5 Tips for Winterizing Your RV for Storage
If you own an RV, now is the time to get it ready for the colder months ahead. Winter is coming up quickly. Our team at StorPlace of Stones River in Murfreesboro, TN, knows how important it is to winterize your RV to keep it safe from the elements and in great shape for the next season's trips. Properly preparing your RV during the winter can help prevent your vehicle from rusting or busting a pipe during the winter, which can cause expensive repairs in the future. In this blog, we'll discuss how to winterize your RV for storage, why it's important, and what can go wrong if you don't do it right.
How To Prepare Your RV For The Winter Season
You need to take a few steps to protect your RV this Winter:
1. Turn Off the Water in Your RV
Make sure you go Inside your RV's water system and drain any water that may be pressurized in the line. When water freezes, lines can break, tanks can get damaged, and repairs can cost a lot of money. First, empty the fresh water, gray water (from the sink and shower), and black water (from the toilet) tanks all the way. After you clear out the drains, make sure you turn off your water heater and pump inside your RV. We recommend using an air compressor covered by a towel to blow out any water still in it. Last, RV antifreeze is added to the pipes and run through the taps, showers, and toilets until the colored fluid emerges. This will keep any water that is still there from freezing.
2. Consider Covering Your RV
The exterior of your RV is just as likely to get damaged as your plumbing. Check the roof, windows, doors, and walls carefully for any holes or cracks that water could get through. Fill in any gaps with a sealant so they are completely covered. After you've covered your RV, protect it from snow, ice, and UV damage with a high-quality cover that lets air flow. A tight-fitting cover will also keep the cover from flapping in the wind, which could scratch the RV's surface.
3. Prepare The Inside Of Your RV
To keep mold, mildew, and pests from growing inside your RV over the winter, ensure the inside is properly prepared. First, clean the inside well, getting into all the cabinets and boxes. Throw out any food that is perishable. Clean out the fridge completely and unplug it. Leave the door open to prevent moisture from being trapped in your fridge. If you have pillows and blankets, you should store these inside the RV in a cabinet space. Lastly, make sure that any openings on the RV are shut or sealed off, like doors, windows, or vents. This prevents the likelihood of your RV being used as a shelter for animals during the winter.
4. Maintain Car Tires And Batteries
If you don't take care of the battery and tires while your RV is stored away, you might have problems when you want to use it again. You have multiple ways of taking care of a battery. You could put it on a battery maintainer or store it in a cool, nonhumid environment. If you opt out of a battery maintainer, check on it and charge it as needed to keep it in good shape.
For tires, make sure that you inflate them to the correct tire pressure. If you do not know what that would be, check out your vehicle's door to see what it should be. If your tires are flat, your tires could develop flat spots due to the lack of air. If you want to take all the steps you can to keep your tires in good condition, you might want to invest in circular ramps so your tires keep their shape.
5. Put In Fuel Stabilizer
Another overlooked maintenance item is your RV's fuel. If you leave fuel in your RV's tank for too long, it can break down and hurt the engine when you start it up again. The bad fuel could possibly throw a check engine code. To keep this from happening, put a fuel stabilizer in the gas tank before storing the RV for months. After adding the stabilizer, let the engine run for a few minutes so that the stabilizer can do its magic. When you cycle the fuel, it ensures that it remains in good condition while away.
StorPlace Self Storage RV Storage
Properly maintaining your RV ensures that all of its internal systems remain in top condition. You can take care of your RV this winter by turning off the water, covering it, preparing the inside, maintaining the battery and tires, and finally, putting in a fuel stabilizer.
At StorPlace of Stones River in Murfreesboro, TN, we have the best RV storage to keep your investment safe. Visit us at 310 N Thompson Ln, Murfreesboro, TN 37129, to learn more about our RV storage choices and how we can help keep your RV safe this winter.
