How Do I De-Winterize My Trailer for Camping?
Please take a moment to watch the video below for step-by-step guidance, or follow the step-by-step written directions.
If you need additional help, our After Sales team at Escape Trailer will be happy to assist you. You can submit a support ticket using this form.
How to De-Winterize Your Trailer
- Open the hot water tank access area.
- In the 19-foot trailer, this is near the bed.
- Use the struts to hold the access panel open.
- Find the two hot water tank bypass valves.
- There is one valve on the hot-water side and one on the cold-water side.
- When the valves are facing each other, the tank is bypassed and water cannot enter or leave the tank.
- Put both valves back into normal operation.
- Turn each valve so it is in line with the direction of water flow.
- You can open either the hot or cold valve first.
- A little water-flowing or swooshing sound is normal—it means water is filling the lines.
- Turn on the water pump.
- Go to the tank/control panel above the cooktop.
- Turn on the water pump.
- Open the faucets/taps.
- Open the taps to let air escape from the water lines.
- This will fill the hot water tank with water and remove air from the system.
- If you used RV antifreeze to winterize the trailer, running the water will also flush the antifreeze out of the water lines.
- Continue running the water until the system is primed.
- Let the taps run until the air is gone and you have a steady flow of water.
- Check the toilet water connection.
- If you disconnected or closed the toilet's water-line disconnect valve during winterization, reopen it.
- On many trailers, it is near the dinette, behind the toilet, where the water line passes through the fiberglass shower.
- On a 23-foot trailer, it is behind the toilet inside the bathroom.
- Your trailer is now de-winterized and ready for camping.
Important: Don't operate the hot-water heater until you're sure the tank has filled with water. Running the heater with an empty tank can damage it.