Camping For Fun - Winterize Your RV

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Although many individuals and families enjoy the RVing lifestyle on a full-time basis, there are winterize your RV

many others who must appreciate the benefits on a more limited basis, such as during vacations, holidays, weekend get-a-ways, or maybe a combination trip of business mixed with pleasure. Unfortunately, not everyone is in a position to be a full-timer. For those who utilize the RV of their choice part-time, there comes a time when the RV must be stored for a period of non-use. If located in one of the colder sections of the country, it will also be necessary to protect the RV against the cold by winterizing the coach. In either case, whether it is cold or temperate climates, certain precautions need to be taken.

Here's some tips for winterizing your Fresh Water System

Probably the most demanding reason why winterizing techniques became a reality in the first place is the fresh water system. If left unaddressed, water in the lines and appliances will freeze, expand and damage virtually every type of water line found in the RV. Contamination can occur. Here is what to do.

Drain Water Completely – Most coaches are equipped today with low point drain valves for both the hot and the cold lines. Usually located at the lowest point in the RV, these valves aid in gravity draining as much water as possible from the lines. Valve positioning may be located at or below the floor level. Some are found underneath the chassis. Others may not be valves at all, but rather simple pipe plugs (see photos below).

Accessories are available, such as a “blow out plug,” which attaches to the city water inlet to aid in removing all the water from the lines. Open all the faucets and drain valves and screw the blow out plug into the city inlet and apply compressed air. Do not use gas station-supplied air. Most gas station air tanks are contaminated.

Drain Water Heater – Remember to drain the water heater. It is easy to forget that this appliance is an extension of the fresh water system. All water heaters have a drain plug or drain valve accessible from the outside of the coach, located near the bottom of the front panel. Open all the hot faucets inside the RV to aid in the draining process.

Fresh Water Storage Tank – Drain the water from the storage tank in the usual manner. Drain valves may be located on the outside of the coach, inside a compartment or underneath the chassis. If it cannot be located, contact a local dealer. All storage tanks will have a drain valve somewhere.

Toilet – Regardless of which type of toilet is found in the RV, it will be necessary to remove any water from it. Usually, it is just a simple matter of operating the flushing mechanism.

Shower – An area that seems to often get overlooked is the shower hose. Even though it is equipped with an anti-siphon backflow preventer, many times water stays trapped in the shower hose. Simply unscrew the handheld showerhead and lower the hose to a point below the faucet attachment point.

Another recommended accessory to utilize is the water heater bypass kit. The bypass kit consists of a series of individual water valves and enables the water heater to be totally isolated from the remainder of the plumbing system. They permanently install at the rear of the water heater and, when turned one direction, will completely bypass the water heater. This minimizes the amount of RV antifreeze that will be necessary.

Depending on the climate in which the RV is located, this may be all that is necessary to prepare the fresh water system for storage. However, if the RV will be stored in freezing climates, the use of RV antifreeze will also prove beneficial.