Winter is fast approaching, and there is no better time than now to winterize your RV and find the ideal winter RV storage. But what exactly is winterizing, and how can you do it? Keep reading to find out!
Winterizing is nothing more than the act of getting your property, in this case, RV, ready for the winter. Sounds simple, right? But if done wrong, it can be both costly and extremely time-consuming.
It’s important that when you’re winterizing your RV, you take a thoughtful and structured approach. Luckily for you, we’ve done the hard work for you, so all you have to do is follow these steps and you’ll be more than ready to go!
The Importance of Winterizing
Before you winterize your RV, it’s crucial to understand exactly why it’s so important, because while winterizing itself may sound self-explanatory, not everyone believes it is necessary.
Winter across the USA varies in intensity and severity, but it’s safe to say it gets pretty cold in most states.
You wouldn’t want your home or vehicle damaged by dangerous winter storms, would you? So why would you take that risk by not winterizing your RV?
Read on to learn about how you can protect your RV and everything inside by winterizing and safely storing your RV while not in use.
How to Winterize Your RV
Now that you know all about the importance of winterizing, you need to know the step-by-step process. It may seem complicated at first, but the only thing it requires is half a day to spare and some hard work.
Ready? Here are the steps!
1. Gear Up Your Water System
Remove any water filters that are still in the unit. You need to do this before winterizing your vehicle because the chemicals you’ll be adding will damage them. Each RV has its own unique water system, so you can find more guidance in your owner’s manual.
First, make sure the water heater is off. Drain the pipes and ensure while you are flushing them the faucets are open. Prepare your water system for Antifreeze, and for extra caution; install a water bypass kit in order to avoid any wasted water reaching the water heater.
How much Antifreeze do you need? It depends on the size of your RV, but a good rule of thumb is 2 gallons, give or take. Also note, if you don’t bypass the system, you’ll need three times that amount.
Pour the Antifreeze down each drain, ensuring that it reaches all tanks and fills every trap. Do the same for the toilets and showers.
After you have finished, make sure that all the faucets and valves are closed.
2. Add Protectant to the Exterior of Your RV
Purchase a top-quality protectant or wax, preferably one that is UV resistant, and apply it to the exterior of your RV. This will not only give it a nice shiny appearance but will also help to condition and protect it from the harsh winter elements.
3. Free Your RV of Mold
Make your RV mold-resistant by ensuring all fabric and cloth is completely dry after cleaning. You can also rid your RV of mold by keeping the moisture down, especially while carrying out your other pre-winter preparations.
Mold can easily appear in RVs, so it’s important to carry out regular maintenance and clean areas such as the air conditioning unit and refrigerator.
Where To Get Professional Help?
If you want to leave winterizing your RV to a professional, then take your vehicle to a trusted RV dealer. Be ready and willing to spend anywhere from $130 to $170.
Where Should You Store Your RV in the Winter?
Where you store your RV is just as important as the above steps. For the perfect winter RV storage, you have a few options. If you have enough room, you can store it at home. However, this isn’t convenient for most people.
Instead, consider storing your RV in an RV storage. You will have peace of mind knowing it has ultimate protection from vandals, thiefs, and harsh winter elements.
