It’s that time of year again. Seasons are changing and the weather is becoming fickle. Temperature swings of thirty or forty degrees in the course of an afternoon are not all that strange this time of year.
For every RV owner, there are certain steps you need to take to get ready for the colder months ahead. Failure to properly winterize RVs and trailers can lead to thousands of dollars worth of damage and shorten the life of your RV.
Here are some key areas to focus on when it’s time to store your RV for the winter.
Plumbing – The most important task as far as winterizing your RV is to take care of the plumbing. This starts with draining all the fluid from various systems. Just draining the lines won’t do the trick by itself, as small amounts of water can get trapped almost anywhere and cause problems. You have to completely drain everything, which is difficult, or add antifreeze so the lines don’t freeze once the temperatures really take a nose dive. Make sure you use RV anti-freeze, never automobile anti-freeze. Failure to properly drain everything could lead to water freezing in the lines and other systems, burst pipes, damage to the water pump, toilet and sink valves and drain traps. If black and grey tanks still have liquid in them, there could be cracked drain lines between tanks and valves. At Ketelsen, our RV winterization service package includes:
- Removal of all water from system
- Refill lines with anti-freeze
- Winterize all plumbing traps
- Drain water heater / lines
- Clean anode rod / drain plug
- GenSet winterized on request
We also have a top-notch customer service as this Facebook fan discovered last year:
Moisture Control – Be sure to cover all vents and holes. Moisture build-up inside the RV can be a problem in some climates. You’ll also want to have a moisture control at hand. Some RV owners use chemical absorbents inside the RV to prevent moisture and consequently the development of mold and mildew. Some find charcoal works for this as well.
Rodent Control – Mice and other critters are also looking for a safe place to winter, so try to close off as many possible openings as you can. It’s not just the ick factor of having uninvited critters taking up residence in your RV over the winter that you have to worry about. Pests will chew on the wood flooring to make access holes larger, and munch on curtains, seat cushions, and even the wiring during their stay. No system is fool-proof, however, so include some strategically placed mouse bait or traps so rodents won’t thrive if they do get in as part of your winterization process.
Proper maintenance all year long is critical to keeping your RV in top operating condition and extending the life of your unit. If you have any questions about winterizing your RV or if you’d like to use our RV winterization services, please feel free to contact us or stop by our location in Hiawatha, IA. Don’t forget to ask out our mobile RV service options as well.
