Quick ? Re one night below freezing

[Stan Simpson]

Since we got back from Florida, the nights have been in the mid 30's and above. I didn't re-winterize for that reason. I do have the Hydro Hot on, and the thermostat set at 45.

Thurday night it's supposed to get down to 25 overnight and then warm up to the 50's. With how I am configured right now, will I be okay without winterizing?

[Bill Sprague]

You on electric, diesel or both?  I used to consider 25 the lower limit for electric only.  Below that I would run it on diesel. 

With the HydroHot on and the thermostat set to 45 you will be fine.  Do not run any electric space heaters.  They will fool the system into thinking the HydroHot does not need to come on.  Be sure you are well above a quarter tank for fuel.

FWIW, BJ and I tested our '04 Monterey to below zero a couple times.  Once it was well below zero for a couple days!   It was frequent and normal for us to 'camp' below freezing. 

My one worry was always that it was a "single point of failure" system.  So many small parts can cause complete shutdown if they fail.  During our well below zero blizzard experience the burner bearing started squealing.  Had it failed, I have no idea how we would have kept warm.   Ultimately I bought a few space heaters and modified the wiring to plug them all in as a backup plan.  I went a little crazy over it and figured out how to set it up so the generator would start if the HydroHot failed!   

[Joel Ashley]

I've commonly set at least one thermostat at 40-45, with the HydroHot electric on.  Draining lines at the manifold can't hurt, and any fridge icemaker drain valve near the water pump.  At 25 I'd consider kicking on the diesel side of the HydroHot, rather than just the electric side, or if it was 30 for a lot more than just a few overnight hours.  I'd check it immediately prior to the outside temp hitting freezing to make sure the furnace was fully functional.  Usually, as Bill alludes to, the weather has to not just reach sub-freezing, but stay there for quite awhile before things inside are really in jeopardy.

Joel

[Dick Simonis]

If I'm living in it an one night is below freezing the only thing I do is fill the FW tank, disconnect the hose and flip on the diesel burner..  If I'm not in the coach I set both thermostats for 55 f and let the electric aqua hot element do it's thing.  If I'm feeling a bit paranoid I'll turn on the diesel burner.

[Stan Simpson]

Thanks for the replies, gents!

I can't use the electric element. Right now in storage, where I can only plug in to 15-20 amps. So, I definitely have the diesel burner on. Fuel gauge is above the 3/4 mark.

It's 35F right now, going up to a balmy 40 today! Came home from Florida too early. 

[Bruce Sieloff]

Stan,
Had the same issue last winter and left the diesel burner on with the thermostat on 40 degrees, had no issue with any freezing and the bays were toasty. I DID burn through 2/3 of a tank of diesel but it was cheaper than repairs.
Bruce