How To Winterize An RV!
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- Опубліковано 18 вер 2024
- Here are the two best ways to Winterize an RV. You can Winterize with an air compressor or RV Antifreeze.
Here are a few of the things we used and recommended.
RV Winterize Kit. amzn.to/2S3NM9R
RV Blow Out Plug . amzn.to/2q476qK
Battery Tender . amzn.to/2S75mtN
RV Antifreez. amzn.to/2QYGUsW
Viair Compressor . amzn.to/2S2bao9
Tire Covers . amzn.to/2S2MI64
Here is our Amazon page for our favorite gear. We will be adding more products as we find more products we use and love. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
www.amazon.com...
jaredallaboutrvs@gmail.com
Passport America WE USE THIS ALL THE TIME. passportameric...?rfsn=2638351
Harvest Host Link harvesthosts.re...
Membership link
/ @allaboutrvs
It's a sad day to winterize an RV but many time necessary so its ready to take out for your next adventure. If you missed the links in the description to the things we talked about you can find them here. www.amazon.com/shop/jaredgillis
When it comes to RV maintenance I watch lots of channels for ideas but I only rely on yours to know I’m getting it right. Been watching your channel for years and have come to trust your advice and methods.
First trailer I had I didn't know about winterizing and had to replace 2 90 degree connectors. ( I was still a novice) After that I used nothing but air to blow out my lines and have never had a problem with leaks since. I highly recommend using air over running antifreeze through your lines. #1 reason, you don't have to wait as long to flush your lines out forever to get clean water through the system. #2 reason, you don't have to worry about taking a little bit of pink shower. Great info as always Jared.
So glad that I am not the only one who didn't know about winterizing... We all have to start somewhere, right?
This video was "the most helpful", out of the last 7 videos I watched on this topic. I am new to RVing and a 'do-it-yourself'er' but just needed some guidance. You nailed it sir! Thanks for the comprehensive walk-through.
Thank you for not being a goon like 90% of the folks who post videos on UA-cam. Great video with no fluff or BS.
I appreciate that!
Love how you actually did the work, rather then just verbalize and pretend. Nice work
Finally someone who really helped a "newbie" understand while entertaining. Thank you
Jerrod, I watch each fall just for a quick reminder so I don't forget a step. Thanks.
I've used the blowout method on my travel tailer and it worked great. When I did it on my 5th wheel I had to replace the shower fixture where water got stuck in the mixer section. Following year used antifreeze. Again had to replace the shower fixture for the second time. Now I add antifreeze and leave the valved open. No more replacing the fixture. If moisture is left in it can expand and not break the fixture. Great video covering both methods.
This is the best winterizing video out there. Thank you!
Jared, this video was supremely helpful. I just went the air compressor route, everything worked without an issue. Thank you!
Great tip on the water heater.
I love you, i watch your vid every year before i winterize my rig. Thanks bud
Man do I enjoy these videos. I finally got my travel trailer after waiting for over two months. I have been watching these videos in preparation. I was nervous about getting it until I spent the time watching you. I had no problem knowing my trailer when I picked it up. I had been buying the essentials for weeks now. I got the right stuff and saved cash knowing my options. I'm headed out to sneak in a few weeks on the road before I have to button it up for the winter. This will make that a snap. Thanks Dude, keep them coming!
Thanks! I loved the graphic at 4:00 regarding how the hot water heater valves work and why. Good stuff!!!
I do both! I use the air to remove any of the water from the lines and out of the RV. Then I do the antifreeze in everything. That way there's no dilution of the antifreeze. I also catch any water from my faucets in a bucket and dump them outside the camper so there's no chance of water or diluted antifreeze resting up against the gate vales in the tanks. The last thing I do is pour straight antifreeze down the drains to protect the traps, tanks and gate valves. Great idea doing the outside shower outlet. I realize I also have a remote water location for a quick disconnect on the far side of the camper also.
That’s perfect!
Is there any down side to just using air to flush the piping
I m absolutely the king of overdoing things. But to answer your question. There's always a possibility of a small amount of water on the inside of the lines accumulating in a low spot and later freezing. I also use the antifreeze in the traps and in the bowl. It will mix or otherwise disperse any residual water.
I'm a one-month newbie and know NOTHING!! This video was great! Just winterized the rig's water lines - air compressor method. Took me a while for several reasons, but seemed to work correctly. THANKS so much.
That’s perfect!
Thank you for showing both methods! We, personally, prefer the blow out the lines method. We also do one little thing differently. We do not want our tanks totally empty. When we did that, we noticed a particularly awful odor from both of them on the first few uses after winter. So, we always leave water in them. Which means, when we go to winterize our RV, we have no way to dump that water out. So, we buy way more RV antifreeze than we need. Usually 4 to 5 jugs of it. And all of it goes down the drains, after we've blown out all the lines. So far, crossing fingers, this has worked for us.
