Winterizing Your Camper: When Cold Becomes A Concern

Winterizing your camper is essential to protect it from the cold. The process involves removing water from the pipes and tanks and replacing it with antifreeze to prevent freezing. This is particularly important if the temperature drops below 32°F (0°C) – the freezing point of water.

Leaving water in your camper's pipes when the temperature is below freezing can cause serious damage. Water expands when it freezes, which can lead to burst pipes and leaks. Therefore, it is crucial to winterize your camper to minimize the risk of leaks and the costly repairs that come with them.

Preventing frozen pipes

The best benchmark to determine when to winterize your camper is the freezing point. Once the temperature reaches below 32°F (about 0°C), you should winterize your camper, focusing on protecting the pipes from freezing.

Steps to prevent frozen pipes:

• Remove or bypass water filters — Antifreeze can damage inline water filters, so it is recommended to remove or bypass them. Most RV insurance policies do not cover damage from frozen water, as it is avoidable.
• Drain the tanks — Drain the freshwater holding tank, which is usually located below your RV near an exterior wall. Then, locate and drain the black and grey water tanks, usually found near an exterior wall underneath your RV's bathroom. These tanks should only be drained at an approved dumping facility.
• Drain water heater and lines — Ensure the water heater is turned off and let it cool down before draining. Open a faucet or two to reduce pressure within the water heater tank. Remove the drain plug and use a bucket to catch the first few gallons of water. Once drained, check the water for any signs of rust, sediment, or scaling, which may indicate a need to flush your water heater or replace your anode rod. Open all faucets and locate and open the low-point drain plugs to flush out the water.
• Bypass the water heater — Before adding antifreeze, bypass the water heater to prevent wasting antifreeze and making the dewinterizing process more difficult. If your RV does not have a bypass installed, visit an RV repair facility to have one put in.
• Add antifreeze — Pump antifreeze into your system to protect your plumbing. Install a water pump conversion kit or use the inlet side of the water pump. Starting with the closest faucet to the pump, open the hot and cold faucets until antifreeze comes out, then close the faucet and move on to the next. Don't forget to add antifreeze to your shower, toilet, and drain lines.
• Use heat tape — As an alternative to antifreeze, you can wrap pipes with heat strip tape to help prevent freezing.

Draining tanks

Draining the tanks is a crucial step in winterizing your camper or RV. It is recommended to winterize your camper when the temperature drops below 32°F (0°C), which is the freezing point of water. At this temperature, water in the pipes, tanks, and other components can freeze and cause damage. Here are the steps to effectively drain the tanks when winterizing your camper:

Step 1: Drain the Freshwater System

First, turn off the water supply and the water pump. Locate the fresh water tank's drain valve, typically found underneath the RV. Open the valve and let all the water flow out. Be patient as this can take some time.

After draining the freshwater tank, move on to the water heater. Ensure the water heater is turned off and cooled down before locating and removing the drain plug. Some water heaters have a pressure release valve that should be opened to speed up draining. Once empty, leave the drain plug out.

Finally, open all faucets (kitchen, bathroom, shower, outdoor, etc.) and let the water run until only air comes out.

Step 2: Bypass the Water Heater

Using antifreeze in your water heater is unnecessary and wasteful. Modern RVs often have a water heater bypass kit. If yours doesn't, you'll need to install one. Bypassing the water heater prevents antifreeze from entering, saving time and money.

Step 3: Drain the Gray and Black Water Tanks

The gray water tank holds wastewater from sinks and showers, while the black water tank contains sewage from the toilet. Take your RV to a dump station and empty both. After draining, it's advisable to flush the tanks with water to remove any residue. Some RVs have built-in tank flush systems. Ensure the tanks are thoroughly drained before closing the drain valves.

Step 4: Blow Out the Water Lines (Optional)

Using an air compressor with a blow-out plug attached to the city water inlet is optional but can help remove any remaining water in the pipes. Set the compressor to low pressure (30-50 psi) to avoid damaging the plumbing. Open each faucet one at a time, letting the air push out any residual water.

Step 5: Add RV Antifreeze

With the water system drained, it's time to add RV antifreeze to protect the pipes. Ensure the water heater is still bypassed. If your RV has a water pump bypass kit, use it to draw antifreeze directly into the water system. Otherwise, disconnect the water pump inlet line and insert it into the antifreeze bottle.

Turn on the water pump and open each faucet one by one, starting with the furthest from the pump. Let the antifreeze flow until you see pink antifreeze in each. Don't forget the shower, toilet, and outdoor faucets.

Note: Use only non-toxic, RV-specific antifreeze. Automotive antifreeze is highly toxic and unsuitable.

Step 6: Protect Other Water System Components

Pour antifreeze into sink and shower drains to protect the p-traps. Flush the toilet with antifreeze until it appears in the bowl, protecting the water valve. If your RV has a washing machine, dishwasher, or ice maker, consult the manufacturer's manual for specific winterization instructions.

