The start of a new camping season is an exciting time as the weather improves and you begin planning all of the season’s upcoming adventures. After the last freeze of spring it is time to de-winterize your RV so you can get out and into nature. Here are all of the steps you need to take to get your RV de-winterized and ready to go camping. 

Start On the Outside

  1. Be sure to have your RV connected to a city water source.
  2. Turn on the city water source.

    RV freshwater hose connected to campground water supply with the water turned on and connected to a water pressure regulator and water filter
    RV freshwater hose connected to campground water supply with the water turned on
  3. Make sure you have about 3-5 gallons of water in the freshwater holding tank.
  4. Open the low point drain. The low point drain has either a liquid tight cap or a ball valve on each of the lines–hot (red) and cold (blue).

    Hot and cold low point drains with water on the ground after draining an RV for winterization
    Hot and cold low point drains with water on the ground after draining
  5. Open both the hot and cold lines and allow the antifreeze to drain out onto the ground. Leave the valves open, allowing the pressurized water to flow out of both of the drains until the water runs clear.
  6. Turn off the city water source and close the ball valves or replace the caps on the low point drains.

    Campground water supply turned off at an RV campsite
    Campground water supply turned off
  7. Turn the city water back on.

Outdoor Showers and Outdoor Sinks

An outdoor shower ready to be de-winterized on the exterior of an RV
An outdoor shower ready to be de-winterized

Next, move to your outdoor showers and sinks.

 

  1. Run the hot and cold water fixtures one at a time at each of the water sources around the outside of the RV until all of the pink antifreeze has been washed out and clear, non-foamy water is flowing.
  2. After clearing antifreeze from these outside fixtures, move to the water heater access on the outside of the RV.
    Water heater anode rod installed and tightened on an RV
    Water heater anode rod installed and tightened

    Open the panel and confirm that the drain plug/anode rod has been installed and tightened. (This should have been done when the RV was winterized.)

Inside your RV

Water running clear after all of the antifreeze has been rinsed out of the toilet in an RV
Water running clear after all of the antifreeze has been rinsed out of the toilet

Moving into the RV, you will start at the back and move forward, running each fixture, one at a time,  until clear water flows and all of the antifreeze is out of the water lines. When it comes to the showers, make sure to rinse away any antifreeze that may have splashed in the shower when draining the antifreeze as it can stain and discolor the plastic.

You will need to do this process at the toilet(s) as well. Hold the flush pedal down all the way to the floor until all of the antifreeze has been replaced with clear water. 

If you have a dishwasher and/or a washing machine on your RV, these will also need to be de-winterized. For the dishwasher, all you need to do is to start the shortest cycle on the dishwasher and let it run to completion. Or you can start the dishwasher on any cycle and after it has filled, cancel the cycle. This will typically run the drain pump and should drain the antifreeze out of the dishwasher. The same goes for the washing machine: run the shortest cycle available to completion, or start a cycle, then cancel it once the water is running clear. All dishwashers and washing machines are a little different so if you are more comfortable running a short cycle until it is complete, that is the easiest way to de-winterize these machines. And remember that with washing machines, it is important to run the cycle on a warm setting. This will open both the cold and hot water valves to clear them of antifreeze. 

Turn off the city water and, making sure you have 3-5 gallons of water in the freshwater tank, turn on the pump.

Kitchen sink running clean after the antifreeze has been rinsed out of the water lines in an RV
Kitchen sink running clean after the antifreeze has been rinsed out of the water lines

Run any one faucet until the water comes out clear like it did in the rest of the fixtures. Now it is time to de-winterize the water heater. (The water heater is often behind a removable panel.)

Water heater bypass valves in normal operating setting in an RV
Water heater bypass valves in normal operating setting

Upon accessing the water heater, turn the ball valves so that water is able to flow through the water heater. Most RVs have 2 or 3 ball valves to bypass the water heater. If your RV has 3 ball valves, turn the ball valve in the middle so that the handle is perpendicular to the water line. This will block water from looping from the hot water line to the cold water line and vice versa. Then turn the other two valves so that they are in line with the water lines. This will allow water to flow into the water heater (cold) and out of the water heater (hot). If your RV has only 2 ball valves, turn both of the water valves so that they are in line with the water lines. This will allow water to flow into and out of the water heater.

With that you are done! Now it is time to get out there and start enjoying the camping season!

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