Do Porta Potties Freeze in a Lubbock Winter?
What actually freezes, what we do before a hard freeze, and what crews and hosts should know December through February.
How cold does Lubbock get?
Lubbock's December normals are a 55°F high and a 28°F low, and January lows run about 27°F, from NWS 1991–2020 normals. NOAA data counts about 60 freeze-thaw cycles a year. Snowfall averages about 7 inches a season, so hard freezes and wind chill matter more than snow.
Sources: NWS Lubbock December normals · NWS annual normals.
What freezes, and what doesn't?
A holding tank rarely freezes solid, because waste and treatment chemicals don't freeze as easily as water. What freezes first is fresh water: handwash station tanks, deluxe sink tanks and flush tanks. That's why our winter plan focuses on the water, not the toilet.
| Part | Freeze risk | What we do |
|---|---|---|
| Holding tank | Low | Winter tank treatment |
| Handwash fresh water | High | Drain or protect before a hard freeze |
| Deluxe flush and sink | High | Winterize or swap to standard |
| Door latch | Medium (ice) | Check on service |
What should crews and hosts do?
Crews and hosts should do three things in winter: keep the unit on a south- or east-facing side of a building out of the north wind, tell us about winter events so we can plan the water, and expect a text if we change handwash service for a forecast hard freeze.
Written by the Scott Rental Works dispatch team: the people who schedule, deliver, service and pick up our units from 2201 34th St in Lubbock.
We checked these facts against OSHA, the International Plumbing Code, the 2010 ADA Standards, PSAI guidance, manufacturer spec sheets, NWS Lubbock climate normals and City of Lubbock pages. Last reviewed .
Related questions
Every question below was asked on a real rental call. The short answer comes first, then the conditions that change it.
Do porta potties freeze in a Lubbock winter?
The holding tank rarely freezes solid, but handwash water and flush tanks can. When a hard freeze is forecast, we add a winter tank treatment and drain or protect sink water. December and January lows average in the upper 20s.
Do I need a handwashing station?
Add one whenever food is served, at petting zoos, and on jobsites where crews handle paint, coatings or chemicals. Plan 1 station per 10 toilets. Deluxe units have their own sink, which covers small parties.
How often do you clean it?
Long-term units get serviced once a week. Each visit we pump the tank, disinfect, scrub, deodorize and restock. Event units arrive clean. Busy sites, summer heat and multi-day events can add extra services.
Do I have to sign a long contract?
No. The minimum is one 28-day cycle. After that it rolls cycle to cycle until you call for pickup. Keep it a month or a year.
Get an itemized quote
Six fields. You get one line each for the unit, dates, delivery, pickup, servicing and fees. If we can't hit your date, we'll tell you on the first call so you aren't left waiting for a callback.
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before drop-off
- Weather call? We move your date, no charge
- Delivered pumped, sanitized and stocked