After camping in your recreational vehicle throughout the summers, it’s time to give it a rest. But while it’s not in use, the vehicle is vulnerable to outside elements like wind, debris, snow, etc. that can damage it. You can protect it by storing it at an indoor RV storage in Stuart. But before you drive over there, you might want to take a few extra measures to prepare your vehicle for the winter. While many storages are climate controlled, there’s a chance that your motor coach’s plumbing system might freeze due to an unexpected power cut resulting in expensive repairs.
Steps To Winterize Your RV
Drain Water
You can prevent the vehicle’s plumbing system from freezing by draining it of all moisture. This step excludes the heater, which can be drained only after applying the antifreeze. Here’s what you need to do:
Drain the fresh water tank by opening the petcock.
Drain the black and gray water holding tanks at the same time and dump its contents at a local dumping station. If the tanks don’t have a built-in cleaning system use proper cleaning products like a wand.
Open the cold and hot water faucets for sinks, toilets and shower. Flush the toilet a few times to get rid of the water in the water lines. Remove the waterline drain caps to drain the water. You can connect a water pump to do it faster.
Add Antifreeze To Plumbing
To further protect your plumbing, you need to add antifreeze. Pink one called GRAs is considered the safest for the task.
You need to drain the water before adding the agent. Don’t drain the heater until you add the agent because it may be hot or under pressure. You can add a compressed air adapter and a standard air compressor to pump the antifreeze into the system.
There are three ways of adding antifreeze to the plumbing, with a pump kit from the inside, with a hand pump from the outside or by bypassing the heater. Bypassing the water heater saves time and requires less antifreeze.
To bypass the heater, turn off the power and the water supply. Then disconnect the hot and cold lines and attach the bypass as instructed on the package. Close the water lines and open the bypass.
Place the disconnected pump tube into a jug of antifreeze. You will need 3 gallons with bypass and 10 gallons without it. Start the pump to introduce the agent into the system. Then turn on the taps and valves on. Flush the toilet until the antifreeze appears and pour a cup of it down each drain. Replace the jug as required.
Once this is done, reconnect the pipe to the freshwater tank and drain the heater at last.
Clean Up
You are unlikely to use the motorcoach for months. You should remove all your valuable items and clothes before driving to the indoor RV storage in Stuart. You should also remove all food items to prevent it from stinking up the vehicle’s interior and attracting pests. If your motorcoach is a mess, clean it until all the stain and stench is gone.
Check & Repair
Your motorcoach will be sitting inside RV storage in Stuart for a long time. This could worsen any problems the vehicle may have or lead to accidents. Check the coach for any problems and repair them if necessary before storing it.
Install Pest Protection
Despite the level of cleanliness at the storage, there’s still a slight chance that a pest might infest the RV. Check your recreational vehicle for gaps like exhaust pipe, vents, etc. that rodents, birds and bugs can use to enter it. Cover the gaps with a mesh or other coverings as applicable before driving to the inside RV storage in Stuart.
After these steps, your RV should be ready for winter. You may cover it with a breathable cover to prevent dust, mold and mildew.
Comments