How to Winterize Your RV Water System to Prevent Frozen Pipes

How to Winterize Your RV Water System in the Southeast US to Prevent Frozen Pipes

While winters in the Southeast are milder than in other parts of the country, it’s still crucial to protect your RV’s water system from the occasional freeze. Cold snaps can happen unexpectedly, and frozen pipes can cause costly damage. Here’s a step-by-step guide to winterizing your RV’s water system for Southeastern weather.

1. Drain All Water Tanks

• Freshwater, gray, and black tanks: Start by draining the freshwater tank, followed by the gray and black water tanks. This step ensures that no water remains in the tanks that could freeze and crack the lines.

• Water heater: Make sure your water heater is off and cooled down, then open the drain to release any remaining water. Remember to open the pressure relief valve to speed up the process.

2. Clear the Lines with Compressed Air

• Blow out the lines: While this step is optional, using compressed air to blow any residual water out of your lines is an extra safeguard against freezing. You can attach a blow-out plug to your water intake and use compressed air (set to 30-40 psi) to push water out of the lines.

• Open faucets: Open all faucets to ensure that air can circulate through the system, flushing out the last bits of water.

3. Add RV Antifreeze

• Bypass the water heater: If your RV has a water heater bypass, switch it on to prevent antifreeze from filling the heater. This saves antifreeze and ensures it only runs through the essential lines.

• Pump antifreeze into the system: Using an RV antifreeze hand pump, start by pouring non-toxic RV antifreeze into the system, running it through all water lines. This includes sinks, the shower, and the toilet. Flush the toilet until you see pink antifreeze.

• Pour antifreeze down drains: To protect your P-traps, pour a small amount of antifreeze down each drain to prevent freezing in these small pipes.

4. Insulate Exposed Pipes and Connections

• Wrap pipes in insulation: Cover any exposed water pipes under your RV with foam insulation or heat tape to prevent them from freezing.

• Insulate the water hose: If you’re camping in cooler weather, consider using a heated water hose or insulating your regular hose to prevent it from freezing.

5. Check Your RV Regularly

• Inspect during cold spells: If you’ll be using your RV during the winter, keep an eye on the weather and check your lines if temperatures drop.

• Warm the RV: During especially cold nights, using a small heater in the basement area (if your RV has one) can help keep tanks and lines from freezing.

Winterizing your RV’s water system in the Southeast doesn’t need to be complicated, but it’s essential to protect your investment. Following these steps will help prevent frozen pipes and ensure that your RV stays in top condition, even during an unexpected freeze. Come spring, you’ll be ready to hit the road without worry!