Springtime is here. Flowers are blooming, grass is greening up, leaves are filling out the once barren trees, and for RV owners, the springtime maintenance ritual begins. As with all things mechanical, and even out own homes, springtime is a point of preventative maintenance, and corrective action for problems. With the average US household reporting just 4,268 driven miles on their RV’s travel trailers, and Motorhomes per year, your springtime maintenance ritual should also include maintenance to the mechanical systems in addition to the interior and exterior structures and components. You probably have your own version of a Springtime RV maintenance ritual, but we figured we should give a refresher on some of the most important tips:
Water and Plumbing Systems In The RV
Antifreeze removal- After sitting in the yard all winter or even if it was in storage, the water system needs to be de-winterized by flushing out any antifreeze additives, checked for leaks and sanitized. You need to run fresh water through the entire system until all traces of the antifreeze are removed. Hopefully no antifreeze was added to the fresh water holding tank. If it was, the first step is to drain any remnants from the fresh water tank. Add potable water to the fresh water holding tank, turn the water pump on and open all of the water faucets. When the water is running clear through the system turn the pump off and close the faucets.
RV Water Heater– Next, take the water heater out of the by-pass mode. If you discover that the water heater wasn’t bypassed before winterizing the RV, the antifreeze needs to be drained from the water heater tank. Replace any water filter cartridges you removed for storage.
RV Plumbing System inspection- Water leaks are like cancer to an RV. Take this opportunity to check the plumbing for leaks. Fill the fresh water holding tank and turn the 12-volt water pump on and pressurize the water system until the pump shuts off. If the water pump cycles back on, even for a short period of time, there is a leak somewhere. Locate the leak and fix it yourself , or you could always take t to an RV repair shop like ours to have it done.
Sanitize The Water Pump- Make sure all of the drains are closed and drain plugs are installed. Take a quarter-cup of household bleach for every fifteen gallons of water your fresh water tank holds. Mix the bleach with water into a one-gallon container and pour the solution into to the fresh water tank fill. Now fill the fresh water holding tank with potable water. Turn the water pump on and run water through all hot and cold faucets until you smell the bleach. Close the faucets and let it sit for twelve hours. Drain all of the water and re-fill the tank with potable water. Turn the water pump on and open all faucets, running the water until you no longer smell any bleach. It may be necessary to repeat this process to eliminate all signs of bleach.
RV Batteries and Electrical systems
RV Batteries- spring checks should always include a test of the with the batteries since it’s possible you removed them for winter storage. Battery health and condition are dependent on how well they were cared for over the winter. Batteries in storage will lose a percentage of current through internal leakage. It’s not uncommon for a battery to discharge up to 10% a month when it is in storage. If you checked and recharged the batteries periodically while in storage they should be ready to go. If not, the first step is to fully charge the batteries
Generator maintenance- Like any small engine, your generator requires an oil change and filter change about every 100 hours of use.
Electrical connections test. A dormant RV makes a great winter spot for critters who could have done some damage to your electrical. Before hitting the road, give a visual inspection of any electrical that you can see from under the RV or in the cargo or utility areas and check for rodent damage. Net check all outlets, switches slideout motors etc for proper function. Check the fuse panel first if there re any malfunctions and if so, consider having the electrical system fully checked out by an RV repair facility.
Perform an Air Conditioning Unit Maintenance- To make sure your AC system is flowing freely, clean the coils (typically accessed via the roof) and the inside air filter. Check for any nests or other critter or insect homes in this area as they are notorious for causing damage.
Check the Tires. Probably the number one reason for RV crashes are tire problems. We have written quite a few pieces on that. Be sure to check tires for dry rot, and ensure that lug nuts are screwed in tightly. Then fill tires to the recommended air pressure. If it has been a while, you might want to consider a bearing repack especially if you have a fifth wheel or travel trailer. Also inspect your trailer brakes and electrical connectors.
Inspect and re-caulk the roof. As unpleasant as it is, nothing will kill your Rv quicer than a leaky roof. Get up there, recaulk all seams and check to see if you might be do for a re-sealing.
Check over The LP Gas System. If your RV uses any propane gas, make sure there are no leaks. Check that all gas appliances are working, and get the pilot light going in the oven. Some RV refrigerators can run on gas mode check that this setup is working properly. After checking the refrigerator in the LP gas mode, turn it off and with the doors open allow sufficient time for it to return to room temperature before checking it in the electric mode.
Thoroughly Inspect the RV’s Exterior, including awnings, window seals, outside compartments and access doors, checking for water tightness and cleanliness. Remove any mildew or mold, and thoroughly clean your whole RV.
Perform a compete fluids, belts and hoses check and flush or top off all fluids such as radiator, brake, power steering, and transmission fluid.
Towing equipment inspection- If you tow an additional vehicle with your RV, take time in the spring to check towing lights, as well as the hitch. Make sure all signaling systems are working properly before you hit the road.
Taking a weekend or two this spring to go through this list will practically guarantee a fun, and maintenance free RV and camping season.