As freezing temperatures approach, ideally you should store your trailer in a heated environment, away from the cold and bad weather. But if this isn’t possible, it’s essential that you protect your trailer’s plumbing system from freezing to avoid costly breakdowns. Any damages caused by weather conditions are not under warranty.
Here’s a little advice on how to winterize your trailer’s pipes.
Preparing the plumbing
For this step, you’ll need about 9 cups (the quantity may vary from one model to the next) of RV antifreeze.
- Drain the fresh water and wastewater tanks and leave the valves open.
- Turn the bypass valves to “bypass.”
- Drain the water heater.
- If your trailer has a water filtration system, remove the filter. You’ll replace it in the spring.
- Use an adaptor to connect an air hose from the compressor to the city water intake.
- Set the pressure to 30 pounds of air and blow into the pipes. Open all the taps one at a time (showerhead, outdoor shower, toilet, etc.). Let them flow till the last drop.
- Connect the container of antifreeze to the trailer’s water pump, then start the pump and run the taps, shower, outdoor shower and toilet until antifreeze starts running out of them. Shut off the water pump.
- Pour about 1 cup of antifreeze into each drain.
- Set the valves on the water heater and water pump back to their normal position.
- Remove the drain plug for the winter and close the wastewater traps.
For more details, refer to the User’s Manual for your Prolite trailer.
Winterizing a cassette toilet
If your Prolite trailer has a toilet, do the following:
- Empty the black water tank.
- Drain the water tank at the toilet, if this applies to your model of trailer.
- Remove the transparent hose, then reattach it once empty, if this applies to your model of trailer.
- Add about three cups of antifreeze to the plumbing in the tank, if this applies to your model of trailer.
- Flush the toilet and pour in about one cup of antifreeze.
For more details, refer to the User’s Manual for your Prolite trailer.
If you have any doubts, call in a professional
If you have no experience with winterizing a trailer, we recommend that you avoid any problems by giving the task over to a professional. Unless the proper equipment is used to apply the right air pressure in the pipes, damage may occur when everything thaws, and repairs will cost much more than calling an expert in the first place!
Opening up your trailer in the spring
Once you’ve prepared your trailer for winter, it’s important that you not use the various components of the plumbing system. In the spring, rinse and disinfect the pipes before you take off on your new adventures.