Thanks for sharing and a great tip!
You can try keeping your empty jugs and recovering antifreeze in the spring to save for next fall when you winterize again.
The best video I’ve found on this subject. Outstanding
Thanks for the video and tips, but I have no plans on doing this ever! I enjoy the full-time RV life way too much! Happy and safe travels to everyone who's with me... doing this full-time and loving it! 😀
my preferred method is to blow the lines.i had to replace the valve to the toilet (connected to the foot pedal) due to pin hole leak. i now take that valve out. also if you have a double bowl sink there will be two traps. as added insurance i put 1 gallon into the fresh water tank, 1 gallon into each gray tank , and q gallon into the black tank. that might be over-kill though.
i learn so much from your channel. you feel like a friend to me.
Thank you, friend! Better safe than to be sorry so it might be overkill but you know that it works for you.
Just remember if you have a washing machine hook ups you need the drain them also . Great info really easy to follow too.
best video I found so far on winterizing RVs. Thanks
Thank you!
Thank you so much for the info. When we purchased our RV no one told us we needed to do this so all of this info is greatly appreciated.
Simple, fast, informative, excellent video. THANK YOU
Glad it helped
Very good. Simple advise and procedure. This will be the first time for me winterizing our new camper. So this was helpful. Thank you.
Appreciate the bypass example
Thank you for taking your time to show us both methods to winterize our RV units. This video was very helpful.
Get a 90-degree connector for your bypass kit and you can leave it on.
Also, if your compressor doesn't have a regulator on it you can put a water pressure regulator between the air hose adapter and the city connection. In fact, it wouldn't be a bad idea to do that anyway as an extra precaution.
Good idea. Or just open each faucet before adding pressure and the pressure wont ever build up.
Thanks man. My mom always remembered these things so I never had to. She passed away in May. So I’m having to do these things by myself. This video helped a lot.
Thank you for another great video. I will save myself a couple hundred bucks later this year and winterize it myself and KNOW what was done, rather than paying a dealer and hoping they did everything.
Only video that actually helped me winterize my rv. thanks man killer video
So glad this was helpful for you!
Great Video, Just a side note, opening the pressure relief valve can cause them to leak, They are designed so that if the water heater builds too much pressure it will blow out the relief valve instead of blowing up the water heater. All it takes is a small piece of debris to cause a leak, sand, dirt etc. The same effect can be gotten by opening a faucet instead of the valve. Will it happen every time? Not likely, But if it does happen, it is a leak. Thanks again for your videos.
The pressure valve leaking if often a buildup of minerals on the valve. Simply close the valve Ana tap it lightly with a hammer. Works most of the time.
Best video out of all I've seen. Many thanks for sharing.
Thank you this video is very helpful. Blessings to you and your family.
Just winterized our camper. Always hate doing it as I know camping season is over. Nice video.
As always, way good instructions! I gotta agree with a lot of other comments here - why would anyone choose antifreeze over air? If you don't own a compressor, you can get a small one that will be paid for in the savings from not buying antifreeze over the years.
Because you don't actually get all of the water out.
Air compressors are, for the most part, oil lubricated; do you want to introduce that into your fresh water lines?
I did the air method foir the first time and found out that it does not get all the water out the 2021 winter in Oklahoma cost me the water lines in my 2015 Dutchman... This year we are going to have the unit winterized and then I will get someone to show me what I did wrong
Sadly just did ours today. Thank you for the great information.
We have a new RV with a residential Refrigerator and ice maker, took some thinking about what to do there. I think the air system will work fine, after emptying the ice bucket, running out the water and filter, but even the service tech told us he’d never winterized one. Same with the washing machine. New modern conveniences add to the to- do list! Next year, we head to warmer climates instead.
Always appreciate your videos, loaded with information and presented in an understandable way (even for us newbies). Thanks again!
Thank you!
Coming back for the second year. Air compressor way worked last year great on a 2020 model camper.
Thank you for another very informative video.
Great instruction...Always good advise on your channel.
Thanks
Great, comprehensive info!! Thank you very much!!
Thanks
Thanks Jared, as always great tips/reminders/upgrades
I open each fixture BEFORE I add pressure. That way there is never back pressure in the lines. I know the pressure is regulated, but regulators can fail. Doesn't hurt anything to be careful and to open the faucets before adding pressure.
Fantastic video!! And the links helped so much!!! Thank you for posting!
thx for another informative video...i’ll be winterizing our trailer for the first time this fall...our trailer already has the antifreeze hose installed...
