Winterizing your RV Checklist

Checklist for Winterizing Your RV 

Preparation for Winterization

This is a checklist to prepare your RV for cold and freezing weather. Before starting read the owners manual for your RV for special requirements. Before starting you need these items.

• RV antifreeze non-toxic, minimum 3 gallons

• By-pass Kit for water heater.

• Powdered water softener to help flush black and gray tanks

• Water pump converter or tubing.

• Basic Hand tools.

• WD 40 or similar.

With the above items ready, follow these steps.

• Remove water filters, Mark and bag.

• Drain the fresh water-holding tank.

• Make sure Black and Grey takes are full. Add water if necessary.

• Add two cups of powdered water softener to each tank. Wait 15 minutes.

• Clean the black tanks first and start from the back of the RV working forward. Flush black and grey tanks

twice, refilling with water, and softener both times.

• After all valves are dry, lubricate with WD40.

• With water heater off and water is cooled. Open the hot water heater drain valve.

• Work from back to the front of the RV, open every faucet. Do not forget toilet and outside valves.

• Open all drain lines, leaving no water in the lines.

• Cap all drains and close all faucets.

• Install the bypass kit for the water heater.

• Connect tubing to the incoming side of the water pump with the other end into the RV antifreeze.

• Power up water pump and start from the faucet closest, opening both hot and cold faucets slightly until

antifreeze starts to come out. Close faucet promptly. Don’t run out of antifreeze during this process.

• Flush the toilet until antifreeze appears.

• Turn off the pump and slightly open a faucet to release pressure. Outside open the city water valve.

Remove the debris screen and push on the valve till antifreeze is visible. Replace screen and cap.

• Pour two cups of antifreeze each drain and four cups into the toilet, flushing into the holding tank

• Pour a cupful of antifreeze in each drain. Pour a couple of cups in the toilet and flush into the holding tank.

Give the RV a complete cleaning, pull any fuses or trip circuit breakers. Do not forget to properly winterize the engine for the RV just as thoroughly as you did the RV portion of the vehicle. Make sure all windows and vents are closed tight. Empty any trash. Set some varmint traps. Finally, the job is done.