Dave Solberg

Handy DIY Tool for Winterizing an RV Water System

Dave Solberg
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Duration:   2  mins

Winterizing an RV water system isn’t just recommended, it’s necessary. Without taking the proper precaution and preparing your rig for winter, you risk pipes freezing and damage to the water system, which spells trouble when you go to take your first trip of the spring. To winterize your RV’s water system, you have to attach an air hose to the exterior water main and shoot compressed air through the lines of each of your appliances to remove any residual water.

In most cases, winterizing an RV water system is a process that requires two sets of hands; one to engage the air hose outside the vehicle, and one to open the faucets inside. You may not have another set of hands to help you in the process, so we have a quick trick you can use to make winterizing an RV water system a one-man job. In this lesson, we teach you how to craft a simple tool that eliminates the need for someone to hold the exterior end of the line.

Winterizing an RV water system with an old garden hose

If you’ve ever gone through the process of winterizing an RV water system, you know that it’s impossible to do on your own, right? Wrong! With a few simple household items and a little jury rigging, you can forget about having to call over a friend and do it all by yourself. RV expert Dave Solberg teaches you how to make a quick and easy tool that utilizes an old garden hose, air chuck and worm clamp to attach an air compressor to your water line.

With this basic rig for winterizing an RV water system, you can turn on the air and do what you need to do inside — open each faucet individually to clear out leftover water from your appliances and protect your pipes for hibernation. Try out this easy tip, and you’ll be done winterizing in no time!

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7 Responses to “Handy DIY Tool for Winterizing an RV Water System”

  1. John Scrapper

    They have male air chucks for air compressors that fit in to the female RV water inlets, if you don't want to make one up from an old hose.

  2. JEFFREY

    How do you assure that your water pump doesn't have any water left in it using this method?

  3. Chuck Borcher

    A very neat idea. I am going to make me one this afternoon.

  4. Steve

    I have a method that does not require a compressor - because not everyone has one. I first drain the water heater tank. Next I activate my bypass valves for the water heater. Then I fill the fresh water tank with 4 jugs - 4 liters each - of non toxic antifreeze ( it's pink in colour ). I then turn on each water using devices - the sinks, the shower and the toilet - making sure to flush each one until both the hot and cold run pink. At the start of a new season simply drain the fresh water tank of the antifreeze, refill a couple of times with fresh water and then flush the antifreeze from the sinks, shower and toilet.

  5. Greg Wilson

    Thank you for a great idea

  6. TERESA

    QUESTION..... SO IF YOU DON'T HAVE AN AIR COMPRESSOR. IS THERE ANY OTHER WAY TO WINTERIZE WATER SYSTEM

  7. Jim

    Great video, thanks. How do you handle a unit that has a fridge with both a water and ice dispenser as well as a combination washer/dryer? Thank you for your response.

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