Don't Freeze! Winterize Your RV!
When we purchased our RV it was December - a great Christmas present! However, using our new RV in cold weather was a bit of a learning curve. We were camping in North Georgia and it had not occurred to us that we should be concerned with freezing pipes in an RV. We quickly discovered that water plus cold temps equal trouble.
About halfway through our first winter trip, our water stopped flowing. A quick inspection revealed a frozen water filter. It was at the exposed end of the hose and connected to the campground water supply. Jim unhooked the filter and put in the shower to thaw, then examined the hose and campground water hook-up for any signs of freezing. It was all clear. You can bet we paid more attention to the weather forecast after that adventure!
Nonetheless, when we returned home we set out to learn as much as we could about winterizing our RV. Although we live in Georgia and are accustomed to warmer weather, we enjoy camping all year long - even in the dead of winter.
We appreciate the beauty of winter camping. The campgrounds are uncrowded and the weather is delightfully crisp for hiking. We don't venture where the temps are very low, but we have weathered several nights in the RV with outside temps in the 30's (and a few nights in the 20’s!) That said, our version of “winterizing” is for camping in temperatures that hover in the 30’s. If you will be doing serious cold weather camping or storing your RV for the winter there are additional winterizing steps you will need to take.
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Here is our checklist for winterizing our RV for “sort-of-Cold-Weather Camping” (not storage!)
Check the forecast! It sounds simple, but we need to know how cold it is going to get to determine how much we have to prepare the RV. We try to stay away from temps consistently in the twenties - or below. It is usually too cold for us to hike, and unless we have a lot of reading and writing to do, being cooped up in our small RV for extended periods of time is not that much fun.
Inspect the weather stripping around the fan vents, skylight, windows, and doors. Check for dried-out or cracking weather stripping and replace it if needed.
Cut foam pieces to fit the fan vents and skylight. Insulating those keep it cozy. If we need to use the fans, we simply remove the foam and replace it when we are done.
Invest in windshield covers. We have a set of insulated covers for the windshield and doors but there is a problem with condensation behind the curtains. A friend suggested a fitted, thermal curtain on the outside of the glass. It worked like a charm!
Consider a heated water supply hose. We learned from our frozen water filter that wrapping it in pipe foam would help with the freezing problem. Having a heated water hose makes sense too, even though we didn't experience a problem with the hose, we think if we decide to camp more often in very cold weather it would be worth the investment.
Insulate the service bay. Since so much of the plumbing is accessed in the service bay, it just made sense to insulate it. We use thin insulation bats cut to size and loosely tucked into the bay, making sure to tuck them into any holes around the hoses. This is ok for temps above freezing but if you are in an area with consistently freezing temps, you will need to fully winterize the plumbing system.
Keep the water heater on. That keeps the pipes under the sink (where the water heater is located) warm.
Test the furnace. We have a heat pump and an LP furnace, but the furnace is what keeps us warm in the cold weather. Check the LP tank to make sure it is full before a cold-weather trip.
Consider a ceramic heater to supplement your furnace. They are quiet and reduce the use of the LP. We love this to take the chill off the floors in the morning. Please follow all safety precautions from the manufacturer.
Use RV antifreeze in your black and gray holding tanks. Just pour it down the shower drain and toilet. The amount depends on the size of the tank and how much water is in it. Figure on adding more to the tanks if you continue to use them (from showers and toilet use). The antifreeze also helps keep the "P" traps and valves from freezing. Make sure you purchase the non-toxic RV antifreeze.
Consider using RV antifreeze in your freshwater tank. You won't be able to use the freshwater, but the antifreeze will keep it from freezing. Use bottled water for cooking, washing up, and drinking. For those who go this route, many campgrounds have decent shower facilities to help you through the cold weather. (This is where we draw the line on temperatures and camping. If it is so cold for so long that we need to put RV antifreeze in all the tanks, then maybe we need to find a warmer destination!) You can refer to your RV’s documentation on full winterizing procedures for your RV.
Insulate any exposed pipes. A little pipe insulation can make all the difference!
Don't forget the slide-outs. We have not had any issues with our slide-out, but several friends camping in very cold climates suggest pulling in the slide at night. Apparently, there can be issues with a slide unit freezing. They also suggested spraying the gasket with RV antifreeze. (You may want to check with your manufacturer before spraying anything on the gaskets!)
Inside, prepare for cold weather just as you would at home. Take extra blankets, warm clothing, bottled water stored in a heated space (in case your lines freeze), a hairdryer to help thaw frozen connections, extra food (in case you get stuck).
Most RVs are not built for very cold or freezing weather, so this is not an exhaustive list for winterizing your RV. If you are camping in freezing temperatures and/or snow, there are additional precautions you will need to take. Always check with your unit’s manufacturer for recommendations.
