Not everyone is a snowbird—we get that! However, even if you plan to store your RV for the winter season, there are some important steps you should take in order to prevent unnecessary breakdowns or wear. It can feel like a hassle, but it’s well worth it. The winter season is notoriously harsh, which is why Wholesale Warranties is here to help you take preventative measures to protect your RV through the cold weather! Here are five ways you can winterize your RV.
1. Drain and Dry
The first step you will want to take is important, potentially saving you hundreds on repairs. First, you will want to drain all the water from the freshwater holding tank. This can be accomplished by opening the petcock. Next, you should drain and flush the black and gray holding tanks. Make sure you bring the contents to a proper dump station!
After that, you will want to open the valves on the faucets for the sink, shower, and toilet. Make sure you flush the toilet until the water is all gone. To drain the water lines, you’ll need to attach the water intake fitting to a compressed air adapter, or blowout plug. These are available in hardware stores. To dry the lines, you can use a standard air compressor to push air through them at 30psi.
2. Prepare Your Plumbing System
You want to avoid freezing damage if you can. When water freezes into ice, it expands. This can damage or even break your lines and pumps. To prevent this, you will want to run antifreeze through your plumbing system. There are three methods to accomplish this task, which all involve antifreeze. You can add antifreeze from the inside using a water pump, from the outside using a hand pump, or via the bypass method. If it’s possible, you should bypass your water heater while adding antifreeze. This step can save a lot of antifreeze. Refer to a more complete guide or consider having your rig professionally winterized for this important step.
3. Perishable and Personal Items
This may seem like an obvious step, but sometimes the obvious items are the only thing you miss! Before you’re ready to park your RV for the season, make sure you remove all perishable food items from your refrigerator and cabinets. Left behind, these things will decompose. The cleanup is difficult—and very stinky. This will also prevent mold growth and attention from unwanted critters.
You should also remove all valuables from the vehicle, large or small, as long as it’s reasonable to do so. Don’t leave your expensive jewelry, tools, and even appliances lying around. It’s always best to be overly cautious than not at all.
4. Final Touches
If there are any repairs you need to take care of, you should take care of them before your RV sits through the holiday season. Additionally, it is a wise choice to cover all vents and holes with mesh. Small creatures, such as rodents, birds, and even cats will be seeking shelter from the cold. It isn’t safe for them—or healthy for you—to make your RV their home. If you decide to cover your entire vehicle, make sure the material is breathable so your rig isn’t a breeding ground for mold.
Although they vary in size, RVs are generally pretty heavy. That’s a lot of weight to be sitting on tires for several months. You should park your rig on blocks in order to relieve the tires of this weight. Your tires will last longer.
5. RV Extended Warranty
One of the best ways you can protect your RV—and your wallet—is to purchase an RV extended warranty policy. It’s best to secure coverage before the winter. This is because you want to be covered in case your RV experiences a breakdown while it’s stationary. Additionally, warranty prices increase after the new year, so you will always lock in the best prices before January 1st. Unfortunately, RVs break down frequently. For covered components, an extended warranty will step in to cover repair costs in the event of a breakdown. For a free quote, fill out the form below:
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