RV De-Winterizing Tips
The first step in de-winterizing your vehicle is to remove any special winter covering you’ve placed on the outside and inside of the vehicle. Once your appliance and vehicle covers have been shed, do a thorough check of all cracks and crevices for pests. While you were hiding out in your sticks and bricks home during the cold months, mice and insects may have made your home on wheels their winter getaway!
Once you’ve dusted the winter gloom away, it’s time to check for leaks. This is a very important step, and one that you want to perform carefully. The first step is to fill a spray bottle with soap and water. Next, turn on your propane supply, and spritz your soap mixture onto fittings and connectors. If you see bubbles or smell gas, there may be a leak, and you’ll want to take your vehicle in for repair as soon as possible. It is important to make sure that you winterize properly, as failures caused by weather are not covered under most RV Extended Warranties.
Hopefully you’re leak free, and if so you can move onto the next few steps in the de-winterization process. Start by turning on your engine and testing brake lights, headlights, and turn signals to make sure they’re all in working condition. If you have a towable vehicle, carefully inspect your hitch for rust and damage. As you begin to turn on appliances listen and look for anything out of the ordinary, as this may point to small issues that have arisen during your months off from travel. Another task on the de-winterization checklist is the flushing out of your plumbing system. One way to complete this task is by taking the rig to a local campground with hook ups. Hook up to the water supply and begin checking faucets one at a time. Let water flow at each opening for a minute or two, waiting for any odor or discoloration to run clear.
Make sure to replace batteries, change filters, and check smoke alarms. Complete any maintenance recommended by your manufacturer, including changing the oil and filter on items such as your generator. Doing the required maintenace at regular intervals is the best way to ensure that mechanical breakdown claims are handled smoothly with your RV Warranty customer.
The last step to de-winterizing is the most fun: stock up and hit the road! If you are confident everything on your rig is in working condition, look towards planning your first spring trip!