Flushing tanks

Flushing the tanks is an important step in winterizing your camper. The process involves removing any water filters, draining and flushing the tanks, and then pouring antifreeze into the system. Here is a detailed guide on how to do it:

First, remove any water filters that you may have installed. This is important because they can filter out antifreeze, which is crucial for winterizing your camper.

Next, drain your holding tanks. You can do this by emptying the tanks and then flushing them out with water via the toilet, sink, and shower drains. If your camper has an external flushing system, use that as it will make the process easier.

After your tanks are empty, you can start preparing the antifreeze solution. It is recommended to use a non-toxic RV/marine antifreeze (propylene glycol). You will need around two to three gallons of this solution.

Now, you will need to connect the antifreeze to your system. If you have a black water holding tank, you will need tubing to connect to it, as well as a cleaning wand. You will also need a water pump converter kit or hosing that connects to the water pump inlet or an external hand pump.

Once you have connected the antifreeze, turn on the water pump to circulate the solution throughout your system. Start with the valves closest to the water pump and slowly open each valve until antifreeze begins to flow, then close it. Repeat this process for each valve, working from the closest to the furthest from the water pump, both inside and outside your camper.

Don't forget to flush the toilet with antifreeze until it flows through. Also, pour a cup of antifreeze down each drain to ensure that all pipes are protected. Finally, pour the remaining antifreeze into your freshwater tank.

It is important to note that you should always follow the manufacturer's instructions when winterizing your camper. Additionally, if you are unsure about any part of the process, it is best to consult a professional or a dealer.

Using antifreeze

Antifreeze is one of the most critical steps in winterizing your camper or RV, especially when temperatures drop below 32°F (0°C). It is important to note that antifreeze does not completely stop water from freezing. Instead, it lowers the temperature at which water freezes.

Step 1: Drain Tanks and Water Heater

Remove any inline water filters and bypass them before draining. Drain your freshwater holding tank, water heater, and flush out gray and black water tanks.

Step 2: Open and Drain Faucets

Use your water pump to empty faucets and low-point water drain lines. Recap all drains and close the faucets when done.

Step 3: Bypass the Water Heater

Bypass the water heater to prevent wasting antifreeze. This can be done by installing a water heater bypass kit.

Step 4: Connect Antifreeze to the Water Pump

Install a water pump converter kit and connect tubing to the water pump and a one-gallon jug of RV antifreeze. Do not use regular automotive antifreeze.

Step 5: Pressurize the System

Turn on the water pump to pressurize the system.

Step 6: Start with the Nearest Faucet

Beginning with the faucet closest to the pump, open both hot and cold valves until pink-coloured antifreeze appears.

Step 7: Repeat for Every Faucet

Repeat the process for all faucets, starting with the closest and moving to the farthest. Don't forget the outside shower. Close the taps when finished.

Step 8: Protect Your Drains

Pour a cupful of antifreeze down each drain, including the toilet, to prevent any water from freezing. Turn off your water heater's electric heating element for additional protection during storage.

Additional Tips:

• It is recommended to use 2-3 gallons of non-toxic RV antifreeze, depending on the length and layout of your RV's plumbing lines.
• Consider using a hand pump that attaches to your city water connection. Open each faucet one at a time to pump antifreeze throughout the system.
• If you have a water pump converter kit, disconnect the water pump from the freshwater tank and hook up the antifreeze to the pump to skip filling the tank with antifreeze.
• To winterize your black and grey water tanks, empty them as much as possible and pour in a cup or a pint of antifreeze.

Protecting appliances

When the temperature drops to around 32°F (0°C), it's time to start winterizing your camper. This process is all about protecting your pipes and appliances from freezing temperatures and the damage that can cause.

Appliances that use water hoses, such as washing machines, are particularly vulnerable to cold temperatures. If the temperature drops below freezing, water in the hoses can freeze, causing blockages or leaks. To prevent this, you can:

• Wrap water-line hoses with insulation.
• Store appliances in a warmer environment, such as inside your home rather than in a garage or outhouse.
• Use additional heating, such as a greenhouse frost heater, to increase the ambient temperature.

Fridge-freezers can also be affected by cold weather. If the temperature drops below 10°C, your food may start to defrost. To prevent this, either move your appliance to a warmer environment or avoid storing frozen foods during very cold periods.

Condenser tumble dryers are also at risk of freezing temperatures. If the temperature drops below -5°C, the water in the reservoir may freeze and crack the plastic base, leading to leaks. Again, you can prevent this by storing your dryer in a warmer environment or using additional heating.

Other Winterizing Tips

• Drain your water lines and water heater.
• Pump non-toxic RV antifreeze or air through your water lines.
• Store your RV batteries in a climate-controlled location to prevent them from getting ruined by extreme temperatures.
• Use a heated hose to keep water flowing through your city water connection.
• Practice strategic dumping of your black and grey tanks to prevent fluids from freezing in your sewer hose.
• Use low-temperature heat tape on hoses to keep them thawed.

Frequently asked questions