Seasonal Rv Maintenance

Once the summer season wraps up, it is highly recommended that anyone with an RV

does a few simple maintenance steps before stowing it away for the winter. Flushing the water system and inspecting the electrical and safety systems are great places to start. When it comes time to bring your home away from home back out for more fun, be sure to perform these inspections again to ensure that nothing changed while sitting in storage.

When flushing the plumbing out, be sure you are doing so over the proper drainage places. Anything containing waste or chemicals should be dumped in a specified drain. Plain water can be let out anywhere. You might avoid dirt you will walk in, it will make a disaster! A compressor can help you eliminate water from the traps by forcing air through the pipes and moving the water through. Read your RV manual on the subject for specific instructions on your model. If temperatures will dip below freezing in your climate, follow instructions for circulating antifreeze throughout your plumbing system and then pour a cup of non-toxic antifreeze down your drains and a couple in your toilet and flush. This antifreeze is available at RV accessory stores. This will prevent your lines from freezing. Be sure to close up any faucets that are open.

It is vital to keep your electrical system in tip top shape. RV fires are very common and when one starts, it generally consumes the entire rig. Regular check ups can save your life or the life of your RV. Know if yours runs on AC or DC batteries...or both. Sometimes certain appliances will run on one kind and plugs will run on another. Find them, know where they are if you need to locate them in the dark, and inspect them for leaks and corrosion. Be sure to protect yourself against the possibility of harsh chemicals that may come out of these batteries. Clean the terminals very well or replace old ones that look dangerous. Know where your circuit breaker panel is, what is fed to it and have extra fuses available in case of power surges that blow them out. External power surge protectors are a very nice way to shield yourself against the peaks and valleys of RV park power. Inspect your electrical cords for cracks, stickiness, splintering, etc. Any of these can spark a fire. Replace them as needed. Check the plugs for solid prongs, any that are broken should not be used. Remove excess dust and spider webs, especially from behind the refrigerator. Test all of your appliances and check for mud wasps. They are attracted to propane and may make a nest by it. Test all ventilation fans, light switches, air conditioning and furnace. Keep in mind that not all items can be run at the same time. RVs will only be able to handle the amount of amps they were built to max out at. Know what your limit is.

Hand in hand with checking the electrical is looking at your safety equipment. Doing routine checks on fire alarms, Co2 detectors, and propane will make your trip a safer one. Replace batteries each trip as a precaution, even if you know that there is plenty of juice in them. Being proactive is much better than having to be reactive. One item that tends to get overlooked is the fire extinguisher. If you dont have any, get some. If you do, know where they are. Inspect them before each trip out and when you stow your vehicle away. Look for corroded bottles, missing pins, or liquid leaking out. Give them a good shake to unsettle the contents.

Taking these simple steps will help eliminate crisis situations while you are out in the wild or just bringing the Beast out of hibernation. A few hours of preparation could save you days of headache and a lot of money in repairs. Happy camping! For more information about RV trailers and RV Dealers, theres great information online.

by: Bill Weston RV

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