Very informative..thank you
Very concise video and clearly explained.Would have liked to see the air/Compressor technique in play. When to turn it off.
YT algorithm putting this oldie but goodie in my feed. Dropping by for #engagement. 😜
I just want to say thanks for all the great content. We are super new to the RV game, and this was just another video that is helping us out tremendously!
Great video, thank-you
Great Video thank you for taking the time.
This is the first time I will be winterizing an RV. We got ours in July and this is our first. Hoping I do it right. Would hate to have a problem in the spring.
I really dig your expertise on RV'S. Your videos have been very helpful for me. What if you live in your RV and you don't want to winterize your RV? What can you suggest or recommend
Great video nicely done. When I park mine for the winter the battery comes out and heads for a nice warm garage with a battery tender. And never leave it on a cement floor stick a piece of wood under it.
That cement thing is a myth. It does not drain your battery or make it leak when you put it on a cement floor.
@@veteranpickers9205 never heard about the leaking bit, and no doubt the leaving it on the cement will drain it is a myth but it was something my dad said & have been doing it for yrs now so prob won't stop placing wood under it now not hurting anything
Best video ever. Thank you so much.
Great video!
Very good video, very understandable.
Great tips and how to do it, Thank You
Thank you!! I'm a newbie, saving this video for my arsenal. 😊
Thanks. Super helpful!
Thank you for the video. Much appreciated
Great job, thanks!
If the RV is designed right, you should not have to use either air or anti-freeze for the pipes, just anti-freeze for the drains. Unfortunately many are not designed to completely drain the water. I am one of the lucky ones and all I have done is drain everything, no air or anti-freeze in the pipes, and never had a problem, even with the trailer being stored in zero F weather. One thing I do is raise and lower the trailer tongue through level when all the drains are open to make sure there is no trapped water.
Great video! Thank you😊👍
Nice, thank you!
Excellent video
Good morning 👍 ✌
Just did mine two days ago.
I see you didn’t use the Viair compressor. Does it have a knob to reduce or just let it go. Will it do as well.
Thanks for a nice explanation. And the tip with kit. It is always nice to get the tip first. lol.
Great question. I would put an inline pressure reducer when using the Viair. Either one made for air compressors or use the water pressure regulator that you use at RV parks with high pressure. It should work the same.
Great video!!!
First off, good vlog, thanks... I prefer the air over anti freeze, but with our new 2019 Montana 3120RL I’m not sure which method will be easier or better. Second, and this is odd, what brand toilet do you have. With our new rig, the Thetford does not hold water in the bowl (leaking past the seal - have tried Thetford seal conditioner and cleaning the seal). The suggestion via numerous vlogs is to replace the Thetford with the Dometic 300 series. What say you? Again, thanks for the lesson.
I appreciate it, great video 👍🏻
We are full-timers who need to take our RV into the shop for repairs after a China Bomb incident. We have the Suburban Nautilus IW60 tankless water heater like you guys had. Do you have an easy-to-do video on how to winterize this system? The manual seems to make it more difficult than it should be. Any words of wisdom are appreciated. Love your content.
If we wanted to go on a few trips ( 2-4 ) days during the winter, ( Western Maryland ) , I assume the best work flow would be to do the trip, and not worry about freezing since we would have the heat going and water flowing for showers / sink/ etc , and just do the air method for the few weeks in between until the next break in the weather, ( sometimes we get 50-60 degree days in jan and feb ) , correct??
Thanks for any help, love the Channel !!!!
You mention you include the part numbers for the antifreeze pumping hose & valve, but I don't see that anywhere. Thx. Good video. I only do this once a year and I forget and have to watch again. Thx.
looks like you are a rock climber! from your hat and shirt.....
Luckily I never have to winterize because it doesn't get cold enough where I live but if I had to I'd go with the air blowout method over the messy and time consuming Antifreeze method. When not in use I leave my Anode rod out so that the tank will completely dry plus I the rub some mineral oil on the plug threads to prevent rust/corrosion. What do you do if you have a laundry machine?
Air out the lines to it and then put it on the drain cycle after you pour antifreeze into the drum would be our method if we had one on our rig
Great video Jared (as all of yours are). I’ve done both ways of winterizing, using antifreeze and compressed air. In our Texas climate, it’s a pain to put in antifreeze for a few days below freezing, then have to pump it out when it’s back in the 60’s to go camping again. Winter is not a bad time to camp in East Texas where we live. So, to your knowledge, is there a downside to using a compressor to push most all of the water out of the lines? Plus, putting some antifreeze in tanks, drains, etc. Would appreciate your opinion, please sir. Thanks for the very informative videos-always interesting and have learned a lot from you!
