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De-Winterizing An RV

This is our first winter with an RV. We had it winterized at a Camping World service center. In January we are heading south for an extended vacation. What needs to be done to de-winterize the unit? Is this something that owners typically perform or is it more complicated and should be done by a dealer? Thanks in advance for the feedback.

Re: De-Winterizing An RV

Reply #1 –
Step 1, make sure you will be not encounter extended freezing weather on your trip before you dewinterize.  28*F here in Yuma, AZ last 2 nights.
Rick

Re: De-Winterizing An RV

Reply #2 –
Quote from: Rick –
Step 1, make sure you will be not encounter extended freezing weather on your trip before you dewinterize.  28*F here in Yuma, AZ last 2 nights.
Ya, but it's a dry cold.
1993 U-240 "La Villa Grande"..CAT 3116 w/ Pacbrake PRXB...Allison 3060 6-speed..
Previous: 1983 Airstream 310 turbo diesel, 1979 Airstream 280 turbo diesel
                                      Build # 4297
                                      PNW natives
                      Home base:  'Cactus Hug' (Ajo, Arizona)
                        DW Judy & Chet the wonder dog
                        Full-Timers 'Sailing the asphalt sea'

Re: De-Winterizing An RV

Reply #3 –
Hi Norman and Myra,

Add the year and model of your coach to your signature line if you would like to.  It can help makeanswers a bit more specific to your coach.

De-winterizing. 

First you want to get the RV antifreeze out of your water lines.  Open faucets, the drinking water spigot, the shower valve and the service bay faucet.  There should be a cold and hot water line drain valve on the floor of the bay where the water manifold is.  We have water line drains in the first bay behind the front wheel on the driver's side.  Open all of those.  You can catch what comes out in a small bucket and dump it down the sewer drain.

If you have an LP hot water heater there may be a drain line for that as well.  We don't so someone else can help,out on this.

When all of the antifreeze had drained out, close all of the valves and faucets.  Hook up city water and turn the city water on part way.  Now turn on each of the faucets one at a time, cold then warm.  There may be air in the lines and some spitting.  Let the water flow out. It will be pink and foamy at first and then clear.  Go through all of your faucets, drinking water spout and service bay faucel. When these are all running clear shut them all off anf open the fresh water fill tank and run a few gallons into the fresh tank.  Shut the fill valve off and turn on the water pump and open a sink faucet to cold and let it run for a minute or two.  Any RV antifreeze in the accumulator tank and pump will get flushed out.  Run until it is clear.  Shut the faucet off and the pump off.

The is when I disconnect the water hose, add disinfectant (bleach or what ever you want to use) to the hose end hook it back up to water and fill the fresh tank about half way or so. Shut the fill valve and turn on the water pump and run water through every faucet, hot and cold.  This flushes out the lines further with disinfected water.

Now is the time to turn off the water to the drinking water filter cartridge holder (a small in line valve) kift the black leve, remove the bypass plug, insert the filter cartridge, lower the black lever and turn the water back on.  There may be a small valve in a line to,the ice maker if you are using one.  Open that as well.

That is about it.  Maybe some more steps if you have a washer/dryer,  someone else can add something here.

If you are still heading towards somewhere warm, drive for a day with the half full tank and let the fress water slosh around.  Then drain the frsh tank and refill it.  This helps keep your fresh tank fresh.

I may have forgotten something here. If I did I will add it into the list when someone reminds me. It is pretty simple.  There is only about 6 gallons of RV antifreeze in my system so it doesn't take long to do.
Roger Engdahl and Susan Green
2001 U320 3610 #5879 (Home2) - 2014 Jeep Cherokee or 2018 F150
Hastings, MN

Re: De-Winterizing An RV

Reply #4 –
I would recommend taking the screens off the end of each faucet after you have purged all lines of air (less spitting spray all over) and then cleaning the screens of any calcium that might have accrued.
Nitehawk,  Demolition Lady, & our NEW master, Zippy the speeding BB cat.
1989 Grand Villa 36' ORED
Oshkosh chassis, 8.2 DD V8
2006 Saturn Vue AWD

Re: De-Winterizing An RV

Reply #5 –
My screens clogged almosy immediately after dewinterizing. I wonder if the air blow out broke deposits loose? But a good idea. I also found a stinkbug colony had setup shop inside the outdoor faucet. Need to add a screen to that one!
Matt
95 U300, 78k miles
Cat 3176 Jake Brake, HD4060.

Re: De-Winterizing An RV

Reply #6 –
Quote from: car54 –
My screens clogged almosy immediately after dewinterizing. I wonder if the air blow out broke deposits loose? But a good idea. I also found a stinkbug colony had setup shop inside the outdoor faucet. Need to add a screen to that one!
I think the RV antifreeze, along with the flush/draining action breaks the calcium deposits loose.
If you have a furry pet along I recommend cleaning the U-line ice maker condenser and the frig coils, and the heat registers (if you have them) of pet hair. It seems to collect on those surfaces.
Nitehawk,  Demolition Lady, & our NEW master, Zippy the speeding BB cat.
1989 Grand Villa 36' ORED
Oshkosh chassis, 8.2 DD V8
2006 Saturn Vue AWD