water heater<\/a> and allow several hours to pass before trying to drain the water heater.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\nStep 2: Drain the hot water heater<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Now that you have allowed your hot water inside the heater to cool down, you can begin draining the hot water heater. Ensure you depressurize the system before starting the draining process by disconnecting from all water sources, turning off the water pump, and opening a hot water tap before draining it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Once you open the pressure relief valve, you will ensure that the system isn\u2019t under any pressure when draining it. Next, remove the drain plug and stand back, as the water heater will drain up to four gallons of water very quickly. You can then clean your water heater with a tank-rinsing wand to ensure it is cleaned before winter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Once the water has fully drained, wrap the drain plug with new plumbers tape and reinstall it. If you have inline water filters for drinking water, this is the time to remove them. Turn any valves to bypass the lines before continuing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Step 3: Drain Interior lines<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
To drain the interior lines, you must leave the gray tank dump valves open while turning on all faucets (hot and cold) in the RV. Then, find any low-point water drains and open them as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Using the water pump, force out any remaining water from the lines by turning it on for a few seconds until the system runs dry. Do not leave the water pump on too long, or you can cause damage to it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Step 4: Bypass water heater<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
You should consult your manual to check if your RV has a bypass kit installed already. If your RV already has a system installed, a diagram in the manual with instructions will be shown. It is imperative to bypass the water heater to ensure that the tank does not get filled with antifreeze.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Step 5: Bypass freshwater tank<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Next, you will use the water pump to run the antifreeze through your water lines. Some RVs will already have a winterization valve on the freshwater system. If not, you will have to use a water pump converter kit. You want to fill the water lines with antifreeze but not fill the freshwater tank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If your RV has a winterization valve, turn the valves to their correct positions to bypass the freshwater tank and place the tube directly into the antifreeze bottle (follow your RVs instruction manual to ensure you do this correctly). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
For those who do not have a winterization valve installed, you can use a water pump converter kit or disconnect the freshwater tank from the water pump and replace it with tubing that will run directly from the water pump inlet into the antifreeze bottle. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Step 6: Run antifreeze through water lines<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Make sure your water pump inlet tube is placed in the bottle of antifreeze, and then turn the water pump on. This will pressurize the system, and you will see the antifreeze being pumped into your lines. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Next, open all the faucets (hot and cold) one at a time to ensure the antifreeze runs through the entire system. Make sure you keep them open until you see pink antifreeze running through them, then shut off completely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You will run antifreeze through all the lines in your RV from showers, drinking taps, toilet flush, and kitchen sprayer. When the process is finished, turn off the water pump.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Step 7: Pour antifreeze down drains<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
The hard part is done; now, you just need to pour a cup of antifreeze down each drain to prevent the P-traps from freezing. For the toilet bowl, use two cups of antifreeze and flush them into the holding tank. This will prevent any residual water from freezing, but pour another cup into the bowl and leave to soak and protect the valve. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Step 8: Ready for winter camping or storage!<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
This method is straightforward, fast, and protects your RV from harsh winter temperatures. So whether you will be camping over the winter season or storing the RV outside, your RV is entirely ready for the cold. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Blow Out<\/h3>\n\n\n\nStep 1 & 2: Follow the first two steps from the antifreeze method<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
You can follow the first two steps from the antifreeze method to drain the water heater and system; however, the main difference will be that you do not replace the drain plug or anode rod in the water heater at the end. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Step 3: Blow out the hot water lines<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Ensure the drain plug is open and close the pressure relief valve of the hot water heater, then connect the blowout plug of your air compressor to the freshwater inlet. You must have a pressure regulator or an adjustable air compressor to ensure you do not over-pressurize the water lines. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Once appropriately connected, you can turn on the air compressor and pump the compressed air through all of the lines. Water will flow from the drain plug as all the water is drained from the hot water lines. Once all the water has been drained, you can replace the drain plug or anode rod and shut off the water heater, ready for storage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Step 4: Bypass water heater and any filters<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Your RV will most likely already have a bypass installed, and you can find this out by reading your manual, which should have an instructional diagram and its location. Remove and bypass the inline water filters too. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Step 5: Blow out all the water lines<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Make sure you turn off the water pump before performing this step. Next, open all the low point drains and turn every tap to the RV to the \u201cwarm\u201d setting. Once the water is completely drained from the low point drains, shut the faucets and close the drains. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
One at a time, you should open each faucet on the hot and cold settings and blow compressed air through the system until you can only see air coming from the tap (30 seconds of compressed air should do the trick). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
When draining the water pump, you should turn on the outdoor shower nozzle and the water pump. It doesn’t need to be run for too long as the freshwater system is dry, then use compressed air to blow the remaining water out of the line. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Step 6: Pour antifreeze down the drains<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
This is the last and easiest step of the process; simply pour a cup of antifreeze down each drain to protect your P-Traps from freezing. Next, you will need two cups of antifreeze for the toilet bowl, then flush it into the holding tank (this will stop any residual water from freezing). Next, pour another cup into the bowl and leave it there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ensure the freshwater tank\u2019s low point drain is closed, close all the gray valves, and ensure your sewer hose is drained and stored. You are now ready to store your RV for the winter!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"camper](\"https:\/\/lifeinrv.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/camper-in-snow.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"antifreeze\"](\"https:\/\/lifeinrv.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/antifreeze.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"Man](\"https:\/\/lifeinrv.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Man-filling-tires-on-rv.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n