← Field Notes Safety No. 51

Water always wins

The winterizing checklist, before the first freeze.

There is no negotiating with ice. Either everything stays above freezing, or the water comes out. There's no third option.

Strategy 1: Keep it warm. Heated and insulated tanks, heat tape on exposed lines, tank pads, skirting, and enough interior heat to keep plumbing bays above freezing. Costs energy continuously, and it fails if your power fails — which is exactly when it's coldest.

Strategy 2: Get the water out. Drain the fresh tank, water heater, and every low point. Open all faucets. Blow out the lines with low-pressure compressed air, or run RV antifreeze through until it appears at every fixture.

The spots people forget: the water pump itself (it holds water and cracks), the water heater drain plug and pressure relief, low-point drains, filters and canisters, the outside shower, the toilet valve, and P-traps.

Beyond plumbing: the lithium charging rule. Propane regulators can freeze up — keep them covered. Snow is an opaque blanket on panels; tilt them if you can. And condensation — the underrated winter problem. Cooking and breathing put a lot of moisture into a small space. Ventilate deliberately or you'll grow mold.

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