The benefits of spending time outside are well-documented, so it’s no wonder people love to take their RV on the road and spend time in nature. Who doesn’t want life-changing health benefits like lower stress and reduced risk of cardiovascular disease?
RV owners can have those benefits for years – but only if they prepare their RV for winter.
How do you do that? You have to winterize it or prepare it for several months of inclement weather and non-use.
Fortunately, winterizing your RV doesn’t have to be hard. Here are 4 tips for properly winterizing your RV.
1. Take Care of Your Water System
You must completely drain your water system.
This includes:
- Hot water heater
- Toilet
- Waterlines
- Holding tanks
Make sure to buy RV antifreeze and follow the instructions to finish winterizing your water system. Do not mix antifreeze, and never use car antifreeze in your system. There’s a big difference between RV and car antifreeze.
If you don’t take care of your water system, winter freezing could cause extreme damage in the form of burst pipes and ruptured tanks when the leftover water expands from freezing.
2. Do a Thorough Cleaning
The interior and exterior of your RV should receive a thorough cleaning, and winterizing is the perfect time for that. Make sure to clean away road salt, bugs, tree sap, and any other elements from the exterior of your RV – all of these can be damaging to your RV’s exterior, along with making it an unsightly mess.
Clean out your fridge and cabinets, leaving nothing behind. Beverages can freeze during the winter, bursting open and causing a sticky mess that’s sure to draw pests. Food can also attract pests or even spoil.
3. Give It an Inspection
Cleaning is also a perfect time to give your RV an inspection. Thoroughly check the interior and exterior for any potential problems, making repairs if needed.
Check your RV’s roof for any leaks. Do the same with the seals around your doors and windows, replacing the caulking if needed.
4. Find a Secure Storage Solution
Finally, find a safe and secure location for your RV. For some of you, this could be at home, but others may need to look into a storage solution like www.kingstonidealstorage.com. Third-party storage solutions like this exist for those who either don’t have the space to store their RV at home, desire a secure location, or need both.
If possible, opt for a covered storage solution. It will further protect your RV during winter, not only from snow and ice but also from direct sunlight, which can cause your exterior graphics to fade.
Winterizing Your RV
Winterizing your RV will help prevent costly surprise expenses and prepare you for the next camping season. No one wants to take their RV out of storage, only to find that it has been infested by pests or weather damaged. Instead, be proactive and winterize your RV.
To read more on topics like this, check out the Traveling category
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