How to Winterize Your RV

10 Ways to Winterize Your RV

As the summer sun disappears and you being wrapping up the camping season, you have to start thinking about how to prep your RV for those cold winter months. You don’t want to have regrets when you get those expensive repair bills from damages caused from the intense winter months. Here are 10 ways to winterize your RV to ensure it is effectively protected.

Step 1:

Disconnect RV from the water source. Turn off power to the RV by flipping the main circuit breaker. Make sure to disconnect propane, if applicable. Don’t store the propane tank in the RV. Cover propane tank fittings on the RV with a plastic bag and rubber bands. Remove all batteries from alarms, radios, clocks, and smoke detectors. Block the exhaust pipe with aluminum foil or steel wool to keep out pests.

Step 2:

Turn on hot and cold water faucets to drain pipes from closest to farthest away. Start with the highest faucet first, usually the kitchen. Next proceed to the kitchen and then the bathroom. Turn on the outside shower and flush the toilet. An air compressor and "blow out plug" can be used to blow water out of lines. The air compressor should be set to 30 PSI with a max air pressure of 50 PSI. If using an air compressor, it is important to open water valves one at a time. Tap locations for the RV's plumbing system are specified in the owner's manual.

Step 3:

Bypassing the water heater is not necessary but is highly recommended. Failing to do this will allow antifreeze to fill the water heater before it goes through the lines. Leading to 6 to 10 gallons of wasted antifreeze. Many RVs have a by-pass kit, and it is easy to get one installed. If a water filtration system is built into the RV, it is important to bypass it as well.

Step 4:

Pump antifreeze through water lines. It is done easily by installing a valve with a tube onto the water pump. Many newer RVs already have this tube installed. The valve and tube allow antifreeze to be drawn directly from a bottle. An external hand pump can be used instead of connecting directly to the water pump.

Step 5:

After the tube and valve are connected to your water pump, turn the water pump on. It will suck antifreeze out of the bottle into the RV's water system. Slowly open the hot and cold water faucets. Do each faucet (hot and then cold) one at a time, and start with the faucet closest to the water pump. Keep valves open until antifreeze flows. Once antifreeze is present, shut the valve. Check and replace the antifreeze bottle often to make sure it will not run dry.

Step 6:

After faucets are closed, flush the toilet until antifreeze appears. Pour one pint of antifreeze in the toilet and flush it into the holding tank. Doing this prevents any standing water in the tank from freezing during cold weather months and protects the seals and valves.

Step 7:

Use the RV's water pump to force water out of the system. Turn the system off as soon as all the water is drained. Failure to turn the system off right away can cause damage to the pump. Recap all drains. Close all faucets. Next, open one faucet to release any pressure and then close the faucet again.

Step 8:

Drain all the RV's water tanks including gray, black, and fresh water tanks. Any inline water filters should be removed and bypassed before beginning. Drain the fresh water holding tank first. Next, drain and flush the gray and black tanks. Use a wand to clean the black tank, if your RV does not have a built-in flushing system. Double check that all lines and systems are drained and closed appropriately. Recap all drains and faucets.

Step 9:

If your RV has a city water inlet, you will have to go outside and remove the small screen covering the inlet. After removing the inlet, push in on the valve with a small screwdriver until you see antifreeze. Next, replace the small screen. Consult owner's manual for specific directions on winterizing washing machines, refrigerators, washing machines, and ice makers.

Step 10:

Drain the water heater. (DO NOT DRAIN WATER HEAT IF IT IS HOT OR UNDER PRESSURE). The drain is found on the bottom of most RV water heater units. Stand to the side when you open the tank to avoid getting sprayed with water and lime deposits. Open the water heater's relief valve to allow pressure to escape. After the tank is drained, leave it open until spring. If your RV's water heater has an electric heating element turn it off to protect it while in storage.

IT’S TIME TO WINTERIZE!!