Top 5 Tips for Winterizing your RV
If You’re Not Using Your RV, Then You Need To Winterize It.
RVing is becoming an increasingly popular vacation accommodation choice for travelers all year long. It’s not just for summer cross-country trips anymore! Whether you’re looking to RV full-time or want to rent out your RV when you’re not using it, making sure your RV is ready for cold-weather conditions is essential to keeping it well-maintained. Ensure your RV is winter-ready and that your renters have a great RV trip with these winterization tips!
Keep Up With Maintenance and inspection
Properly winterizing your RV starts with a full inspection and performing regular maintenance all year long. Notable items to check for include batteries, heaters, and tires. Batteries that aren’t fully charged tend to drain quickly and are more likely to freeze in cold temperatures. Run your RV’s heaters and furnace to make sure they are working correctly—before you’re in the middle of a snowstorm. Clean the vents with compressed air to keep dust from blocking heat from getting into your camper and prevent potential fire hazards. Ensure your RV’s tires are rated for icy conditions and check the tire pressure before allowing your RV to hit the road.
Check The Levels Of Insulation
Insulating your RV is one of the best (and least expensive) ways to keep your RV heated throughout the winter. Adding foam insulation panels in addition to the pre-installed insulation will save you money on heating costs and keep your RV warm and cozy throughout the winter, wherever your RV adventures take you! Many styles of RV insulation like foam and fiberglass panels can be kept on all year long. Use foam insulation around vents to make sure hot air doesn’t escape. Consider adding a reflective film or foil to single-pane windows, for added insulation to keep cold air out. You may also want to consider adding foam board flooring, which will help prevent cold air from rising underneath your RV and into the living space.
Protect the Sealing
Along with insulation, properly sealing your RV is another inexpensive way to save on heating costs and ensure a warm RV throughout the winter. Check areas where cold drafts are likely to accumulate, like window and door frames. Use weatherstripping material around these areas to seal them off and prevent cold air from entering the RV. Fill any cracks or spaces with caulking that is designed for cold weather for added protection. If you already installed weatherstripping materials, check to make sure they aren’t damaged or broken. Damaged material is useless and won’t do the job.
Another popular method of sealing up your RV is to “skirt” the bottom of it with plastic panels. Windy drafts that make their way under your RV can wreak havoc on your pipes and water tanks, so preventing air from getting underneath your RV is your best mode of defense. Plus, preventing cold air from getting underneath your RV will keep the inside warmer as well.
Assure The Plumbing Doesn’t Freeze
One of the most important tasks when winterizing your RV is to make sure your plumbing is ready for freezing temperatures. Run antifreeze through all of your holding tanks and keep extra on hand just in case. Use a windshield wiper fluid that’s specially designed for cold weather to prevent the lines from freezing. Also, be sure to note the location of your water tanks. If your water tanks aren’t located in a heated compartment, they’ll be more susceptible to freezing and will make for costly repairs. You can prevent water lines from freezing within the living space of your RV by leaving rooms with water lines open so that the RV’s heater can help warm up the room. Use self-regulating heat tape on water line connections to prevent freezing as well. Drain and clean all water tanks before the winter to prevent standing water from freezing over. This goes for wastewater as well—alternate between hooking up to an RV resort’s sewer line and disconnecting it to prevent wastewater from freezing. Consider using your RV’s internal water tank as the primary water source so you can avoid damage to your freshwater hose and properly store it.
Add Some Seasonal Touches
Make your RV inviting for renters and add an extra “wow factor” by adding some seasonal touches that will make their winter RV trip more comfortable. Provide plenty of warm and cozy blankets and some electric ones for extra heat. Install insulated curtains over the windows, which will help keep heat in the RV. Large area rugs will also help prevent cold air from rising into the living space and will keep your renter’s feet warm on chilly mornings. Provide exceptional amenities like a hot chocolate station and decorate the RV with seasonal decor for an added touch of hospitality.
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