How do you keep the water tank from Freezing?

Dominic A

New member
Here is teh deal I have to go clean this restuarant soon. The problem I will have is that I have to fill my water tank with water to wash the place. I have washed it several times in the spring and summer. With no problems now the problem I am facing is the restuarant is 15 miles away and the temps have been below freezing the past few days. My question is will my water tank freeze up it is a 350 gal. tank I now it wont freeze up all the way but is this something I should be concernd about? Or will it just be fine the way its? It does take a few hours to clean this place. The run off a pump the runs about 3 or 4 gal per minute. Not enough to keep my washer running but enough to keep the tank some what filled while I clean. If I do this will that be enough to stop the tank from forming ice? since water will be running in the tank at a steady pace. A just don't want to mess up anything. Better safe then sorry. Thanks for any and all help :D
 
Where in Colorado are you located? I wash in the northern front range (Longmont and north). Is your equipment enclosed or in the open? Your water tank shouldn't freeze regardless while full or even half full, but if your equipment is in the open the hoses might freeze up. I have a 220 gal tank and have never had a problem with it freezing, but I have an enclosed trailer and heat it when I am home. The only time I have had hoses freeze is when we string several days of below freezing highs and lows get down to single digits and lower. I've been out washing with temps in the upper teens and as long as nothing was frozen when I left it never froze up while traveling. Even if your water tank was in the open, the combination of the amount of water and the movement of the water while traveling will keep it from freezing. The one thing to worry about along with hoses is the valves. If in the open, you might want wrap your valves and pumps with something. Hope this helps.

Pat
 
Pat,
I am located in Southern Colorado down by Alamosa. Ever Hear of it? My trailer in open and I do already winterize it with Anti-freeze. SO the hoses and pump are fine. This will be the first time I have to clean this place in the winter time. SO I was somewhat concernd about having the tank full of water for a long amount of time. I thank you for your input. I was thinking the same thing but just wanted to make sure. Thanks fo ryour input. Have a good day:cool:
 
Dominic, I too think you will be ok on the tank. I would run RV antifreeze through your machine and hoses when you are finished, more so if you leave it outside. If you have an enclosed trailer you can run 2 - 500 watt lights in it and it should be fine. That is what I do and haven't had it get below 38 degrees inside. I am in Tennessee.
 
You mught try one of those water heater drop ins that the farm supply stores sell for keeping the outside water supply from freezing for their cattle.
 
Dominic,
Yeah, I've heard of Alamosa, I think I've been through there once quite a few years back. Just thought I would share this with you. I have a Pick-up tank (300 gal) that I use once in a while when I wash somewhere that doesn't have a hook-up and I need more than 220 gal. Well, I needed it for a job yesterday (Sunday) so I filled it late Saturday night. We got about 4 inches of snow saturday night and it quit snowing around 10pm then the temp dropped to the low teens over night. When I left in the morning it was 16 deg and there was a little ice on the top in the tank but while traveling it disolved from the movement. I had to go about 40 miles and when I got there my valve on the water tank to let the water out had frozen shut. It's plastic so I couldn't put a torch on it and it never got above 25, so I ended up not using it. We are supposed to be in the 40's today, so hopefully I can get it opened to get the water out of it.

Pat
 
Always carry a cheap hairdryer to quickly unfreeze valves. In the alternative you can pour hot water on 'em. You can always get double use out of the hairdryer by using it to friz you hair in case you work at a disco.

Richard
 
Richard,
Hey another Colorado person, where are you located? The hair dryer is a good idea, except some people I wash don't even have an exterior outlet that I could find, unless I get a power converter then I wouldn't need the outlet (I'm not sure what the cost is though). I thought about just using my hot water from my washer but I was really tight on water so I didn't want to take the chance on it not working and wasting the water. I'm going to wrap the valve with some sort of insulator this week and see what it does this weekend.

Pat
 
dan, what about light bulbs???? lol....

i read your post and kinda chuckled.

roy
 
000000000000------- the light bulb thinngy
yeah sure 10-4 I guess they will work...........I use 300 of them when the ole kold snap comes.... It's the best thing next to the cell phone....... LOL>>>>>>>>>>
 
I just started using a ventless propane heater this year. Seems to be ok so far, temps only to about 18 F so far this year. Only problem is the amount of moisture in the van, and the ice on the inside jof the windows. Of course when the cab is warm enough, the ice above the ceiling panel melts and I have rain in the cab.

Douglas Hicks
General Fire Equipment Co of Eastern Oregon, Inc
 
<marquee> stop that jon.....</marquee>

I use any color>>>>> like you tought me but you never use colors anymore so i guess you are a bad teacher..... lol
 
Doug i never have that problem . is your unit in a garage? or just out in the open w/your heater on?
 
I have a power inverter in my truck.......plugs into the cig lighter, and has two outlets. Rated to 300 Watts, I believe. (actually, it says 300W continuous, and 500W peak)

I use it to power my laptop computer, and an A/C powered Deckhand sprayer. Works great. I think it was around $60 or $70.
 

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what i would do

open trailer with a tank? fill the tank 3/4 start the unit with heat and velcro the trigger open and put the end of the lance in the tank it wont heat the water enuff to hurt the pump. When your close to done washing use just tank water let it run down till theres only a gallon or 2 of water left. Then pour in a couple gallons of anti freeze and run it around the same way starting and stopping the trigger to get anti freeze in the unloader.
 
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