Busted Water Heater Tanks
If the water heater is not bypassed and drained correctly, the remaining six or ten gallons of water will freeze, splitting the internal tank and requiring a total unit replacement.
Don't let freezing temperatures burst PEX lines or ruin water heaters. Camper John's provides complete seasonal blowout, antifreeze protection, and spring sanitation right at your location.
An RV is fundamentally a house on wheels, but unlike a traditional house, its plumbing runs right along the exterior shell with minimal insulation. When the temperature drops below freezing for an extended period, any water left lingering inside those pipes, appliances, and holding tanks is going to freeze and expand. That expansion creates massive pressure capable of splitting brass fittings, bursting plastic water heaters, and rupturing PEX tubing hidden deep behind your cabinetry.
The most frustrating part of winter freeze damage is that you often won't notice it until months later. Everything looks fine from the outside during the winter months. But as soon as you de-winterize in the spring, hook up a city water hose, and pressurize the system, water starts spraying uncontrollably from split lines or a cracked water heater tank. By the time you spot water pooling on your floors, extensive rot and delamination may have already begun to take hold within the flooring substrate.
In Tennessee, we experience unpredictable freeze-thaw cycles that can catch RV owners completely off guard. A mild autumn can abruptly transition into a hard freeze overnight. Many owners believe that simply draining the fresh water tank and opening the low-point drain valves will suffice. Unfortunately, gravity alone cannot remove the water trapped inside the intricate bends of the plumbing, the pump diaphragm, or the solenoid valves of modern residential refrigerators and washing machines.
Camper John's eliminates the guesswork and the risk. We provide comprehensive, professional winterization directly at your location. We utilize a highly effective two-step process—compressed air blowouts followed by non-toxic RV antifreeze flushing—to ensure every single component is fortified against freezing temperatures. Whether you need your rig locked down for the winter, or thoroughly sanitized and de-winterized for the spring season, we save you the hassle of towing and provide total peace of mind.
Failing to properly displace the water in your RV's plumbing leads to devastating and expensive damages. Here's what goes wrong.
We use a strict, thorough procedure ensuring no water is left behind to cause expensive damage.
We begin by draining your fresh water tank, black and gray holding tanks, and low-point drains. Crucially, we isolate and bypass the water heater to prevent wasting gallons of antifreeze and risking internal corrosion.
Using a regulated air compressor, we blow out the remaining water from the lines. We cycle through every faucet, shower, toilet, and appliance to force trapped water out of the system.
We pump non-toxic RV antifreeze through the plumbing until it flows consistently solid pink from every hot and cold fixture, ensuring maximum protection for traps and internal valves.
We treat the sink and shower P-traps, verify holding tank valves are secure, and provide you with clear guidance on battery maintenance and interior storage preparations for the winter.
We take the hassle out of seasonal maintenance so you can store your RV with absolute confidence.
We bring our equipment and antifreeze directly to your driveway, campground, or storage lot.
Avoid the stress of hauling your RV to a dealership just to get it prepped for the off-season.
Extensive knowledge of intricate modern RV plumbing systems and residential appliances.
We use both regulated compressed air and RV-safe antifreeze for the most reliable freeze prevention.
When the weather warms up, we can flush the antifreeze, sanitize the tanks, and get your rig ready for the road.
A typical winterization takes less than an hour, meaning minimal disruption to your schedule.
Serving 35+ Tennessee counties, ensuring professional RV care reaches you wherever you are.
Proper winterization techniques used for sensitive residential fridges, ice makers, and washing machines.
Have more questions about preparing your RV for the winter? Give us a call — we're happy to help.
Simply draining your holding tanks and opening the low-point drains is not enough to protect your RV. Water remains trapped in the lines, fittings, water pump, toilet valves, and appliances like water heaters or ice makers. When this trapped water freezes, it expands and cracks the plastic or brass components, leading to catastrophic leaks the next time you connect to city water or turn on the pump. Professional winterization ensures every drop of vulnerable water is either expelled with compressed air or displaced by non-toxic RV antifreeze, securing the entire system against hard freezes.
