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Winter weather is hard on your home and recreational vehicles. The cold temperatures increase the risk of freezing, which can wreak havoc on your fuel, plumbing and heating systems. Learning how to winterize a camper, home and boat is an easy way to stay safe and protect your investments.
How to Winterize a Camper
During the winter, low temperatures can freeze the water that’s left in your RV lines, tanks, drains or appliances. Winterization protects key systems, so your camper is ready to hit the road in the spring.
Here’s how to winterize an RV:
- Disconnect water, electricity and gas.
- Repair holes and cracks to keep out mice and small animals.
- Open faucets, shower, toilet and low-point drains to remove water.
- Drain the water heater and refrigerator.
- Blow out your water system with an air compressor and blow-out adapter.
- Empty any water tanks.
- Defrost the refrigerator and leave it open.
- Add non-toxic RV antifreeze to the water system. (Refer to manual for specifics.)
- Clean the interior, exterior, awnings and slide-outs.
- Remove any batteries.
- Add fuel stabilizer to the gas tank.
- Make sure engine fluids are full.
- Replace wiper fluid with a winter formula.
Every RV is different, so make sure to check your owner’s manual to find out how to winterize a camper safely.
How to Winterize a House
Winterizing your house helps prevent weather damage and improves energy efficiency, so you can stay warm and lower your heating bills.
Use these steps to winterize your home:
- Seal leaks around doors, windows, vents, baseboards and outlets.
- Use weatherstripping and door sweeps to block cold air.
- Check the roof and insulation for damage.
- Inspect your furnace and HVAC system.
- Check your water heater for damage and leaks.
- Open all HVAC vents in your house.
- Insulate exposed water pipes.
- Replace air filters.
- Switch your thermostat to winter programming.
- Reverse the direction of your ceiling fans.
- Drain and disconnect hoses, and insulate outdoor spigots.
- Clean the gutters.
- Trim your trees and shrubs.
- Test smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors.
- Stock up on shovels, ice melt, flashlights and blankets.
If it’s been a few years since you last checked your ducts and furnace, consider scheduling an inspection, cleaning and tune-up. Preventive maintenance can help you avoid expensive repairs and breakdowns during the coldest months.
How to Winterize a Boat
Boat winterizations help remove water, protect your fuel system and prevent cold-weather battery drain.
Use these steps to get the boat ready for storage:
- Drain water from the plumbing system, bilge, washdown, live wells, motor and/or engine.
- Pour marine fuel stabilizer into the gas tank, and run the engine for a few minutes.
- Circulate antifreeze through your plumbing system.
- Fog the engine to prevent corrosion (check manual for process).
- Disconnect and remove batteries.
- Change fuel and oil filters.
- Clean the interior and exterior thoroughly.
- Cover the boat.
Keep in mind that your boat may require specific winterization steps. For example, engines with a closed-loop cooling system may need antifreeze. Read the owner’s manual for recommendations.
Cold weather can cause all kinds of problems in your home and vehicles, from frozen pipes to broken heating systems. When you know how to winterize a camper, boat and RV, you can enjoy the winter with peace of mind.
