Tech Tips: Winterizing Your RV

Greetings everyone!

Its that time of year where many of us start camping in cooler temps. An RV is a great way to get out and enjoy all kinds of winter activities from snow boarding, skiing, snow shoeing or just playing in the snow. The concern is that cooler temperatures can cause severe damage to your RV's water system if certain steps are not taken to protect it even if it has an "Artic package" or sealed under belly.

Most RV's fresh water tanks are located on the interior of the RV either in a cabinet or under the bed area. As long as the interior of the cabin is kept above freezing, the interior fresh water system will be fine. The main concern and focus should be on protecting your holding tanks. If exposed to freezing temps, ice can form in the tanks causing damage to valves and plumbing and even the tanks in severe cases. If you are planning a trip to the snow, follow a few of these simple procedures to protect your RV from damage.

First,to help protect your fresh water system, maintain the interior temperature at all times during your stay. Keeping the interior temps above the freezing point will protect your lines, fittings and water tanks from freeze damage. Secondly, keep your water heater on at all times. The warm water will protect the warm lines and the residual heat from the lines will warm the cold water lines.

The best protection of your holdings tanks is not to use them at all. Empty them prior to your trip and keep them dry and empty during your stay. If you must use them, use them sparingly and use a product like Artic Ban or Freeze Ban in your tanks. This type of Antifreeze is non toxic and safe for the environment and will help protect your tanks from freezing.

If you are planning on storing your unit for any length of time un-attended, you must do a complete winterization. If these proceedures are not followed you run serious risk of damage to your RV's water systems which can cost hundreds if not thousands of dollars in damage.

To properly winterize your RV first make sure all fresh water hookups are turnd off and no water is flowing into the unit. Then drain all of the water system by turing on all interior water faucets and fixtures with the pump in the on position. Run them until the fresh water is exhausted.

Next, install a blow out plug which attatches to your city water connection and allows air to be blown throught the water system to completely drain water from the lines. Do this again with all of the onboard water faucets and fixtures in the open position. Once complete, close all taps. If you have low point drains underneath, make sure to take the time to completely drain these out as well.

Next, drain the water heater by removing the drain plug or annode rod which is located at the lowest point on the side of the water heater tank inside the exterior access door. If you have a water heater bypass valve, turn the valves into the "bypass" position now. Then pour the required amount of Freeze Ban or Artic Ban directly into the frest water tank through your water fill. The next step is to circulate the anti freeze through the water lines by turning on each faucet, starting with the one closest to the tank and working your way down until the antifreeze comes out of each faucet. let about 1 cup of antifreeze come out of each faucet before turning the faucet off. Next run your toilet flush mechanism until you see the fluid coming out of the flush jets.

Make sure both grey and black tanks are completely drained and empty.Then take approximately 1 cup of antifreeze and pour it into the drain of each sink to make sure the traps each have antifreeze in them. make sure to include the shower or tub drain as well. Next put approoximately 1/2 gallon into the bottom of your black tank directly through the toilet and another 1/2 gallon through one of the drains to make sure if there is any water left in your holding tanks, it is protected from freezing.

Guess what? Your done! By following these steps your rig should be completely protected from freeze damage until next spring when you take it out of moth balls and plan your next trip. It may seem like alot to do but it will save your hard earned cash for something fun like camping rather than at the repair shop!

Happy Camping!
Michael Kahle
Murrieta Creek RV
951 698 8577