Skipping winterization usually results in thousands of dollars in hidden damage. The most common casualties are cracked water heaters (which often require total replacement), busted water pumps, split PEX fittings hidden behind walls or cabinetry, and cracked toilet valves. Worse, you usually won't discover this damage until spring, when you hook up the water and flood the interior of your RV. The cost of a professional winterization is a fraction of the cost of replacing just one frozen water heater.
We firmly believe in using a dual-method approach for maximum protection. First, we bypass the water heater and use regulated compressed air to blow out the majority of the water from your fresh water lines, faucets, and appliances. Then, we pump high-quality, non-toxic RV (propylene glycol) antifreeze through the system until it flows solid pink from every fixture, ensuring any remaining moisture is displaced and traps are protected. This thorough two-step process provides the highest level of freeze protection for Tennessee's unpredictable winters.
A standard winterization for most travel trailers and fifth wheels typically takes about 45 minutes to an hour. For larger motorhomes with residential appliances, ice makers, washing machines, or hydronic heating systems (like Aqua-Hot), it can take slightly longer to ensure all secondary lines are properly cleared and treated. We work efficiently on-site, allowing you to relax while we handle the heavy lifting without the hassle of a service center wait.
In Tennessee, we generally recommend scheduling your winterization between late October and mid-November, before the first significant overnight freeze hits. Weather can be unpredictable, and an early cold snap can cause damage if you're caught off guard. It's always best to be proactive. If you plan to camp later into the fall, keep an eye on the forecast and call us before temperatures dip below 32°F for an extended period.
Absolutely. Seasonal transitions are the perfect time to evaluate the exterior integrity of your RV. As part of a comprehensive seasonal maintenance visit, we can inspect your roof membrane, skylights, vents, and lap sealant for any signs of cracking, peeling, or UV degradation. Catching a failing seal in the fall prevents moisture intrusion during winter rains and snow melts, saving you from extensive wood rot and interior mold by spring.
Yes, but you will need to adapt how you use the RV. If the plumbing is winterized with antifreeze, you cannot use the freshwater system, city water connection, or water heater without undoing the winterization. You can still use the RV for dry camping or sleeping quarters, bringing bottled water for drinking and flushing the toilet with jugs of RV antifreeze. If you decide to de-winterize for a mid-winter trip, you must re-winterize the rig immediately upon returning home before the next freeze.
Spring de-winterization is all about getting your rig ready for safe, reliable camping. We completely flush the pink RV antifreeze out of all plumbing lines, sanitize the fresh water tank and lines to remove any residual taste or bacteria, reinstall water filters, take the water heater out of bypass mode, and test the system under pressure to ensure no leaks formed over the winter. We also verify the water pump is operating correctly and check basic appliance functions so you're ready for the road.
Yes, that is a critical step for winter storage. You should completely empty the refrigerator and freezer, wipe down the interior surfaces to remove moisture and food residue, and prop the doors open. We usually recommend placing a towel or a special prop device in the door seals. This allows air circulation and prevents mold, mildew, and foul odors from developing while the RV is closed up for the season.
Battery maintenance is highly recommended for winter storage. Parasitic draws (like LP detectors and radio clocks) can kill a battery in just a few weeks. If a discharged battery freezes, its internal plates warp and the battery is destroyed. We recommend either disconnecting the negative terminal, removing the batteries and storing them in a temperature-controlled environment on a trickle charger, or ensuring your RV remains plugged into shore power to keep the converter charging. We can assist with battery testing and disconnection during our visit.
Automotive antifreeze (ethylene glycol) is highly toxic, poisonous to humans, pets, and wildlife, and poses a severe environmental hazard. It is illegal and unsafe to put it in your RV's plumbing or holding tanks, as it can contaminate your fresh water lines and the dump stations you use later. RV antifreeze is made from propylene glycol, which is non-toxic and specifically formulated to be safe for potable water systems. Always use the pink RV-specific antifreeze.
Yes, we have extensive experience winterizing modern RVs equipped with complex residential appliances. Ice makers, dishwashers, and washing machines require specific winterization procedures to clear their internal solenoids and pumps without damaging them. It takes a bit more time and specialized knowledge to do correctly, but our dual-method process of air and RV antifreeze ensures these expensive appliances survive the winter completely unscathed.
Don't wait for a hard freeze to destroy your plumbing. Camper John's brings professional winterization directly to you across Tennessee.