Page 31 Fall Home & Garden | September 2023 Lincoln Daily News With winter approaching it’s time to think about storing and winterizing your RV, motorcycle, and lawnmower. Winter can be especially hard on RVs, both new and used. There are lots of areas for water and moisture to hide as well as lots of plumbing. Here are some tips and tricks to get your RV as ready as it can be for winter storage. When you properly winterize your RV, you’ll be ready for adventure as soon as spring comes around. 1. Drain and flush the tanks You can’t let water sit in your RV all winter. The tanks can freeze and cause a host of issues. You’ll need to drain and clean both the black water tank and the gray water tank. The black tank will need a special enzyme cleaner to remove any paper and sediment left. 2. Drain and flush the water heater First things first, turn off your water heater and let it cool down and release pressure. Do not attempt to service the water heater if it’s too hot or is under pressure. Next, you’ll need to hook your RV to a city water supply with the water turned off. Remove the drain plug or anode rod and open the pressure release valve allowing the water to drain out. Once all the water is drained turn the water source on and flush the sediment from the tank for a few minutes. 3. Bypass the water heater Locate the service door on the outside of the RV and line that up to where it feeds inside. Usually there is an access panel that will need to be removed. Some RVs already have a bypass installed. Check to see if yours does before adding any antifreeze to your RV. 4. Drain the freshwater tanks and low point drains Remove the drain plug from the tank, making sure the water pressure is off. You can open the faucets to help the flow. When drained, close the faucets and drains. 5. Locate the water pump Once you’ve located your pump attach the hose to siphon. Some RVs are already equipped with a siphoning hose. Place the hose in a gallon of antifreeze and open the valve. This will allow the antifreeze to flow through the water system. 6. Open the external faucets and valves on the outside of the RV Starting with the lowest drain open all the valves and drains to allow the water to run out. Keep them open until the water turns pink from the antifreeze. Close the valves and tighten the plugs. You should be sure to also turn on any outside showers or faucets running them until the water is pink. 7. Open internal faucets, shower, and toilets Repeat the process listed in step 6 for all the faucets inside as well as the shower and toilets. Start by running one side of the faucet (hot or cold) then turn it off and run the other side. Run until the water is pink. Continued --
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