Table of Contents
Steps To Winterize Your RV Drain and Flush the Black and Gray Water Tanks. Drain and Flush the Water Heater. Bypass the Water Heater. Drain the Fresh Tank and Low Point Drains. Locate the Water Pump. Open External Faucets and Valves on the Outside of the RV. Open Internal Faucets, Showers, and Toilets.
How do you winterize an RV step by step?
Simple Steps to Winterize your RV Gather materials. Remove water filters. Drain and flush black and gray tanks. Drain the water heater tank. Open all faucets and remove all drain plugs. Close all faucets and replace drain plugs once water has drained entirely. Bypass the hot water heater.
At what temperature should you winterize your RV?
As a general rule of thumb, even if your RV is in use, you should probably winterize if: Temperatures are consistently at 20 degrees Fahrenheit or lower. You can’t insulate and heat your RV’s underbelly, or you don’t have heated tanks. You’re boondocking and can only run your furnace at certain times.
Do you really need to winterize an RV?
If you will be in temperatures at or below 32-degrees Fahrenheit, it’s extremely important that you have your RV winterized before storage to prevent future RV repairs. If, for example, the water in your water heater freezes, the ice can cause cracks in the tank, which can lead to costly repairs.
Do you put RV antifreeze in the freshwater tank?
Do not pour antifreeze into your fresh water tank to run it through the pump into your water system. This will take a lot of antifreeze and is not very efficient. Even when the tank is drained there remains some water in the bottom of the tank which mixes with the antifreeze and lessens its protection level.
How many gallons of RV antifreeze do I need?
You’ll need at least 2 to 3 gallons of RV antifreeze depending on the size of your rig. b) Use your RV’s internal water pump. If you use the water pump, you’ll need to install a pump bypass kit if it’s not already equipped since it draws from the RV’s fresh water tank and you don’t want antifreeze in there.
How do you keep an RV warm in the winter?
There are several ways to insulate them: foam insulation boards, bubble insulation, solar blankets, etc. For extra warmth, line your windows with heavy-weight thermal curtains. You may also want to go over your RV windows and doors with a layer of RV sealant or caulk, just to ensure they’re nice and weather-tight.
What happens if RV is not winterized?
If you choose not to winterize your RV and temperatures fall below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, you run the risk of severe damage to your RV. When temperatures fall below the freezing point of 32 degrees Fahrenheit, water freezes.
How much does it cost to have your RV winterize?
How Much Does it Cost to Winterize an RV? It costs anywhere from $130 to $170 for a basic winterizing package at an RV dealer, depending on the size and class of your RV. But if you consider that you’ll probably be paying that same cost to de-winterize the RV in the spring, those costs can really add up over the years.
Do you need to winterize RV if stored inside?
Winterize the inside of your camper. The majority will help prevent rodents and other pests from making your camper their home. These steps will also help prevent unwanted odors, moisture build-up and damage. The cleaner, more streamlined the RV when put into storage, the better the next season will start up.
Is blowing out RV water lines vs antifreeze?
When an RV is stored in freezing or sub-freezing temperatures for an extended period of time, using RV antifreeze to winterize the rig is more effective than blowing out the water lines. Running the antifreeze through all of the plumbing in the RV ensures that every component is protected.
Will RV holding tanks freeze?
When exposed to prolonged temperatures below freezing, RV holding tanks will freeze. Some RVs can handle the frigid winter elements, whereas others will freeze more quickly. Four-season RVs typically have heated underbellies and tank heaters to help prevent tank freezing, though those things can fail.
How long does it have to be below freezing for RV pipes to freeze?
It will only take about 24 hours of below-freezing temperatures (lower than 32 degrees Fahrenheit) for the pipes to freeze in your RV. Since the average trip lasts a great deal longer than that, you should definitely take action ahead of time.
Can you put antifreeze in your RV black tank?
While in use – when using antifreeze while the RV is in use, you should only add antifreeze to the black and gray tanks (never add it to the freshwater tank while in use) and you’ll likely need to keep adding antifreeze to maintain effectiveness.
Where do you dump RV antifreeze?
Some automotive service stations or parts stores can dispose of RV antifreeze safely. Some facilities can give it to the recyclers for you. They may charge you some fees. It is inadvisable to dump waste RV antifreeze down the sewer or drain.
What happens if you get RV antifreeze in your water heater?
The antifreeze won’t hurt the tank, but don’t forget to flush it out before firing it up next spring. This will help you get the antifreeze flushed out without messing up your existing winterize job on the rest of the plumbing.
