Winterizing can be a difficult process and if not done properly can cause damage to expensive components. Luckily, RV owners do not have to face winterizing tasks alone. Instead, they can employ the services of a company like ours, J & W Mechanical Fleet Services, that offers RV winterization service. Our team will take care of the heavy lifting, twisting, bending, and climbing, while you kick back and relax. Contact us today to get more information about the scope of our work.
People who decide to take matters into their own hands when it comes to winterizing RVs sometimes bite off more than they can chew. They don’t know what to expect and end up becoming overwhelmed by the situation. The following sections will cover some common RV winterizing chores. Hopefully, readers will gain a better understanding of what is involved in those tasks. They can then make an informed decision about whether a professional or DIY approach is better for them.
Drain Water Lines
Connections and pipes can burst if the water inside them freezes. Leaks can take RV owners by surprise when they start de-winterizing if they do not drain H2O from the lines in the winter. The freshwater supply needs to be disconnected and the water heater isolated. Next, hot and cold faucets should be opened to let air into the system so that it will drain.
Use A Compressor To Remove Excess Moisture
Plastic pipes are usually used to supply fixtures with water in RVs. They can be bent, twisted, and maneuvered in many ways. As such, the lines often have bellies in them that trap liquid. The water needs to be removed with an air compressor and a blowout plug to ensure that none remains in the lines to freeze. The process is pretty straightforward, not all that difficult to accomplish, and could save RV owners a lot of money because if parts don’t break, they won’t need to be repaired.
Add Drinkable RV Antifreeze To The Freshwater Tank
Manufacturers make special antifreeze just for RVs that are drinkable. That doesn’t mean that a person should grab a bottle and start chugging. The solution is designed to prevent people from becoming poisoned the next time they drink water from their recreational vehicles. The products are also safe for pets to make sure no accidents happen with peoples’ four-legged friends. Drinkable antifreeze stops pipes and fixtures from freezing when the temperatures outside drop below 32 degrees Fahrenheit or 0 degrees Celsius.
Drain The Water Heater
The water heater becomes isolated while draining the lines. That is so that it does not fill up with the drinkable antifreeze. After the units are drained, they only hold a small amount of H2O, which most manufacturers say is not enough to harm anything. People usually only need between two and three gallons of antifreeze to fill up RV plumbing systems, less for water heaters. Meanwhile, when the water heater is not isolated, it takes somewhere in the neighborhood of between 6 and 10 gallons to do the trick.
There are loads of other things people do when they winterize their RVs. The ones mentioned here are only some of them. Just know that if you don’t want to handle these tasks or don’t have the time to do them, friendly and professional service is only one phone call away.