18 replies to this topic

[smcburnett]

I suspect some residual water in the system. I drained everything and had a heater inside all winter but we had a few ferociously cold days and nights that probably overwhelmed it.

[Wallowa]

I suspect some residual water in the system. I drained everything and had a heater inside all winter but we had a few ferociously cold days and nights that probably overwhelmed it.

 

 

Sorry to keep with questions, but where exactly in the system did it rupture and was that a low spot?

 

Thanks....

[smcburnett]

The manifold cracked (rather substantially) at the inboard end of the forward manifold past the last hose connection. While this is not a real low spot, it could collect water if the rig was not perfectly level when drained, i.e., tipped slightly toward the passenger side. Too bad FWC doesn't use a copper (vice plastic) manifold. The metal ones are extensively used for in-floor heating systems so they cannot be too expensive. I'm continuing to search for one ready-made, but I may have to just take the broken one to a plumber and have one fabricated. I really don't want to do this every spring!

[Wandering Sagebrush]

<snip>

While this is not a real low spot, it could collect water if the rig was not perfectly level when drained…

<snip>

I am a fan of Ask This Old House, and one of their programs was on frozen and ruptured plumbing.  According to Richard Trethewey (and plumbers never lie), it’s the air compressed by the expanding ice that is the real villain.  I would not have suspected that.

[ckent323]

I think Mr  Trethewey is incorrect because of the Physics of freezing water.

 

Water is an incompressible material.  When water freezes it can exert tremendous pressure.  Air on the other hand will compress.

Freezing ice can exert pressures up to 43,511.31 pounds of force per square inch (psi).

 

See Ref:

https://www.jlconlin...-pipes-freeze_o

Edited by ckent323, 26 May 2023 - 03:02 AM.

[Wandering Sagebrush]

 Craig, you’ve destroyed my faith in plumbers.

[ckent323]

Sorry. 

My bet for understanding liquids (as well as all other matter) is on Physicists. 

 

My bet for getting things holding liquids to work is on Plumbers.  (even if they don't actually understand how or why liquids do what they do). 

;-)

[Wallowa]

Close but ...but water is compressible [ surface sea level responds to atmospheric pressure changes]; just not much   While of course gases are compressible...deferential heating of a pipe/manifold with the air trapped by ice 'plugs' could cause the air to expand and rupture the material before the ice melted...WAG

 

All this is conjecture on what split his pipe...I still do not know what or where the 'manifold' is...my '16 Hawk is the only plumbing I know of...

 

All academic but would like to know the temperatures causing this, at what temperature the heater in the camper kept the interior and if the cabinet doors were open to allow in the heat...or even the tie-down doors were open...

 

Fore warned is fore armed...  

 

 

Phil

[Vic Harder]

That sucks.  Hope they are able to enjoy the trip regardless!