My guess is that most RV owners, especially those in cold climates, refer to winter storage as "winterizing" the RV. When the average RVer hears this term, the first thought that comes to mind is to protect the RV water system from the damage that freezing temperatures can cause. Frozen and damaged water lines are in fact the most common problem related to not winterizing your RV, but there is more to winterizing your RV than just protecting the water system from freezing.

The definition of "winterize" is to prepare something, especially a house or an automobile, to withstand cold conditions. What I find interesting about this definition is that your RV is essentially a house and an automobile combined. Therefore, winterizing your RV entails more than just preparing the water system for cold weather. We need to be concerned with preparing the RV's interior, exterior, chassis, and plumbing for the harsh winter months too. Let's take a closer look at each of those areas.

Interiors
When RVs are stored for the winter, it's not uncommon for mice and squirrels to make their winter home in them. These animals are notorious for chewing through a vehicle's wiring, plastic, and rubber, causing extensive damage to the RV. Possibly the most important step is to keep rodents out in the first place. This can be difficult because they can enter the RV through some very small openings. Start by inspecting the underside of your RV for any gaps or holes. Fill these gaps using silicone or expanding foam.

A word of caution, if you never used expanding foam before you should experiment with it on something other than your RV first. When it dries it can expand a great deal more than you expect.

Next, open drawers and cabinet doors inside your RV. Look in all of the corners and crevices, especially where plumbing and wiring enter the RV. If you can see any daylight, mice can get in there. Fill these gaps with silicone or foam.

Remove all food from the RV when it's being stored and thoroughly clean the RV to remove any remnants of food that might attract mice and other rodents. If you don't mind the smell of mothballs, scatter them throughout areas of the RV. Other people say an alternative to mothballs are dryer sheets such as Bounce. I have talked to people who swear they work, and the smell is much more pleasant. If you live conveniently close to where your RV will be stored, you may want to use conventional mousetraps and check for mice every week or so.

You should defrost the freezer compartment and clean the refrigerator. Leave the doors open, and place baking soda in the compartments to absorb any odors. If the RV is in long-term storage and won't be plugged into electricity, it's a good idea to turn off the main breaker and unplug the appliances.

Turn all LP gas appliances off, and turn the LP gas supply valve off. Close the window blinds to avoid sun exposure to the carpet, drapes, and upholstery. If you have vent covers installed on the overhead vents to keep rain out, leave them cracked open for ventilation.