Yes just the air compressor method is sufficient. The weakest point is probably at the pump but should be fine. I actually prefer the air method over antifreeze just so I don’t have the chemical sitting in there.
All About RV's Thanks Jared! This is our second RV (first fifth wheel), so want to take good care of it. We’ve had a really early batch of cold weather (for east Texas)-down in the 20s-and I blew out all the lines, AND added antifreeze. Don’t want to do both, and like the idea of no chemicals being added to our water system. Thanks again-enjoy your UA-cam channel!
Thanks. Good Info. Question: You stopped short and didn't finish about a tankless water heater. Can I run antifreeze through the tankless system? Also, does the antifreeze mess up the in-house water filter? Do I need to remove it, or is it still good when I rinse out the system when I 'de-winterize'?
Super helpful. I have heard some people say to leave a faucet open when attaching the air, not to have air going without an open faucet or valve. Do you think that's not necessary? (You don't seem to mention its here.) Thanks!
All good advice. Nice break down of what to do. Are you done for the winter? Take care and be safe.
No, we live full time in our rv but we wanted to get this video out for those who do have to winterize their campers. We had a few people asking for a video on how to do it.
I thought you were full time RV'ers. Thanks again for ALL your helpful videos. We love watching your channel.
I disagree with completely draining the black tank. Keeping the black tank bottom “wet” with a gallon or two of water keeps the remaining solids from drying hard to the bottom of the tank which begin the building of the dreaded “poop pyramid”. The black tank should be drained normally after the last trip, then add back a couple gallons of water with deodorizing tablets (they need water to work properly). I do this through the toilet. When winterizing, pour a gallon of RV antifreeze into the black tank through the toilet….and leave some in the bowl to keep the flush seal wet. This will keep the tank wet, deodorized and freeze-free. A dry black tank is never a good idea.
I feel like the air compressor is the way to go.
At 7:54 when you opened the valve on that faucet, you got water flowing. I'm wondering how that is possible seeing that you already blew out that line to where there was no more water coming out. Can you explain that please. Nice video btw. Thanks.
hi Jared...just put our trailer to sleep...chose to do the air compressor method to empty out the water lines...but one other thing i did was to put axle stands under the axles to keep the weight off of the tires...what do you think ??
thanks for the video this will be my first year winterizing. quick question we have washer dryer hook up but does not and has never has washer and dryer. what best way to get that winterized without making a mess inside camper? or is their a bypass for the washer water lines?
Hello, is it safe and effective to add antifreeze to the grey and black water tanks of my RV while I'm living in it full-time during winter? What would be the exact recommended amount for 50-gallon tanks? I would appreciate any advice or experiences you can share.
Do NOT open the pressure relief valve! If any sediment gets in the diaphragm the TP valve will not seal again and will need to be replaced. Same with your house water heater. To release pressure in the lines and to effectively drain them, just open up the hot side of your water faucets. Don't mess with the TP valve!
why put antifreeze in the lines if they are empty? I can see filling the P-traps in case if some water remains in them. A p-trap with a drain plug would take care of that. Of course, being a retired plumber and first time RV owner I have to ask. :-) Thank you.
Because you don't get all of the water out.
You pump antifreeze through the lines when you don't have access to a compressor. It's an either/or thing.
Anything special you do to winterize your tankless water heater? Im picking up a new 5th wheel this week and it has a tankless water heater. Never used or winterized one before. I live in Pennsylvania so getting water out is a must with our winters.
So I read that you're supposed to remove the filter the antifreeze would just ruin it anyway.
Hey there! Your videos have been extremely instrumental in getting my new coach set up. Im in a class A with freezing temperatures on the regular during winter. We do have a few trips planned already and I see the need to "unwinterize" and "rewinterize" frequently. Which method would you recommend and if using the antifreeze method, any safety items to do before using it?
You're commenting on a video about your question bro
Have you by chance done a video on how to I’m-winterize your RV?
Question,on the fresh water tank,the place I bought it from PP-it was winterized,how long should you flush it,to possibly use as a drinking source.If at all.
Jared, we are going to winterize our 5th for the first time ourselves. We can do either. However, question for you, our black tank sensor doesn't seem to work or maybe it still has stuff in it. Like it says 1/3 full. Will this matter if we winterize with solids in our black tank? Thx ahead
I know this is an older video, but is there any benefit to putting some antifreeze into the black and grey tanks to help keep the seals at the pull levers “lubricated” or wet while stored?
What model was the air compressor you used. In the video it’s a Dewalt. Not the one you mentioned.