As camping season winds down and temperatures begin to drop, it’s time to prepare your RV for winter storage. Proper RV winterization is one of the most important maintenance steps you can take to protect your investment, prevent costly repairs, and ensure your RV is ready for your next adventure when spring arrives.
But where do you start? And what happens if you forget to winterize your RV before freezing temperatures arrive?
To help answer these questions, we spoke with Roger, a Red Seal RV Technician at Fraserway RV, who walks through the essential steps of winterizing an RV and shares practical advice for owners who want to tackle the job themselves.
Whether you own a motorhome, travel trailer, fifth wheel, or truck camper, this guide will help you understand the RV winterization process, the supplies you’ll need, and when it’s best to call in the professionals.
If you’re a more visual learner, watch Roger’s full YouTube walkthrough on winterizing.
Why Is Winterizing Your RV So Important?
Water and freezing temperatures don’t mix. When water freezes, it expands, putting pressure on the plumbing components that contain it. If water remains in your RV’s pipes, fittings, pumps, valves, or water heater when temperatures drop below freezing, that expansion can cause serious damage.
Skipping RV winterization can lead to:
- Cracked water lines and plumbing fittings: Frozen water can split pipes and connections, leading to leaks when you reconnect your water system in spring.
- Damaged water pumps: Water left inside the pump can freeze and damage internal components.
- Water heater damage: Improperly prepared water heaters can suffer damage from freezing temperatures.
- Leaking faucets and valves: Small internal components can crack or fail, resulting in costly repairs.
- Unexpected expensive repair bills: Even a small crack can cause water damage to cabinets, flooring, walls, and other interior components if a leak goes unnoticed.
The important thing to remember is that draining your freshwater tank alone isn’t enough. Water can remain trapped in plumbing lines, appliances, and other parts of your RV’s water system.
Proper winterization helps protect these components throughout the cold season, giving you greater peace of mind while your RV is in storage.
What Do You Need to Winterize Your RV?
Before you begin, gather the supplies you’ll need. Having everything ready makes the process easier and helps you avoid missing important steps.
Your RV winterization supplies may include:
- RV-specific, non-toxic antifreeze: Used to protect the plumbing system from freezing.
- A wrench or appropriate tool: Needed to remove certain water heater drain plugs or anode rods.
- A rag or cloth: Useful for cleaning up antifreeze residue around sinks, showers, and other fixtures.
- A pump bypass hose or antifreeze pump: Depending on your RV, this allows you to draw antifreeze directly into the plumbing system.
- A city water blowout plug and suitable compressed-air equipment: An alternative method for clearing residual water from certain connections, when used according to the RV manufacturer’s instructions.
Not sure where to find everything? Fraserway RV carries RV winterizing kits in our parts stores and online, making it convenient to get the essentials you need in one place.
Shop the Fraserway RV Winterizing Bundle to help get your RV ready for the colder months.
How to Winterize an RV: A Step-by-Step Guide
According to Roger, RV winterization involves several important stages. While the exact procedure varies by RV model and equipment, the following steps provide an overview of the process.
Simply follow our step-by-step guide
- Drain the Freshwater Tank
- Drain the Water Heater
- Set Up the Water Heater Bypass
- Connect the Antifreeze Supply
- Run Antifreeze Through Every Faucet and Fixture
- Don’t Forget Optional Appliances
- Protect the City Water Connection
- Check Your Work Before Storing Your RV
Step 1: Drain the Freshwater Tank
Start by locating your RV’s freshwater tank and its drain valve. Open the valve and allow the water to drain completely.
Draining the freshwater tank is an important first step, but remember that it doesn’t remove all the water from your plumbing system. You’ll still need to protect the water lines, faucets, and other components.
Step 2: Drain the Water Heater
Before draining your water heater, make sure the water system is depressurized and the water heater has cooled sufficiently to avoid burns or injury. Opening a hot water tap can help relieve pressure, but always follow your manufacturer’s instructions.
Locate the water heater’s drain plug or anode rod, depending on the type of water heater installed in your RV. Remove it carefully and allow the water to drain.
Roger also recommends checking the condition of the anode rod if your water heater uses one.
“Have a look at the anode rod and see what kind of condition it’s in,” Roger explains. “You don’t want to be in a position where it has deteriorated significantly, because then your tank is not being protected from corrosion.”
Check your manufacturer’s recommendations for replacement intervals and inspection requirements.
Important: Water heaters vary. Conventional tank-style water heaters typically need to be drained and bypassed before antifreeze is introduced into the plumbing system. Tankless water heaters have different winterization requirements, so follow the instructions for your specific model.
Step 3: Set Up the Water Heater Bypass
Many RVs have a water heater bypass system that prevents antifreeze from filling a conventional water heater tank.
The location and configuration of the bypass valves vary, so consult your RV owner’s manual to identify the correct settings.
When the bypass is configured properly, antifreeze can travel through the plumbing lines without unnecessarily filling the water heater tank.
If you’re unsure how your bypass system works, ask an RV service specialist to demonstrate it before attempting the process yourself.
Step 4: Connect the Antifreeze Supply
Next, you’ll need to get RV antifreeze into your plumbing system.
Some RVs have a dedicated winterization valve and hose near the water pump. This setup allows the pump to draw antifreeze directly from the jug.
Other RVs may require a different connection method. Roger demonstrates how certain systems can be adapted by disconnecting the inlet line and connecting a suitable hose to draw antifreeze into the pump.
Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for your particular setup, and make sure any connections are secure before operating the pump.
DIY tip: Use only antifreeze specifically intended for RV potable-water plumbing systems. Never substitute automotive engine antifreeze.
