Living in an RV year-round means facing the elements head on. But you won’t be the only one facing the elements: Your appliances will face them as well. Most RV’s rely entirely on propane for fuel. (Although this is starting to change with hybrid and all-electric RVs.) Propane is a clean-burning fuel and safe. It is an environmentally friendly choice compared to gas or diesel, since it releases negligible amounts of fossil fuels. Many RVs use propane to power a stove, oven, heater, refrigerator, outdoor stove, and hot water heater. That means that the majority of our creature comforts are almost entirely dependent on propane. Therefore, in winter weather, precautions need to be taken to prevent malfunctions. You need to prepare your propane tanks for the cold.
There are lots of good reasons to take on the challenges of four-season RV camping. To do that (and keep you and your RV warm), let’s start with the basics.
Propane Fundamentals
Propane is a flammable hydrocarbon gas. It’s made up of carbon and hydrogen, C3H8. In its natural state, propane is colorless and odorless. For safety reasons, an odor is added to easily detect a leak. It is a gas, but under pressure it is liquified. This makes it relatively simple to transfer in bulk form. So, to simplify this, the propane inside your tank is a liquid. As pressure in the tank is released, the liquid boils, or vaporizes, into gas that is released into your appliances.
Propane Problems in Cold Weather
In its liquid form, propane can technically freeze, but it only does so in -44 degrees Fahrenheit. The main issues you will face in low temperatures are pressure related. A liquid propane tank functions with a reservoir of gas at the top of the heater. The gas is what is used in your appliances. The liquid boils, replenishing the gas reservoir at the top of your tank. In cold weather, the pressure inside your tank will decrease, and the boiling process will slow down.
The problem most people have with their propane in cold weather is exhausting their reservoir of gas at the top of the tank before it can be replenished by the boiling process. When the reservoir of gas is used up before the boiling process can replenish it, the propane system malfunctions. This is often referred to as a “frozen tank,” although the propane isn’t actually frozen. It is a result of a slowed down “rebound” of the gas made by the boiling propane. This is the main issue that can result in the lower pressure of your propane tank caused by cold temperatures. On a night when it’s cold enough to have these effects on your tank, you may be depending on your propane heater to warm you up! Because these malfunctions can happen, it doesn’t hurt to have a small backup space heater in your RV just in case.
Prepare Your Propane Tanks for the Cold
If you’re about to embark on a cold weather RV trip, consider getting a bigger propane tank. It’s a good way to prepare your propane for the cold. You probably won’t burn all that propane, but the larger tank size might prevent the “frozen-tank” issue by increasing the size of the gas reservoir at the top of your tank.
Another way to ensure proper functioning of your propane tanks in the winter is to keep the tank at least 30 percent full. If the tank is full, the pressure might not drop enough to affect the flow of gas to your appliances. Being conscientious of your propane intake will help ensure your tank stays somewhat full. You can turn your thermostat down at night, and turn your water heater off when you aren’t using it.
The only problem with keeping your tank at least 30 percent full, is that most places that fill propane, charge the same amount no matter what is left in the tank. If you can find someone who fills propane by volume, that will save you some money in the long run.
And if you’re in an area with a lot of snow and ice accumulation, step outside in the mornings and evenings and brush the snow and ice off your tanks.
Finicky Tank Moments
Sometimes tank regulators and safety shut-off devices can be finicky in cold weather due to pressure differences. If you open your tank too quickly, it may trigger a safety shut off feature on your regulator. Before you take your RV to the shop, try this: Shut your tank off, and disconnect the line that goes from the regulator to the tank. Let it sit for a minute or two, and then reconnect the line and open the tank up slowly. You may find your problem has magically resolved itself.
