How To De-Winterize (aka: Summerize) Your Camper
As the temperature starts to warm up and camping season fast approaches, it's important to prepare your RV for the road ahead. Today, we are excited to go over the steps involved in de-winterizing your camper. (De-winterizing or De-winterization is sometimes also called Summerizing or Summerization.) Whether you camp in a Motorhome, Fifth Wheel, Travel Trailer, or Camper Van - the steps to de-winterize are relatively the same. We have also posted a “how to” video below from our friends at Kunes RV to show you how to de-winterize your camper. We hope this will help you to hit the road this camping season!
What is Winterizing and De-Winterizing and Why is it Important?
Winterizing and de-winterizing an RV is an essential part of maintaining your recreational vehicle and ensuring that it's ready for use throughout the year. Winterizing your RV involves preparing it for storage during the cold winter months, while de-winterizing is the process of reversing those steps to make your RV ready for use again.
The main reason for winterizing an RV is to protect its plumbing system from freezing temperatures. When water freezes, it expands, and this can cause pipes to burst, resulting in costly damage to your RV. Winterizing involves draining the water from the plumbing system and adding antifreeze to prevent any remaining water from freezing.
De-winterizing an RV is necessary because it reverses the steps taken during winterization and prepares the recreational vehicle for use during the warmer months. During de-winterization, the antifreeze is drained, and the plumbing system is flushed with fresh water. Any appliances that were bypassed during winterization are reconnected, and the RV's battery is reinstalled. Tires, brakes, and wheel bearings are checked for wear and proper inflation, and the entire vehicle is inspected for any signs of damage that may have occurred during storage.
Overall, winterizing and de-winterizing your RV is a critical part of RV maintenance that helps to ensure that your vehicle remains in good condition and is ready for use whenever you want to hit the road.
Are you looking for WINTERIZING Products? Shop HERE!
Our friends at Kunes RV have put together a comprehensive video that will guide you through the de-winterization process, step-by-step. With their expert advice and guidance, you'll be hitting the road in no time! So, without further ado, let's dive in and see how Kunes RV can help you get your camper ready for the upcoming camping season.
How to De-Winterize Your Camper - Step by Step!
- Fill the Fresh Water Tank 1/3 full – approx. 8 to 9 gallons. (Why? Because we will check for leaks and we are going to pressurize the system)
- Locate your Water pump and Change Valve – turn valve(s) so it switches to summer mode. Remove the winterizing tube(s).
- Turn on Water Pump Until Pressurized – when you hear the water pump has turned off that means it’s pressurized!
- Drain the Antifreeze: Locate the RV's low point drains and open them up to let the antifreeze drain out. Antifreeze was added during the winterization to protect the plumbing system from freezing temperatures. After you are finished draining out the antifreeze, you can move on to the next step!
- Flush the system: Once the antifreeze is drained, you'll need to flush the system RVPandA Pro Tip: If you aren’t using your own fresh water tank in your RV - you can flush the system by hooking up a water hose to the RV's city water connection and turning on the faucet(s).
- Test the plumbing: After flushing the system, it's important to test the plumbing to make sure everything is working correctly. Turn on all the faucets, including the shower and toilet, and check for leaks or any unusual noises. Go to all Faucets in your RV and rinse ALL drains with fresh water to ensure all antifreeze has been rinsed out of your plumbing lines and drains.
- Turn OFF the Water Pump before moving to the next step!
- Put the Water Heater in Camp Mode: If you bypassed the water heater during winterization, you'll need to reverse the process and reconnect it. Usually by turning the valves to reconnect. Put the Cap on to the water heater. Fill the water heater with water. Turn Water Pump back on and let it pressurize. Check your Water Heater and plumbing lines for leaks. RVPandA Pro Tip: Wait 10 minutes to see if you hear a surge. If you hear a surge – there is a high probability that there’s a leak!
- Drain ALL Water (unless you’re about to go camping!) find your low drains and drain everything until empty
- Clean and Sanitize your Fresh Water Tank
Other Items to Check Before YOU Hit the Road!
- Check the Battery: If you removed the battery in your Motorhome during winterization, now is the time to reinstall it. Check the battery for any signs of damage or corrosion and charge it if necessary.
- Test the Appliances: Power up and test your appliances - including the stove, oven, fridge, washer/dryer, and air conditioner(s), to make sure they are in good working order.
- Check the tires: Finally, check the RV's tires for proper inflation and any signs of damage or wear. It's also a good idea to check the brakes and wheel bearings before hitting the road.
We hope this article and accompanying video from Kunes RV have been useful in preparing you for your upcoming camping adventures!
RV PandA makes RV living easy, so you can
enjoy more of the great outdoors!
Shop now for all of your favorite RV Parts and Accessories at RVPandA.com and enjoy FREE Shipping on orders over $100!*
*Please note: some exclusions apply for ‘free shipping’. Products weighing over 70 pounds and/or oversized packages do not qualify for FREE shipping. For a shipping estimate for oversized or overweight items, please contact us at traveling@rvpanda.com and include the product title and part number (as applicable), and the zip code where you'd like it shipped to in the email so we can provide a shipping estimate.
Do you have a suggestion for the folks at RV PandA for a future blog? Let them know by emailing traveling@rvpanda.com