Roger notes that many RVs require approximately two to three jugs of antifreeze, although the amount depends on the size and configuration of the plumbing system. Additional equipment, such as a washer, dishwasher, or refrigerator ice maker, may require more.
Step 5: Run Antifreeze Through Every Faucet and Fixture
Once your antifreeze supply is connected, turn on the water pump and begin running antifreeze through the plumbing system.
Roger recommends working through the fixtures one at a time.
- Open each cold-water faucet and allow it to run until the antifreeze comes through.
- Repeat with the hot-water side.
- Move on to the next faucet or fixture.
- Flush the toilet until antifreeze is visible.
- Run antifreeze through the shower and any exterior shower.
- Check additional fixtures and plumbing outlets throughout the RV.
The goal is to ensure that water has been displaced from the plumbing lines and that the appropriate components are protected.
Once you’ve finished, turn off the water pump and clean up any excess antifreeze with a rag to help prevent staining.
Step 6: Don’t Forget Optional Appliances
One of the most commonly overlooked parts of RV winterization is optional equipment. “If you have optional equipment in your RV such as a washer dryer or an ice maker, those all need to be winterized as well,” explains RV tech Roger.
Depending on your RV, you may also need to winterize:
- Refrigerator water dispensers and ice makers: Follow the appliance manufacturer’s procedure, including removing and protecting water filters as directed.
- Washers and washer-dryers: These may require a specific cycle to protect their water lines and drain pumps.
- Dishwashers: Follow the manufacturer’s winterization instructions to protect internal plumbing and pumps.
- Exterior showers and additional water outlets: These need to be included in the winterization process.
Roger emphasizes that these components cannot be overlooked simply because the main faucets have been winterized.
If your RV has specialized appliances, check the owner’s manuals or speak with a technician before proceeding. Some systems require procedures that differ from standard plumbing winterization.
Step 7: Protect the City Water Connection
The city water inlet is another area where a small amount of water can remain trapped.
Roger explains that one option is to use a suitable blowout plug and compressed air to clear residual water, following the manufacturer’s pressure limits and safety instructions.
Another method may be appropriate for certain systems, but it requires care because the city water inlet contains a check valve that can be damaged if handled incorrectly or exposed to pressure improperly.
If you’re unfamiliar with this component, have an RV service specialist show you the correct procedure rather than risking a damaged valve or future leak.
Step 8: Check Your Work Before Storing Your RV
Before closing everything up for winter, double-check that you’ve completed the required steps for your specific RV.
Make sure the freshwater tank and water heater have been drained as required, the appropriate bypass valves are set correctly, and antifreeze has reached all relevant plumbing fixtures and outlets.
If your system uses a pump bypass or winterization hose, follow the manufacturer’s storage instructions for those components.
Keep your RV’s winterization instructions somewhere accessible so you can refer to them when it’s time to de-winterize in the spring.
Do You Drain Your Tanks After?
A common question when wrapping up your winterization is whether you need to drain your holding tanks after you finish pumping or blowing out the plumbing lines.
The simple answer is that you shouldn’t worry about any extra steps: you should dump and empty your tanks completely before you start the winterizing process, and once the winterization is done, leave the tanks as they are until spring. Instead of trying to drain the tanks again, focus on where the protection is needed most because your P-traps matter more. You want to make sure you pour a little antifreeze directly into the sink and shower drains so it sits in the P-traps, which protects those vulnerable bends from ice damage.
Best of all, this naturally keeps your valves safe: any small amount of pink RV antifreeze or residual liquid that drips into the tanks from blowing out or pumping the lines helps protect the gate valves from freezing and cracking.
Can You Winterize Your RV Yourself?
Absolutely! With the right supplies, the correct instructions, and a little preparation, many RV owners can winterize their own units.
Roger encourages owners who feel comfortable with the process to give it a try.
“If you feel comfortable doing it yourself, I encourage you to do that. I think you’re going to do a great job,” he says.
However, every RV is different. Water heater designs, pump configurations, optional appliances, and plumbing layouts can all affect the process.
If you’re new to RV ownership, aren’t sure how to operate your water heater bypass, or have specialized equipment that requires additional steps, professional winterization may be the best choice.
The goal isn’t simply to get antifreeze into the pipes. It’s to ensure the entire system is prepared for the temperatures your RV will experience during storage.
When Should You Winterize Your RV?
The best time to winterize your RV depends on where you live and the weather forecast.
In Canada, temperatures can drop quickly during the fall, especially overnight. It’s important to complete winterization before freezing temperatures put your plumbing at risk.
Don’t wait until the first major snowfall or a prolonged cold snap. If your RV will be stored outdoors or left unused during freezing weather, plan ahead and winterize it before temperatures become a concern.
Even if you intend to use your RV during the winter, you may still need special cold-weather precautions. Standard winterization is generally intended to prepare an RV’s plumbing for storage, so consult your owner’s manual or an RV service specialist if you plan to camp in freezing conditions.
Get Your RV Ready for Winter with Fraserway RV
Proper RV winterization helps protect your plumbing system, prevent avoidable damage, and make getting back on the road in spring much easier.
Whether you’re an experienced DIYer or would rather leave the work to the professionals, Fraserway RV is here to help.
Shop RV winterizing kits and supplies: Find the essentials you need in our parts stores or shop online through the Fraserway RV Winterizing Bundle.
Book professional RV winterization: Let our service specialists help prepare your RV for winter. Contact your local Fraserway RV dealership to ask about winterization services and book an appointment before the cold weather arrives.
At Fraserway RV, we’ve been helping Canadians enjoy their RV adventures since 1969. Take the time to protect your RV this winter, and you’ll be better prepared for the adventures waiting for you next season.
Visit Fraserway.com to connect with your local dealership, explore our parts selection, and learn more about our RV service options.