Tips for Winterizing your RV or Travel Trailer with Anti Freeze

That time of year that we all dread because fall is here and that means time to put our camping behind for the winter season.  That also means that we need to have our camper maintained and winterized to protect it from the damage of the cold. 

Parking your RV for the winter requires some preventive measures so it will be ready to use next spring. You will be glad that you have winterized so you wont have costly repair bills due to the damaging results of winter. Now how do you prepare it for winter? If you’re like me and you enjoy performing the routine maintenance on your camper yourself.  I like to winterize my camper myself so that I know it is done correctly and why not save a couple bucks. 

Here are a few items you will need to have before starting this process:  

You will want to add Anti-Freeze to your system to insure that your water lines do not freeze in the elements. 

• RV Anti-Freeze  (you can get this from your camper store or Walmart)
• 
• A water pump converter kit, or tubing to connect to the inlet side of the water pump.
• Screw Driver and Wrench 

• Remove any in line/or/ water filters remove and turn off your bypass to the water heater. 
• Completely Drain your fresh water system. 
• Drain and flush the gray and black holding tanks. I use what I call a twirly bird to clean out the black water tank. 
• Drain the water heater and take out the drain plug then open the pressure relief valve. 
• Open all hot and cold faucets inside and don’t forget the toilet valve and outside shower.
• Locate and open the low point drain lines. There will be one for the hot and cold water lines. Using the water pump will help force water out, but turn it off as soon as the system is drained.
• Recap all drains and close all faucets.
• By-pass the water heater. If you do not have a by-pass kit installed the water heater will fill up with antifreeze before it goes through the water lines potentially ruining your water heater. 
• Install a water pump converter kit, or disconnect the inlet side of the water pump (the line coming from the fresh water holding tank). Connect a piece of clear tubing to the inlet side of the pump and put the other end into a one gallon container of antifreeze.
• Turn the water pump on and pressurize the system. Starting with the closest faucet, slowly open the hot and then cold valves until antifreeze appears. Replace the antifreeze container as required.
• Repeat this process on all faucets from the closest to the farthest away. Don’t forget the outside shower, if equipped.
• Flush the toilet until antifreeze appears.
• Turn the water pump off and open a faucet to release the pressure. 
• With gloves on pour a cupful of antifreeze down each drain. Pour a couple of cups in the toilet and flush into the holding tank.
• If your water heater has an electric heating element make sure it is turned off. This will protect the element if the unit is plugged in while being stored.
• Make sure all the faucets are closed.

Waa Laaa all done!!