How to Winterize Your RV With Air AND Antifreeze Step-by-Step, by Pursuing One Day on YouTube. 9 min 31 s.
- Video length
- 9 min 31 s
- Time to do it
- 1 to 2 hours
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Drain the black and gray tanks at a dump station, then open the fresh water tank drain and the low point drains. Let everything empty completely.
Open every faucet, the shower and the toilet flush valve so air and water can escape. Remove any inline water filter cartridge first.
Screw the blow out plug onto the city water inlet and set the compressor to about 30 to 40 psi. Open one fixture at a time until only air comes out.
Bypass the water heater before any antifreeze goes in. Close the bypass valves, pull the drain plug or anode rod, and let the tank empty outside.
Use a pump converter kit or the RV's own pump to draw RV antifreeze from the jug. Open each hot and cold tap until pink fluid runs.
Flush the toilet until pink antifreeze reaches the bowl, then pour a cup down each sink and shower drain to protect the P traps.
Pour antifreeze into the shower sump or sump pump reservoir so the pump sits in pink fluid rather than trapped water.
Disconnect and remove the house batteries. Store them fully charged, above freezing, and top them up about once a month.
Tips and common mistakes
Never use automotive antifreeze in the plumbing, only non toxic pink RV antifreeze.
Keep the compressor below 50 psi so you do not crack fittings or lines.
Leave all faucets open and label the rig as winterized so nobody runs the pump.
Check your water heater manual for the correct bypass and drain order for your model.
Questions
Do I need both compressed air and antifreeze?
Air pushes most of the water out and antifreeze protects whatever is left in the lines and traps. Using both is the safest approach, though some owners use just one.
How much RV antifreeze will I need?
Plan on roughly two to three gallons for a typical travel trailer. The exact amount depends on how many fixtures, drains and lines you have.
Can I skip the water heater bypass?
No. Without the bypass, antifreeze fills the water heater tank and you waste gallons of it. Bypass and drain the heater first, then protect the rest of the system.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
