For those of us who live in the Northeast, it’s been a pretty long winter and it’s finally here – that glorious time of the year when we break out the buckets, clean the cobwebs and open the camper for the season!
So since your camper was winterized before the snow started to fly, it stands to reason that once you’re ready to take it out in the spring you’ll need to de-winterize. It’s really pretty simple – you just winterize in reverse.
The first step is to check your hot water heater. The plug should be out, so the first step to de-winterizing is to replace the hot water heater plug. Something else you’ll want to check for is Spiders. Spiders LOVE to hang out near the hot water heater over the winter. They build their little spider nests and make quite a mess. If you grab a can of compressed air that should sufficiently eradicate the creepy crawlers.
Next step is to un-bypass the hot water heater. Turn the valve so water can run into the system – but don’t turn the hot water heater on just yet.
Now it’s time for the water. First open the fresh water drains under your camper. Get the hose out and fill the clean drinking water into the potable water tank.
You’ll want to run the water until it runs clear out of the bottom drain. Run it for a few minutes just to make sure all the anti freeze is gone.
You can also attempt to get the air out of the lines while you’re pumping water into the system. Just go inside the camper and turn on the faucets. They will spit for a bit but will eventually run freely.
Now that you’re water system is operational again, its time to do some cleaning. Start with the awning. If your RV has sat outside over the winter, there is a good possibility that the awning could be mildewed. You’ll want to take a gentle cleaning agent to so not to injure the awning – NO BLEACH! Vinegar and water will clean just about any mildew!
You’ll also want to check the propane tanks and make sure they are filled. It is not a good time to set up camp only to find out that the propane is empty and then you have to make a propane run. Check before you go!
One more thing to check before you move your camper very far are the tires. Check for air pressure, tread depth and any kind of damage. Trust me, changing an RV tire on the interstate is no fun, so it’s better to do it at home.
Give the rest of the camper a good dust and sweep, wipe down the refrigerator and stove and spruce up the sheets and you’re all set to see the world for another summer. Enjoy!
