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Master Guide to Winterizing RVs
Discussion
19 Responses to “Master Guide to Winterizing RVs”
RV Make: open range, RV Model: 297RLS, RV Year: 2016
winterizing 5th wheel trailer
RV Make: Brookstone, RV Model: 5th wheel, RV Year: 2007
Water heater
RV Make: renegade, RV Model: verona 36ghs, RV Year: 2021, Brand: renegade, Model Number: 36gsh
winterizeing
RV Make: Sunset, RV Model: Layton, RV Year: 1998
I don’t see the winterizing the water heater video but the tip offered in the “Tips” section should have included those of us without a cold water bypass on the water heater. I do blow air through the water heater but after I first pull the anode to drain it. I then put the anode back in, hand tight only, and finish blowing out the hot water lines. After I’m done with that I pull the anode out again, scrub the lime scale off, and store it inside the trailer for the winter. Pulling it out the second time also allows any water that may have blown into it from the cold water line to drain out.
RV Make: dynamax, RV Model: isata 5, RV Year: 2021
winterizing
RV Make: Holiday Rambler, RV Model: Endeavor, RV Year: 2004
I visit my Grandson at school up north and want to avoid Hotels/Covid, so I want to stay in the RV. What is the best way to avoid freezing problems? Thanks
Hi Richard. Really the most important thing about using an RV in cold weather is the water system. If you plan on using water while in the RV you have to take precautions when the temperatures go below freezing. This includes the holding tanks as well. They make tank heaters that attach to the bottom of the tanks to prevent them from freezing. They also make plumbing wrap to keep the lines and drains warm as well. If you will be hooked up to a hose you will also want a heated line from the city connection to the RV. Other than the water system everything else should be fine. You can better insulate with window and vent covers to help hold in heat. If you use the furnace you will be going through a lot of propane to keep it warm so it’s not a bad idea to have an extra tank on hand as a standby in case you need more gas until you can get them filled. The only issues for freezing would be the water system so just make sure to take care of that and you should be fine.
Thanks
Dan-RV Repair Club
RV Make: Jayco, RV Model: Grey hawk, RV Year: 2017
How to winterize the 2017 jayco grey hawk?
Hi Bobby. I don’t have the specs of everything that your RV has but I do have a good template with the instructions on how to winterize all RV’s. The same principal applies to all RVs, getting the water out of the system. This includes the lines, hot water tanks and all holding tanks. The lines can be cleared using pressurized air or siphon anti freeze into the system to push out all of the water. Here is the steps for winterizing:
Start by draining all of the holding tanks, this includes the fresh potable water tank and all gray and black waste tanks. You then want to drain the hot water tank. Atwood/Dometic models have a 7/8″ or 15/16″ plastic drain plug and Suburban models use a 1 1/16″ steel drain plug that has an anode rod attached to it. Both of these drain plugs are located on the outside of the hot water tank near the bottom. Pull the plug and leave it out during storage. Once the tank is drained you want to bypass the tank.You don’t want to add anti-freeze to the hot water tanks so you want to bypass it. Most RV’s are equipped with a way to do this either by valves on the back of the hot water tank or a valve in the wet-bay to put the water lines in bypass. Most travel trailers and some 5th wheels use the valves on the back of the tank, most 5th wheels motorhomes use a manifold system that has a valve in the wet-bay. I will provide a diagram showing how to set the valves on the back of the tank. There are many different set ups and can vary from year to year but the basic idea is to divert the cold line to the hot line without anything going into the tank. Some RV’s don’t even come with these valves and they would need to be installed if aren’t present.
Once the tank is in bypass you want to drain as much water as possible from the water lines. There should be some low point drains under the RV, these can be in many locations and are different on every model but there are typically two side by side. They can have turn valves, caps or even a valve inside the RV to release the water outside. Open both of these lines and then open all faucets inside. This will drain most of the water out of the lines. You then close everything back up. If you skip this step it is not a big deal but you will end up using more anti-freeze than if you didn’t. This is because the anti-freeze will mix with the water in the lines and you have to run more to clear out the mixture. Most RV’s use 2-3 gallons based on the size and extra features. Larger 5th wheels and motorhomes that include things like washers, dishwasher, macerator pumps etc will use a lot more. You can now add anti-freeze to the system. Most RV’s are set up to do this at the water pump. You want to locate the pump and see if there is a valve attached to it with another hose. If there is, this is the siphon hose. You turn the valves to open up the additional hose and put the hose in your jug of anti-freeze. Turn on the pump and let the pressure build up until the pump turns off. You can then go to each fixture one at a time and open the valves until solid color anti-freeze is coming out. On faucets make sure to do both hot and cold lines and also select the different spray settings for the nozzle if there are multiple ones. Make sure to get the toilet and outside fixtures as well like an outside shower or sink. You also want to make sure to open the lower point drains as well. Once anti-freeze is coming out of every fixture that water can come out, you are done siphoning. If you do not have this siphon feature at the pump, you can install your own using a kit or you can use a manual pump at the city water connection. Once the lines are finished you can then take the remainder of the anti-freeze and poor it down all of the drains to fill the P-traps and prevent them from freezing.
