Winterizing Your RV: A Step By Step Guide
Winter is coming! If you are planning to store your RV in an area where the temperatures fall below freezing, then you need to winterize it. Your RV is an important part of your travel and vacation plans. Taking great care of your RV during the cold months will make pay off come spring!
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Why Winterize Your RV?
Maybe you are wondering whether you need to winterize your RV or not. If you are storing your RV in a climate that goes below freezing at any time, then you need to winterize your RV! Cold, freezing weather can damage many systems. Any remaining water left inside the RV will freeze and can potentially cause plastic tubing to burst. You will not realize the damage until everything thaws out and you begin to see the evidence of leaks!
How to Winterize Your RV?
We will give you a step-by-step process to follow to successfully winterize your RV! Once you determine that you are ready to winterize your RV, these steps will be easy to follow:
Step 1: Drain all of the water from all of your tanks. You should flush out all of your gray and black tanks to help remove any residue. Drain the water from your fresh water tank and your hot water heater. When draining your hot water heater make sure that you have it turned off and have given time for the water inside to cool off. This is a great time to check your anode rod and replace it, if your hot water heater has one.
Step 2: Inside the RV go and open the faucets on the sinks and shower and use your water pump to drain the water from all of the lines. Place a bowl or bucket in the sink/shower to catch the water in the lines to prevent it from going back into the tank. Do not forget about your outside shower if you have one..
Step 3: Remove water filters. This is a great time to see if you need new filters. Order them now and have them ready for the spring.
Step 4: Turn the lever on the water heater using the bypass valve on the water heater to bypass. When prepping your water system for antifreeze, it’s best to install a water heater bypass kit if you do not have one installed. The bypass kit avoids wasting antifreeze on the water heater.
Step 5: Winterizing your refrigerator can vary depending on your brand and type. First make sure to clean out your fridge. Allow it to defrost and remove any water from inside the fridge. Turn off your water line to the fridge. If you have an ice maker in your fridge there are a few more steps. You need to shut off the water supply valve to turn off the water supply to the ice maker. For your ice maker, you can run antifreeze through it to until it makes pink ice. *Check your owners manual for steps for your particular refrigerator/ice maker.
Step 6: If your RV has a washer or dishwasher you will need to also winterize these. You can use your owners manuals for each to ensure they are winterized properly. The same process of removing any remaining water applies and putting antifreeze through the water lines to prevent freezing.
Step 7: Now you will be putting RV antifreeze into the systems. You will generally need 2 gallons for antifreeze. Make sure to only use RV antifreeze. It is non-toxic and safe. Many newer RVs have a siphon tube and a water pump winterization kit already installed. If you don't have a siphon tube and water pump winterization kit, disconnect the line coming from the freshwater holding tank (the inlet) and connect the tube from the water pump inlet into the jug of pink RV antifreeze. Turn on the water pump and go to each sink/shower. Turn on each valve until pink antifreeze comes through, then turn off the valves. Pour antifreeze into the p-traps, the shower and your toilets. You can flush some antifreeze into the toilet for keep any remaining water from freezing.
So you don't want to winterize your RV yourself!
You can click below to find a certified RV Tech who can come out to help you!
More Tips
A few more things to consider when storing your RV during the cold winter months:
Clean out any remaining food items and wipe down everything.
Turn off propane valves
Use cordless dehumidifiers to prevent mold and mositure buidup
Switch batteries disconnect to store or remove and place in a warm, dry place-Larger systems with multiple batteries will have specific instructions in the owner’s manual. It’s usually better to keep these batteries installed. If leaving your batteries in your RV, still disconnected the negative battery cable. Check the battery charge level periodically throughout the winter, and recharge when necessary.
Consider covering your RV with a specially designed RV cover
Check your owners guide for how to winterize your generator
It is always best to check your owners manual for information on how to winterize your particular unit.Winterizing your RV will help save you lots of headaches and money. Deciding to winterize your RV before the cold sets in is best! The process can be done in a short amount of time and will pay off in the end! Of course, if you can travel to a place with warmer weather, that is way more fun! Happy Winter!
Well if you would just rather live in your RV this winter check out this video & learn all the realities of winter camping!
