How to Winterize an RV (Step by Step)

Freezing water expands and can crack pipes, fittings, the water pump and the water heater tank. Winterizing means getting the water out of the system and putting RV antifreeze (the pink, non-toxic kind made for drinking water lines) where water used to be. Always check your owner's manual first, because every RV's plumbing is a little different.

What you need

• 2 to 3 gallons of RV antifreeze (non-toxic, pink). Never use car antifreeze.
• A water heater bypass kit (many RVs have one built in) or a pump converter / siphon kit
• A wrench or socket for the water heater drain plug or anode rod
• Optional: an air compressor with a blowout plug

Steps

1. Empty and flush the holding tanks. Dump the black tank, then the gray tank, and flush the black tank if you have a flush port.
2. Drain the fresh water tank and open the low point drains (usually under the RV near the floor). Leave them open while you work.
3. Turn off the water heater and let it cool. Never drain a hot water heater. Once it is cool, open a faucet to relieve pressure, then remove the drain plug or anode rod and let it empty.
4. Bypass the water heater so antifreeze doesn't fill its tank (6 to 10 gallons wasted). Most bypass setups use 2 or 3 valves on the back of the heater.
5. Close the low point drains and reinstall the water heater plug.
6. Pump antifreeze into the lines. Use the pump converter valve or put a siphon hose into the antifreeze jug, then turn on the water pump.
7. Open each faucet one at a time, hot side then cold side, until pink antifreeze comes out. Don't forget the shower, the outside shower and the toilet.
8. Pour a cup of antifreeze into each drain (sinks, shower) and a little into the toilet bowl so the P-traps stay protected.
9. Turn off the pump and make sure the city water inlet screen and any filters are drained or removed.

Easy to forget

• Ice maker and washer lines (check your manual)
• The outside shower
• The water filter housing

When spring comes

Run fresh water through every faucet until it runs clear, put the water heater back in normal mode (bypass off), fill it with water before turning it on, and sanitize the fresh water system.