Here are some videos on winterizing as well:https://www.rvrepairclub.com/article/winterizing-m/
Thanks
Dan-RV Repair Club
RV Make: Tiffin Allegro, RV Model: Open Road, RV Year: 2007
Still living in the RV. Getting a Single Wide Trailer ready to live in this winter (already in the mid 20’s here) and be home base. I will be tackling the RV winterizing in about a week if all go well in getting the trailer done.
RV Make: forest river, RV Model: flagstaff classic, RV Year: 2021, Brand: flagstaff classic, Model Number: 832flsb
how to remove a dvd from the IVR70 blue ray player
RV Make: Thor, RV Model: Freedom Traveler, RV Year: 2018
Thank you. This video on winterizing was perfect. This will be my first winter not spent in Florida so I needed a good guide to winterizing my RV.
RV Make: Gulfstream, RV Model: Yellowstone Capri, RV Year: 1995
In the process of repairing some significant but not overwhelming water damage in my cab overhang area. I’m a new RVer. I have strong mechanical experience, but RV construction techniques are new to me. I need all the help I can get. Also, I need a source for replacement top cover for the Coleman 7330-730roof A/C unit as well as for the roof vent cap for my Dometic #RM2807 Refrigerator
Thanks in advance.
Eddie
RV Make: Holiday Rambler, RV Model: Empirial 33, RV Year: 1982
where can i find wirering diagrams specific for my model
Hello James,
Thank you for contacting us. Have you tried entering the RV detail into a google search? If you want to ask the experts if they can help they will need the make, model and the year of the RV.
If you have any other concerns, please contact us at 1-855-706-3536, or chat with us on our site.
We greatly appreciate your business!
Sincerely,
Joan
RV Repair Club Video Membership
RV Make: Winnebago, RV Model: class c, RV Year: 2005
How do I drain my hot water heater
Hi Gwen. There will be a drain plug on the outside of the tank. There are a few different models but the most common are Suburban and Atwood/Dometic. Suburban will have a metal drain plug in the center near the bottom of the tank under the burner. Atwood/Dometic will have a plastic plug in the same area or sometimes on the left side of the center near the bottom. Remove this plug and the water will drain out. Suburban uses a 1 1/16″ socket to remove the plug and Atwood/Dometic use 15/16″ socket. This is of course as long as no one installed something after market like a petcock valve. I will share two pictures of the two common tanks and where the drain plugs are located. I hope this helps!
Dan
RV Repair Club Video Membership
RV Make: Coachmen , RV Model: Pursuit 31TS, RV Year: 2021
Hello everyone. I winterize my unit and I’m about to hit the road this weekend. I used the air pressure method and put antifreeze in the kitchen and bathroom sinks. The toilet and shower drain to protect the lines. Also have the water heater on bypass mode. So now I need to dewinterize and I would like some guidance on how to do it. What I’m not certain of is the exact order I should perform the steps. For example. At what point do I put the water heater back to normal usage? When do I put my pump valve back to normal usage? Things like this have me a bit confused. So any guidance or outline would be greatly appreciated
Hi Julio,
Here is what our expert had to say:
Since you only blew out your lines and didn’t add antifreeze to them there isn’t much to do. You just need to connect to a water supply, turn it on and open the faucets to clear the air in the lines until water is coming out. After that you put the drain plug back into the water heater and open the valves so the water can flow into the tank. It is best to open a hot faucet while doing this as well to allow the air in the tank to flow out. Once solid water is coming out of the hot faucet the system should be ready to use. You only need to turn the pump valve when you want to use the fresh water tank as the main water supply. If you are connected to city water it doesn’t need to be turned in a certain direction as you won’t be using the pump when on city supply. All the antifreeze that was put down in the drains and toilet will just go into the holding tank so you don’t need to do anything with those either. You just need to add water to the system and fill the hot water tank by taking it out of bypass.
Sincerely,
Dan
RV Repair Club Technical Expert
If other questions come up please let us know!
Sincerely,
Codi
RV Repair Club Video Membership