Hey there, fellow weekend adventure seekers! As the days get shorter, and a bit chillier it’s time to pack up our memories of summer camping and think about winter. Up here in New England, winter means needing to plan how and where to store your RV. Many northern campgrounds end their seasons after October and if you don’t plan on traveling south you need a plan to winterize your RV.
Winterizing your RV isn’t just about protecting it from the harsh elements. It’s about ensuring that your vacation on wheels remains a cozy haven for your future adventures.
Some beginners may choose to pay a professional to winterize their RV. While that is certainly an option it can be a costly one! We went to a dealership to winterize our first year and paid about $240. This can vary by dealership but is about average for this type of service. Learning how to winterize your own RV is easy and will save you money year over year.
So, grab a cup of cocoa and let’s delve into a thorough guide on how to winterize your RV like a seasoned pro.
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Why should you winterize your RV?
Before we roll up our sleeves and dive into how to winterize your RV, let’s address the burning question. Why is winterizing your RV so crucial? While owning an RV is a lot of fun, there’s also a lot of work and upkeep that comes along with it. After a long season of packing, unpacking, setting up, and breaking down who wants to complete another RV task?!
Well, freezing temperatures can wreak havoc on your RV’s water systems, pipes, and appliances. Without proper winterization, you risk a lot of damage happening to your RV over the colder months. Freezing temperatures can lead to burst pipes and a lot of costly plumbing repairs. So, let’s gear up to embrace the chill with a well-prepared RV that’s ready for winter temperatures!
When should you winterize your RV?
The goal of winterizing your RV is to avoid plumbing issues that will stem from freezing temperatures. The timing of when you winterize your RV will vary depending on where you live. In Connecticut, we aim to have our RV winterized by November at the latest. Generally speaking, you want to winterize your RV before temperatures start to dip below 32 degrees Fahrenheit.
Even folks who live a little further south may want to consider winterizing their RV. Weather patterns are becoming more unpredictable, and you don’t want to get caught off guard! When a cold snap hits more southern states there are often large amounts of RV owners scrambling to get their hands on antifreeze. Stores there don’t stock up like northern stores do, and the necessary tools will sell out quickly.
Step 1: Start with a thorough cleaning
Nobody wants to open their RV in April only to find it a mess from last year’s camping trips. Set yourself up for a smooth Spring season by cleaning your RV before you winterize. We make sure to do a thorough cleaning both inside and out! Divid and conquer to make this a little quicker – I usually clean inside while my husband cleans outside.
To make sure I don’t miss anything I work my way from the front to the back of the camper. I start by cleaning the kitchen, wiping down the counters and sink. Then I also wipe the walls as water and cooking grease often splash onto them. Make sure the fridge and freezer are empty, and clean both. Then I dust all surfaces, clean the bathroom, and strip the bed. Last but not least I do a thorough vacuum and mop my way out of the RV.
Often times RVs are parked under trees at campsites or in your yard and collecting all sorts of dirt on the roof. Carefully, climb up onto your RV’s roof to survey and clean it. If possible have somebody outside with you while up on the roof. You don’t want to fall without somebody being there to help you! After the roof, scrub and clean the sides of your RV also.
- Use this extended mop avoid having to kneel down while scrubbing the top of our RV
- It will also help to reach all areas when washing the sides of your RV
- Fill a bucket like this of soap and water for easy transportation while you’re cleaning
- We find this RV wash does the trick for stuck on tree sap!
Step 2: Inspect your RV
While you’re scrubbing keep an eye out for any cracks you may need to seal before winter. These could happen on the roof, or any place that there is a seal. Areas to particularly take note of are around your windows, doors, and hook up connections.
Seals can dry out and crack, leading to bad connections and drafts. It’s important to note the condition of your seals and take care of them. We usually stock up on this 3 in 1 lubricant kit which keeps our seals lubricated, and also helps our slide tracks stay well oiled.
Step 3: Empty all tanks
The goal of winterize is to eliminate any liquid in your RV that may freeze and swell in cold temperatures. Part of this is making sure that all of your tanks are completely empty. This is best done when you are at your last campsite of the season. It’s easier that way since you’ll likely have access to a dumpsite.
Flush your black tank to be sure it is as clean and empty as possible. If your RV doesn’t come equipped with a black tank flush you can buy something like this RV flush wand to help. It will add a little pressure to cleaning your tank and get any stuck on debris.
Step 4: Drain the water system
In this step of winterizing your RV you also want to get out any water that may be sitting in your drains. Flush the toilet until you don’t see any more water flowing in. Open your sink faucets in the kitchen and bathroom and let them run until only air is coming out.
Once your tanks and pipes have been emptied out open the low point drains. This will take care of a lot of the leftover water that is within the pipes of your RV. You will almost never be able to remove 100% of water but this gets it pretty close! If you didn’t already drain your water heater after your last trip do that now also.
Step 5: Bypass the water heater
When we eventually put anti-freeze into the water lines of the RV we do not want it going into the water heater. Your water heater holds several gallons of water when full. Filling it would take a lot of antifreeze and is not necessary.
You can bypass the water heater with a simple switch of a valve. Check your RV’s manual for exact instructions. You may need to remove an interior panel or pass through panel to access the valve. Once you locate and switch the valve it will direct liquid away from the water heater.
