Simple Steps to Winterize your RV
TL;DR: Failure to winterize your RV could cause the water in the lines and the pipes to freeze. Reference this whenever you are ready and make sure your rig is winter ready!
As temperatures drop, preparing your RV for cold weather becomes essential. Whether you’re storing your rig for the season or pausing travel, learning how to winterize a camper properly can prevent costly damage and keep your RV in great condition.
From frozen pipes to cracked tanks, failing to winterize your RV can result in costly repairs. The good news? With the right steps, tools, and preparation, you can confidently protect your rig—whether you’re working with a travel trailer or need to winterize a motorhome.
This guide covers everything you need to know.
Why It’s Important to Winterize Your RV
When water freezes, it expands. In an RV, that can cause:
- Burst pipes
- Cracked water lines
- Damaged water heaters
- Broken pumps and fittings
Taking time to properly winterize your RV helps you:
- Avoid expensive repairs
- Extend the life of your plumbing system
- Prepare your RV for long-term storage
- Reduce stress when spring arrives
Whether you're storing your rig or continuing to travel in warmer climates, winterizing is a key part of RV ownership.
When Should You Winterize Your RV?
You should winterize your RV when temperatures are expected to drop below freezing. If you're unsure, it's best to winterize early rather than risk damage.
Even if you plan to travel occasionally, knowing how to winterize a camper allows you to protect your system between trips.
What You Need to Winterize an RV
Before you begin, gather the following supplies:
RV Winterizing Checklist:
- RV antifreeze (non-toxic, pink)
- Water heater bypass kit (if not already installed)
- Water pump converter kit or tubing
- Basic tools (wrench, screwdriver)
- Bucket or container
- Air compressor (optional method)
Having everything ready makes the process quick and efficient.
Step-by-Step: How to Winterize an RV
Follow these steps to properly winterize your RV or motorhome.
1. Gather materials.
The first thing you will need to do is gather your materials. To start, you need 2-3 gallons of non-toxic RV/Marine antifreeze and some simple tools to remove the drain plugs. Depending on what your RV is already equipped with, you may need a few other tools, as well. You will need a water pump converter kit, or just some basic tubing to connect the antifreeze to your system. In addition, your RV may already have a water heater bypass kit built into it, but if it doesn’t, you will need to buy and install one (more on that later). Finally, you need to purchase a tank cleaning wand and flushing system if your RV does not have one built in. Once you have collected your materials, you are ready to begin to winterize your RV.
2. Remove water filters.
Because you will be pumping antifreeze through your water system, you need to remove any inline water filters that are installed. This will ensure that they are clean and ready to use when you install them for trips next spring. Now is also a great time to replace your filters if they have expired.
3. Drain and flush black and gray tanks.
At a dump station or your campground sewer hookup, empty out your black and gray tanks. Leave the hose connected for a bit longer to ensure everything drains out. Then, flush out both tanks. If your RV does not have a built-in flushing system, you can use your cleaning wand and external flushing system to clean out the tanks.
4. Drain the water heater tank.
Next, drain your hot water heater by removing its drain plug. Be sure to switch this off before draining it, allowing the water to cool before you begin. Replace the plug once it has fully drained.
5. Open all faucets and remove all drain plugs.
This will allow your water to drain from the tank. Be sure to open both the hot and cold lines and leave them open for a minimum of fifteen minutes to ensure all water has drained out. Leaving your water pump on during this process is helpful in draining the water quicker. Just be sure to turn off water pump once the water pressure is low. This will ensure there is no damage to your pump, which can be caused by running it with no water in the tank.
6. Close all faucets and replace drain plugs once water has drained entirely.
It’s important to remember this step before you start pumping antifreeze into the system.
7. Bypass the hot water heater
Most RVs come with a hot water heater bypass kit already installed. This mechanism ensures that the hot water heater does not fill with antifreeze, which is unnecessary. This wouldn’t harm the heater, but it would waste 6-10 gallons of antifreeze, depending on the size of your tank. If your RV does not have its own bypass system, you can purchase and install one yourself or have the work completed by a local professional.
8. Connect the system to antifreeze.
Next, you need to install your water pump converter kit to allow your RV to pump antifreeze into your system. If you would rather not install a new device, you can disconnect one of your water intake lines and drop it directly into the jug of antifreeze. You may need to connect more tubing in order for this method to work.
9. Turn the water faucet closest to the water pump on.
Turn just the cold faucet on and let it slowly trickle until you start to see pink. Then, turn on the hot faucet until you see pink, as well.
10. Repeat this process for all sinks.
Move to the next sink and repeat this process until you have antifreeze flowing from all the faucets, both hot and cold. Replace the antifreeze jugs when necessary. Don’t forget your outdoor shower if you have one.
11. Flush the toilet until you see antifreeze.
Once you see antifreeze, you can be sure the toilet and septic system have been properly winterized.
12. Pour a cup of antifreeze down each sink’s drain and into the toilet.
This will ensure that the antifreeze makes it into all of your plumbing lines and into the gray tank. Flush the toilet to ensure some of the antifreeze makes it into the black water holding tank, as well.
13. Prep the RV for final storage.
Turn the hot water heater heating element off and ensure all faucets are closed. Now your RV should be good to go.
14. Consult your owner’s manual for information regarding your ice maker and/or washing machine.
Since each ice maker and washing machine can be quite different, the instructions for winterizing these vary. It’s best to follow specific instructions to make sure these are properly prepared for winter.
Once you have completed these steps, your RV’s water system is officially ready for winter storage. Keep in mind that there are some other tasks that must be completed before your RV is officially ready for winter.
How to Winterize a Motorhome vs. Travel Trailer
The process to winterizing motorhomes and towable RVs are very similar, but there are a few differences.
Motorhome Considerations:
- Additional plumbing for onboard systems
- Engine-related components (if storing long-term)
- Washer/dryer units (if equipped)
If your motorhome includes extra appliances, be sure to run antifreeze through those systems as well.
Common Mistakes When You Winterize an RV
Avoid these common errors when learning how to winterize a camper:
- Skipping the Water Heater Bypass: This wastes antifreeze and increases cost.
- Forgetting Outdoor Showers: These lines are often overlooked and prone to freezing.
- Using Automotive Antifreeze: Only use RV-safe antifreeze (non-toxic).
- Not Draining Tanks Completely: Residual water can freeze and cause damage.
To make sure you’re not making any other RVing mistakes this winter, check out this blog.
Can You Live in an RV Without Winterizing?
If you’re travelling to warm climates during the winter, you can avoid this entirely. But if you plan to continue traveling in cold-weather climates, you may need to do some winterization.
Instead, you’ll need to:
- Keep the RV heated at all times
- Use heated hoses
- Monitor tank temperatures
- Check all of your seals
- Prevent freezing proactively
However, if you’re storing your RV, you should always winterize your RV completely.
How Long Does It Take to Winterize an RV?
Most RV owners can complete the process in 30 minutes to an hour. With practice, it becomes a quick and routine task.
FAQs: Winterizing Your RV
Final Thoughts
Learning how to winterize an RV is one of the most important maintenance tasks every RV owner should know and is a key part of responsible RV ownership.
Whether you're preparing to store your rig or simply protecting it during cold snaps, taking the time to properly winterize your motorhome or camper can save you thousands in repairs and ensure your RV is ready for your next adventure.
With the right steps, tools, and preparation, winterizing becomes a quick and manageable process.
