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Winterizing your RV’s plumbing involves draining the water system and protecting the remaining lines, fixtures, and drains from freezing. This guide combines a compressed-air blowout with RV antifreeze, but your water heater and other appliances may require separate procedures. Follow your RV and component manuals before starting—especially if you have a tankless water heater.
Gather the following:
Never use automotive antifreeze in your RV’s plumbing. Purchase enough RV antifreeze for your plumbing layout and follow its temperature-protection and application instructions.
Disconnect the city water supply and turn off the water pump.
Turn off all water-heater energy sources, including electric and propane modes where equipped. Allow the water to cool completely, then open a faucet to relieve system pressure.
Never remove a water-heater drain plug or anode rod while the heater is hot or pressurized.
Keep the water heater off throughout winterization and storage.
Locate the fresh water tank drain and the hot- and cold-water low-point drains. Their positions vary by model; check your owner’s manual rather than assuming they are beside the water heater.
Open the drains and the hot and cold sides of faucets to let water escape. Include exterior faucets and showers.
For a conventional tank-style water heater, drain it using the manufacturer’s procedure. A tankless heater requires its own winterization instructions; do not assume it can be drained, bypassed, or treated with antifreeze the same way as a tank-style unit.
Empty the gray and black holding tanks at an approved dump station.
Remove or bypass water-filter cartridges as instructed, and drain the filter housings.
For a tank-style water heater with a bypass, place the valves in the documented bypass configuration before introducing antifreeze. Valve arrangements differ, so “on” does not universally mean “bypass.”
Follow the specific procedure for a tankless heater before blowing out or filling the plumbing. Some models must be isolated from compressed air and antifreeze.
Locate the water pump and winterizing pickup connection using your RV’s documentation. Avoid running the pump simply to find it after the system has been drained.
Reinstall low-point drain caps or close the valves as directed for the blowout procedure. Attach the blowout adapter to the city water inlet.
Set the regulated air pressure to no more than 30 psi, or a lower limit specified by your equipment manufacturer. Do not connect unregulated compressor pressure to the plumbing.
Maintain an open outlet while supplying air. Work through the fixtures one at a time:
Continue until water stops discharging, then shut off and disconnect the air supply before changing connections.
If equipped, the black tank flush needs a separate winterization procedure through its own connection. Blowing air through the city water inlet does not clear that circuit.
Confirm that the water heater and filters are configured correctly for antifreeze winterization.
Connect the winterizing pickup tube to the water pump’s suction-side winterizing connection, following your RV’s instructions. Place the tube into the antifreeze container and set the appropriate valves.
Turn on the pump. Open each cold-water faucet until undiluted antifreeze appears, then repeat for the hot-water side. Include exterior fixtures and flush each toilet until antifreeze reaches it.
Keep the pickup tube submerged and replace containers before they run empty. Once all applicable fixtures are protected, turn off the pump and close the faucets.
Add RV antifreeze to sink and shower drains to protect their traps, using the amount specified in your RV’s instructions. Treat toilet seals as directed by the toilet manufacturer.
Check equipment that needs additional attention:
Follow each appliance’s winterization instructions. Do not assume antifreeze belongs in every appliance or that opening nearby faucets protects its internal components. Keystone’s antifreeze instructions identify filters, drain traps, toilets, and washer connections as additional winterization points. Keystone RV
Check that the water pump and water heater remain off. Return drain plugs, caps, and valves to the storage positions specified in the applicable manuals.
Record the bypass and winterizing valve positions so you can restore them correctly in spring. Flush and sanitize the fresh water system before returning it to use.
This process addresses plumbing freeze protection. Batteries, appliances, tires, and other RV systems require their own storage preparation.
Contact your Keystone dealer if you need help completing your RV’s winterization.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is deemed to be true and accurate at the time of publication. However, due to the evolving nature of our products and services, there may be changes or updates that occur after this article was published. We encourage users to verify the contents and consult with their dealer or Keystone RV for the most current information. If you have any questions or require further clarification, please do not hesitate to contact your dealer or reach out to Keystone RV directly.