Surviving the Winter in your RV
There are many owners who prefer to either store their RV when it gets cold out or choose to spend most of their time camping in warmer climates. While this can be a great alternative to trying to battle cold weather, there are a lot of advantages to traveling when it’s cold, and even snowy, out. There are a lot of great outdoor activities you can take advantage of when there’s snow on the ground, like snowmobiling and snowboarding, and many campsites will have lots of open spots as fewer people travel in the winter. Not to mention, lots of people choose their travel trailer's as primary homes, and not all can afford to move away when the seasons change.
If you’re one of these people, you’ll want to make sure you’re taking some extra steps to prepare your RV for cold temperatures. Sumner RV has provided a few of the most essential tips, but you’ll also want to make sure you’re taking your RV in for regular maintenance checks. When that time comes, schedule a service appointment at one of our locations in Sumner and Bremerton, Washington. We also welcome RV owners from the areas of Silverdale, Seattle, Bremerton, Olympia, Kent, Renton, and Tacoma, Washington.
Adding Insulation
Most RVs come with enough insulation to get you by, but you’ll want to take it up a notch for when temperatures drop below freezing. There are a number of ways you can do this. You can add window film to all the windows to prevent cold air from transferring through them, and you can upgrade to heavier drapes to keep the interior warm. Reflectix Bubble Foil is also a great way to add extra insulation in areas you think might be letting cold air enter your RV, like around the windows.
On the bottom of your RV, consider adding foam board insulation to protect your water system. Using a skirt is also a great way to keep cold air out from under your RV, just remember to leave all exhaust vents and the tailpipe uncovered and clear of snow. Moving up, you’ll want to look for places where hot air might easily escape. As we’ll discuss later, ventilation is still essential for RVing in the winter, but your vents can also be a place where hot air rises up and out of the rig. Consider lining your vents with foam to prevent this.
Extra Heat Sources
Even with more insulation, you may need to look for additional heat sources from inside your RV. There are smaller machines that you can easily move around and store, like a space heater. And while LED lights may be brighter and more efficient, you may want to switch back to incandescent bulbs as they give off more heat.
If you want to really step up your heating game, you can have special heating systems installed. This may be a propane heater of some kind that you can hook up to the furnace, or you may prefer a pellet stove for efficiency and less moisture.
Don’t Forget to Ventilate
Speaking of moisture, don’t close off your vents, even if they’re letting cold air in and hot air out. Not only do you need fresh air to breathe, but moisture that accumulates in the RV needs an outlet so leave your vents open. If you need other ways to remove moisture, consider investing in a dehumidifier.
Protecting your Plumbing
A common concern among RV owners who camp when temperatures are below freezing is how to keep your plumbing and water system from freezing. You’ll want to know when you’ll need additional supplies, and when you’ll just need to be making some smarter choices. For example, heat strips are a great way to keep the water in your hoses from freezing over, especially if they’re more exposed to the elements, but you’ll also want to keep in mind where a pipe might run behind a cupboard or access panel so you can leave those open to the RV’s interior heat. Consider insulating your waste valve when it’s at risk, but also keep it closed when you’re not using it. If your freshwater tank is located in a warm area, you might want to use it as a primary water source. If you need to store a hose for any reason, make sure there’s no water in it, or it will freeze.
Just because RVing in the winter requires a little more work, doesn’t mean you should avoid it altogether. There can be a lot of great ways to enjoy the cold weather, even when the snow starts to fall, so don’t miss any opportunity to do so. If you’re still looking for the perfect RV, then stop by Sumner RV in Sumner and Poulsbo, Washington. We proudly serve the communities of Silverdale, Seattle, Bremerton, Olympia, Kent, Renton, and Tacoma, Washington.