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Outdoor November wedding: Will handwash stations freeze?

Nina R.asked 1 viewEvents & WeddingsHandwash stationWinterizationEvents and weddingsService frequencyWedding

We're planning an outdoor wedding ceremony and reception for 100 guests in late November, on a Saturday evening. The forecast calls for clear skies but temperatures dropping to near freezing after sunset. Our venue is a private farm with a grassy field for the ceremony and a tent for the reception. Catering is a full dinner, and we'll have an open bar. We're renting a few standard units and a single handwash station to place beside them. The truck access is fine for delivery.

My main concern is the cold. I know a standard portable toilet with a blue deodorizer in the holding tank will be okay, but what about the handwash station's fresh water tank? Will it freeze solid during a five-hour event and become unusable? Do I need to ask the rental company for a winterized model or some kind of heater?

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Owen G.Austin, TX

Yes, a handwash station's fresh water tank will freeze solid in near-freezing temperatures during a five-hour evening event. The fresh water tank holds water without antifreeze, and once temperatures drop below 32°F, ice forms, blocking the pump and making the station unusable.

Ask your rental company for a winterized handwash station. A winterized model includes a non-toxic antifreeze solution in the fresh water tank to prevent freezing. Some companies offer heated handwash stations with built-in propane or electric heaters, but these require a power source and may cost more due to the equipment and fuel.

Standard portable toilets handle cold well because the holding tank contains a deodorizer with antifreeze properties. For your event with 100 guests, an open bar, and a full dinner, plan for more than the minimum units, consider adding an extra standard unit or a deluxe unit with a sink to reduce handwash station use. Confirm with the rental company that they use formaldehyde-free deodorizer, as many wastewater treatment plants restrict formaldehyde waste.

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