Essential Guide to Winterizing Your RV Water System

When temperatures drop below freezing, any water left in your RV’s plumbing can expand, causing pipes to burst and fittings to crack. Proper winterization is the most important maintenance task an RV owner can perform.

Step 1: Preparation & Draining

Before adding antifreeze or blowing out the lines, you must remove as much water as possible:

• Empty the Black and Grey holding tanks.
• Drain the Fresh Water tank.
• Open the Low Point Drains: These are usually located under the RV. Open all faucets inside to help the water flow out.

Step 2: The Water Heater

Never add antifreeze to your water heater. It is a waste of fluid and can be difficult to rinse out in the spring.

1. Turn off the water heater and let it cool completely.
2. Remove the drain plug/anode rod to empty the tank.
3. Bypass the heater: Turn the bypass valves so that water (and eventually antifreeze) skips the tank entirely.

Step 3: Choose Your Method

Step 4: Don’t Forget the Traps

Even if you blow out the lines, you must pour about 1-2 cups of RV antifreeze down every drain (kitchen, bathroom, and shower) to protect the P-traps from freezing and cracking.

Conclusion

Winterizing takes about an hour but can save thousands of dollars in repairs. Once finished, double-check that your water pump is off and all faucets are closed.