If you have made the decision to end your camping season for the winter, you’ll need to perform some routine preventative maintenance on your RV to avoid expensive repairs in the spring. Depending on where you live, winterization can be done at a local RV dealership for a nominal fee, but many RVers opt to handle these duties themselves. This handy checklist should help you to prepare for winter:
Prep the plumbing system for winter:
- Remove or bypass any filters
- Drain the fresh water tank
- Drain and flush the gray and black water tanks
- Drain the water heater (be sure to open the pressure release valve first)
- Turn on all faucets, including the toilet and outside shower
- Open the drain lines and let all of the water drain out
- Flush the toilet to clear water from the lines
- Close the drain lines
- Bypass the hot water heater and the fresh water tank
- Close all of the open faucets
- Use an external water pump or the inlet pump you have disconnected from the fresh water tank to pump approximately three gallons of non-toxic RV antifreeze (this should be pink in color) through the entire system.
- Starting with the faucet closest to the pump, open the hot and cold valves until antifreeze appears
- Repeat this process on every faucet in the RV
- Flush the toilet until antifreeze appears
- Turn off the water pump and open a faucet to relieve the pressure in the system
- Pour a small amount of antifreeze into each drain
- Pour antifreeze into the toilet and flush into the holding tank
- Close all valves and faucets
- Note: If you chooses to avoid use of antifreeze due to allergy concerns, a specialized air hose and adapter can be purchased that can be used to blow out all of the drain lines
Prepare the RV for storage:
- To protect the engine, top off with gas to prevent condensation in the fuel lines and add fuel stabilizer
- Relieve pressure on the suspension and tires by following the manufacturer’s recommended process for raising the vehicle for an extended period of time
- Thoroughly clean the interior and exterior
- Close every vent and window, including roof vents and vents for plumbing and air conditioning
- Have roof and sealants inspected for leaks
- Remove all food and beverage from the RV
- Unplug and remove batteries from any electronics in the RV
- If the RV does not have an automatic battery disconnection system, ensure the cables are disconnected from the battery
- Deep cycle batteries should be fully charged before disabling
- Cover the RV with a specially-made fabric cover for RVs
- Periodically check inside the RV to ensure there is no evidence of damage from water or vermin
- Prevent buildup of snow on the roof as water could find its way inside the RV when melting
Don’t forget that our RV insurance product offers a temporary storage coverage that can save you money when you’re not using your RV. Request a quote a new RV policy today.