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Handwash station next to our crew's porta potty froze solid two mornings in a row. What do people do in winter?

Carl D.asked 0 viewsConstruction & Job SitesHandwash stationWinterFreezingConstructionStandard unit

We're running a water line job through the winter, crew of 11, one standard unit and a foot pump handwash station parked next to it at the laydown yard. Last week it dropped into the low 20s overnight and both mornings the pump wouldn't budge. The guys ended up using the sanitizer in the standard unit and a jug of water off the truck, which is not great when your hands are covered in mud and pipe glue.

A few questions for anyone who's been through a winter with these:

Will the rental company put something in the fresh tank that won't freeze, or is that not a thing?

Is it normal to just pull the station for the season and go sanitizer only?

Does anyone wheel theirs into a conex or the job trailer overnight and drag it back out each morning?

I'd rather sort this out now than in January.

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Deb K.Akron, OH

The rental company should add non-toxic antifreeze to the handwash station's fresh water tank for winter service. This is standard practice to prevent freezing down to about 10°F. Your crew's size fits the OSHA construction standard for one toilet, so you're compliant, but frozen handwashing isn't acceptable.

It's common to switch to hand sanitizer only in deep winter if the station can't be kept thawed. Many sites do this to avoid the daily hassle. Dragging the unit into a conex or trailer overnight works if you have the manpower, but it adds labor and risks spills. The pump and lines can still freeze during the day if temps stay low.

Talk to your rental company about their winterization protocol. They might use a brine solution or recommend a heated handwash station model for harsh conditions. For now, keep that jug of water handy, it's a reliable backup when the equipment fails.

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