Winterizing Your RV’s Water System

Preparing you RV for storage is one of the most important things to do all year.  In order to make sure your mobile home is as home-y as ever for the next season, follow these top seven steps:

1. If your unit’s water heater is not equipped with a bypass system, it would be advisable to install one at this time.  This reduces the use of 6 to 12 gallons of antifreeze that would have been used up by the water heater tank.
2. Drain all tanks completely (fresh water, gray water, and black water) and then close the drain valve(s).
3. Open a faucet inside and then drain the water heater.  If equipped, also open all low point drain valves.  This will allow most of the water in the lines to drain.
4. Using a blow out plug, blow out the system at the city water inlet for 10 to 15 seconds.  This will ensure that the section of the line from that point to the main system is clear.  The system now should be free of the majority of water.  Close the faucet and all drain valves.
5. Put the water heater bypass into bypass mode.  Locate the water pump and disconnect the tank side.  It would be feasible to install a pump converter winterizing kit at this time.  This allows easy access each year from here on and allows drawing antifreeze directly from the bottle.  Otherwise, use a swivel fitting that fits the pump and a length of tubing that will reach from the pump to the gallon bottle of antifreeze and connect it to the pump.
6. Turn the pump on and open the nearest cold faucet from the pump and close it after the antifreeze starts to run.  Now do the same with the hot side.  Do this for each faucet after that.  Don’t forget to flush the toilet as well.
7. To finish the job, pour one to two cups of antifreeze into each sink trap and the tub.

This process of winterization should last you until the next time you need to use your RV!