Winterizing an RV in Alabama
Alabama winters are mild compared with the north, but hard freezes happen across the state, more often in north Alabama. One cold night can crack a fitting or a water pump.
Do you need to winterize?
If the RV will sit unused through winter with water in the lines, winterizing is cheap insurance. If you live in it or use it often, you can protect it during cold snaps instead: keep the inside heated, use a heated water hose or disconnect the hose at night, and open cabinet doors so warm air reaches the plumbing.
The basic steps
- Drain and flush the black and gray tanks, then drain the fresh tank.
- Turn off the water heater and let it cool, then drain it.
- Open the low-point drains and faucets to empty the lines.
- Bypass the water heater so you don't fill it with antifreeze.
- Pump RV antifreeze (the pink, non-toxic kind made for drinking water systems, never automotive antifreeze) through each faucet, the shower and the toilet until it runs pink. Some owners blow the lines out with compressed air instead.
- Pour a little antifreeze into each drain trap.
Your RV's manual has the exact steps for its plumbing layout.
Storing the rest of the RV
- Keep batteries charged, or disconnect them so they don't drain.
- Turn off the propane at the tank.
- Check the roof seals before winter rain.
- Clean out the fridge and prop the door open.
When to call a tech
If you don't have the time or tools, many mobile techs winterize at your home or storage lot and can check the roof, batteries and appliances while they're there. In spring, they can de-winterize and test for leaks.
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Mobile RV winterizing and maintenance in Alabama · Mobile RV plumbing repair in Alabama
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