Winterizing Your RV – A DIY Guide 

Winterizing your RV:

• Drain the fresh water tank by opening the water tank drain. Leave drain open.
• Drain the water heater by opening the drain valve at the bottom of the heater, and opening the pressure relief valve.
• Close the water heater drain and pressure relief valve.
• If your trailer is equipped with a water heater bypass valve, turn water heater bypass valve(s) to the bypass position. If not, install a temporary bypass by disconnecting the water lines from the back of the water heater and joining them together with a water line and fittings.
• If the trailer is equipped with a water purifier, remove the cartridge.
• Disconnect water pump suction hose from pump, and run another hose from the pump directly to the antifreeze container. BE SURE TO USE ONLY NON-TOXIC RV ANTIFREEZE.
• Turn water pump on.
• Open the hot water faucet farthest away from the water tank. When antifreeze appears, let at least one cup run down the drain to winterize the P-trap. Repeat this at all other hot and cold water faucets, including inside and outside showers. Make sure to run antifreeze down both sinks in the kitchen.
• Depress the flush pedal or hand operated lever on the toilet until the antifreeze solution flows continuously.
• Depress valve in city water hatch to allow antifreeze to winterize hatch.
• Install all protective caps (water tank fill, city water inlet, waste tank drain outlet.
• Remove the hose from the pump and reconnect tank hose to pump.