How to Winterize Your RV Plumbing
If you keep an RV where temperatures drop below freezing it is necessary to winterize your plumbing system to prevent water pipes from breaking due to the cold. The best way to winterize your RV plumbing system is with specialized non-toxic RV antifreeze. While it is true that some RVers use only compressed air to blow-out the lines, this will not actually remove all the water from the system. Note that even if you use your RV during the winter, the plumbing still needs to be winterized whenever the RV is not in use.
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Instructions
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Drain the freshwater supply tank. Completely flush and drain the septic system. Be sure to close the valves when finished so the RV antifreeze will not run out.
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Drain the water-heater. If your RV has a water-heater bypass kit installed, close both the intake and outflow values and open the drain value on the heater. If it does not have a bypass kit drain the heater and close the valve.
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Place the funnel in the freshwater inlet and add four gallons of RV antifreeze to begin with. Turn on the water pump and open all water faucets until the pink antifreeze is running freely, then close the faucets. Flush the toilet until the pink liquid comes into the bowel. Add more antifreeze if the lines run dry.
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Turn off the water pump and pour approximately a pint of RV antifreeze down each trap, including the bathtub/shower.
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Pour one to two gallons, depending on the size of the holding tank, of RV antifreeze down the toilet to winterize the tank.
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Tips & Warnings
If your RV is not so equipped, installing a water-heater bypass kit is a simple procedure and will save you money on antifreeze when winterizing.
Never use automobile antifreeze to winterize you RV's water system as it is poisonous, and can be deadly, even if consumed in trace amounts.
References
Resources
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