran the furnace at a higher temp than I usually do for the last 10 min on the last dog and I had no problems. Colder temps for next week (in Michigan) Highs in the minuses--yuck!

[Doug]

water connection

If your talking about the outside fill up connection that the hose screws onto take a look inside the fitting.Some of them have a + cross with a tiny pin sticking out of the center of the cross.It is a valve and it gets stuck.Give is a small shot of pam cooking spray and push it in a few times to let the oil coat the seal and the pin.
I used to have to heat the area around it with a blow torch to get that thing unstuck.The inside fill up with a T is the better choice. I did away with the outside connection it's just not worth the head aches plus it reminds me empty the shop vac if I have to go back there each day.The only thing made to work well in these temps would be skis and snow shoes.Or tickets to a tropical paradise with nude beaches and open bar.lol

[diamienono]

Go figure, I rescheduled all of this weeks appts for next week and now they are calling for snow on tuesday. they won't say how much. It does not matter if it is 1/2 inch. I can't get my trailer down my drive way with snow. I might slide and fall off the 8 foot wall and end up washing my trailer in my pool. It really needs a bath, but not that way. So, I will wait to see what they have to say on Sunday and then make mega phone call and have a really long day on Monday and later in the week. UGH. I hate winter. I am so ready for sunny and 85.

[HavensHubby]

Or tickets to a tropical paradise with nude beaches and open bar.lol

I'm with Doug, let's hit the beach!

[Crystal]

I have had this happen already a few times. It is frustrating, especially if you didn't allow time in your schedule to have to deal with it.

I have a heat gun that I use for crafts. I had used that to warm up the cap and unscrew. Then I noticed an iceberg in the line, so I pointed my heater in that direction (ceramic) then I waited a few minutes to fill up.

I did fill with hot water, and I could hear the water opening up the iced line. it sounded like I could hear some crunching and gushing of ice in the line, but a second later it would clear and start filling. I am thinking maybe about 5 inches from the fill cap to the pvc line gets no warmth from the van and it freezes while driving from wind and cold temps.

It is a pain.

[bow_wow_wheels]

Well, if all ya'll lived in the Sunny South you wouldn't be having that problem I have already used my AC this year!

<ducking and running for cover>

[diamienono]

Well, if all ya'll lived in the Sunny South you wouldn't be having that problem I have already used my AC this year!

<ducking and running for cover>

Well, if we all lived there, you would not have any business lol. so don't rub it in. It is sooo cold here. We are supposed to get snow this week.