RV Hibernation
Preparing for RV Hibernation:
There is a chill in the air. Can you feel it? The autumn leaves have begun to fall and winter is on its way. Do you know what it means? If you plan on parking your RV for a long period of time, it means it's time to start preparing for a RV hibernation!
Much like a bear climbing into a dry cave, winterizing an important part of ensuring that your RV operates smoothly for years to come. The need to winterize your RV in frigid weather is vital to keep water from freezing and damaging the expensive parts of your plumbing system.
Keep in mind that when pipes freeze and expand, then thaw out, tiny leaks or cracks can occur, which could ultimately cause water damage to the interior of your RV.
To help you prepare we are providing a checklist. Before you get started, be sure to have these items on hand:
- 1-1/16-inch wrench or socket and ratchet
- Water pressure regulator valve
- RV antifreeze
- Standard half-inch hose to connect to the inlet side of the water pump
- Teflon tape
STEP ONE - Find Your Sewer/Utilities Bay And Prepare to Drain
Dumping Your Black and Grey Holding Tanks
Dump your black and grey holding tanks before you dump your fresh water holding tank. Remember: It is important to dump black and grey tanks in a proper dump site or station!
- Locate your campsite's sewer inlet, or find your nearest sewer dump station.
- Locate your RV sewer/utilities bay, and open that bay's cargo door.
- Dump your black tank first.
- After dumping the black tank, attach a water hose — one that is different than the one you use for your fresh water — to the flush valve, and let the water run at full force for at least 10 minutes to ensure your black tank is completely flushed. You can then close the blank tank valve and disconnect this hose afterward.
- Dump the grey tank to help flush out anything left in your sewer hose from the black tank.
- Once completed, ensure both grey and black holding tank valves are closed, and disconnect the sewer hose completely.
STEP TWO - Dumping Your Fresh Water Holding Tank and Water Lines
- At your sewer/utilities bay, open the fresh water tank valve located at the bottom of this bay. The water will run freely onto the ground. (This is okay because it's fresh water!)
- Also in the sewer/utilities bay, locate the service panel containing your water lines. Drain the hot and cold water lines, and then shut them off.
- Release the pressure from the water tank filter, and remove the filter by unscrewing it from the base. Once the filter is off and water is drained from the canister, reinstall the filter.
- Drain the hot water heater by removing the service panel cover. BE SURE THE TANK IS SWITCHED OFF. (You can also turn off the hot water heater breaker to kill power to the water heater outside.) Relieve the pressure, and remove the plug. It's common for the anode rod to be rotted, so be prepared if you need to replace it. Once the plug is removed, water will drain freely.
- Finally, locate the outside service panel containing the refrigerator water line. Drain the fridge water from the outside of the coach by using a wrench to loosen the bolt on the end of the line and turning the water on to allow the remaining water to run out.
- Now that you've emptied all the tanks and outside lines, it's time to test all faucets to check that both hot and cold water are no longer flowing.
- Drain toilets; then flush.
- Go to the shower and test that hot and cold water has drained.
- Run the washing machine and dishwasher to ensure they are also drained.
- And finally, return to the outside service panel containing your city water fill. This is usually the same outside panel containing the grey and black tanks. Have a regulator on hand that is pre-set between 40-50 pounds of air. Anything more could cause damage to faucets and lines. Hook your regulator up to the city water fill, and connect it to the water heater. Water will run freely.
Then, wrap Teflon tape around the base of the anode rod and install it into the water heater. Start by turning it by hand before using your wrench to avoid cross-threading. Tighten the rod back up with a wrench and reinstall the protective plate.
STEP THREE - Don't Forget to Drain the Refrigerator!
- To drain the water dispenser of the refrigerator, one person will need to be inside at the fridge to press the water dispenser down, and one person will need to be outside to hook up the air hose to the water line. Once the hose is pushing air through, all remaining water will run free from the water dispenser, so be ready with a large cup.
- Next, remove the water filter out of the fridge.
- Install a plug (which came with your coach) where the filter was located, and close it up.
- Now you can reconnect the water line to the fridge, and turn the valve back to an open position.
STEP FOUR- Last Steps
- To be able to safely add antifreeze to each water source throughout the coach, first, bypass the water heater. Do this by turning the lever to “bypass" so that antifreeze will not run through the water heater. This is a very important step.
- Now attach your common air hose to the city water gauge, so that air pressure will run through all your appliances' water lines. Return inside to flush out all hot and cold water from faucets by letting them run dry.
- Go back outside and take the pressure you have connected to the city water gauge back off.
- Install the antifreeze via the inlet side of the water pump, usually identifiable by the clear plastic screen. Do so by disconnecting the inlet side and attaching a half-inch clear hose, then place it into the antifreeze. This hose usually comes standard in most RV's, but you can also purchase it at your local hardware store.
- Turn on the water pump, and turn the faucet back on. You will see the antifreeze run through the faucet by turning on both hot and cold water. The same applies to the dishwasher and washing machine. Don't forget about the outside faucet or shower.
- Leave faucets open, meaning leave them in a position as if they would be running. The antifreeze will eventually run dry.
- Pour antifreeze into all sink drains and clean off remnants from the sink bowl. Then pour it into toilets, allowing it to remain there for the season. Repeat the same with your showers.
- Then pour it into toilets, allowing it to remain there for the season.
- Repeat the same with your showers.
NOTE: It's important to remember that there are many types of motorhomes, and because of that, these steps may vary from brand to brand. Our Friends at Tiffin motorhome made a video on the steps in this blog and you can view by going to: TIFFIN VIDEO