Step 5: Blow out the lines
This is one of the most important steps to winterize your RV. Using an air compressor to blow out your water lines will remove most of the remaining water, and minimize the possibility of your lines freezing and cracking. This does require an investment in a few tools. However keep in mind that a dealership will charge you a few hundred dollars each season to winterize your RV. If you invest in these tools you will have them forever!
- RV Air Compressor: This air compressor is key because it allows you to really control the force of the air you are using. It will also come in handy when checking your RV tire pressure!
- Blowout Adaptor: This adaptor will allow you to hook the compressor to your city water connection in order to blow out your water lines
Now that you have the right tools it’s time to get blowing! Hook the blowout adaptor to the air compressor and insert it into your city water connection. Make sure all the faucets inside your RV are switched off. Turn on the air compressor, making sure not to use too high of a pressure that could blow your lines. Around 40 PSI is usually safe.
Inside your RV you will want to open each faucet individually to force the air pressure through. For example, start in your kitchen. Open the kitchen faucet while the air compressor is running. You will see some water spray out. Once the water is gone and only air is coming out turn the faucet back off, that line is now empty.
Repeat this process will all water sources in your RV. Kitchen sink, bathroom sink, toilet, and any outside shower or water hoses you may have. After you’ve blown out all these lines open your low point drains again to drain any water that has collected. Now you can turn off the air compressor and move to the next step
Step 7: Fill lines with antifreeze
This is a crucial step to winterizing your RV. Now that our lines are emptied out to the best of your ability we want to replace what would be water, with antifreeze. Some RV owners skip this step, thinking that blowing out their water lines is sufficient protection. However, it is nearly impossible to get all the water out of your lines. You can find RV antifreeze at most auto stores, or here on Amazon.
Adding antifreeze into your water lines ensures that even if a little water is left, it shouldn’t be able to expand and cause damage. Any crack in a pipe can cause major issues when you begin using water in your RV come Spring. The crack could occur in a spot where you don’t even notice it until mold begins to grow in your RV. Taking this extra step is a huge piece of assurance that you’re doing all you can to keep your RV in great shape!
Consult your RV’s manual to locate the opening to your water lines. Typically this is behind a panel in the passthrough. Using a water pump converter kit or a hand pump, pump antifreeze through the water lines. Start with the closest faucet and work your way to the farthest. Run each faucet until you see the antifreeze flowing, including showers, toilets, and outdoor faucets.
Step 8: Protects drains and traps
Pour a small amount of RV antifreeze into each drain and P-trap to protect them from freezing. This includes sinks, showers, and floor drains. Don’t forget about the toilet bowl – pour antifreeze into it as well. Anywhere water can collect you want to put some antifreeze to avoid freezing.
Step 9: Remove your battery
Leaving your RV battery attached all winter will likely result in a dead battery come Spring. If you leave the connections attached it will slowly drain over time. If you live somewhere with a lot of snow it can also result in the battery sitting in water for months which you want to avoid!
Turn your battery switch to the off position. Open the battery housing on the tongue of your RV and carefully disconnect the positive and negative connections. You’ll want to keep your battery somewhere inside or in a garage will it will be dry and not too cold.
At the very least, you want to keep your battery off the floor. Our first year we kept it on a wooden block in the basement. Ideally, you want to hook the battery up to a trickle charger. This will keep the battery healthy over the winter and help to preserve your battery life! We purchased this trickle charger our 2nd year and have been happy with results.
Step 10: Cover your RV
Depending on where you will be storing your RV you will want to consider covering it. You may have a large garage or barn to store your RV in; if that’s the case no need to cover! If your RV will be in your driveway or yard where it is exposed to the elements you will want to cover your RV to protect it.
You will also want to cover your RV if you are storing your RV at a marina or other storage facility. You will not have a constant eye on your RV. Covering it will give you some peace of mind that it is protected from the elements.
A decent RV cover can be a little pricey but in my opinion it is well worth the investment. If you live in New England you don’t want snow sitting on top of your RV for weeks and months over the winter. A cover will also protect it from leaves, and anything wind might throw at it.
- We use this Classic Accessories travel trailer cover. It comes in different lengths to fit your specific RV and has many straps to secure the cover around your trailer. They also make covers for Class Cs and 5th wheels!
Pro Tip: Every other month through the winter season you’ll want to move your RV slightly to avoid your tires getting flat spots. Take a few minutes to hook your RV to your tow vehicle and pull it either a few feet forward or a few feet backwards. Rotating the tires slightly will make sure they are in good shape for the Spring!
Purchasing an RV is a big investment, so it is important to protect it over the winter! Taking these steps to winterize your RV will help make sure you don’t uncover any unpleasant surprises in the Spring. Avoid any surprise cracks and leaks by following this process so you will be ready to roll for the new season. Winterizing your RV by yourself can be intimidating at first, but you will become a pro in no time. Skip the dealership and save yourself some money to put towards future adventures.
Once you’ve got your RV squared away for the winter seasons it’s time to start planning next year’s adventures! Use this down time to research new areas you want to visit and book future campsites. If you need any inspiration you can visit the Travel section of our blog to see where we’ve been. Until next year, happy planning!!
