RV Winterization: Local Deadlines by City

Deadlines for the largest cities

Find every covered city for your state in the list below.

The drain-and-antifreeze sequence

Drain the fresh, gray, and black tanks and the water heater once it has cooled and lost pressure. Bypass the water heater so you do not waste six gallons of antifreeze filling it. Blow out the lines, then pump antifreeze through every faucet, the shower, and the toilet until pink fluid appears.

Most rigs take two to three gallons of antifreeze; larger ones more. Add a cup to each drain trap and the toilet bowl to protect the seals. Antifreeze sells out fast once the first freeze warnings hit, so buy an extra jug early.

Do not rely on the furnace

A propane run-out, a tripped breaker, or a dead battery on a cold night leaves the plumbing unprotected, and the furnace may not keep the underbelly warm enough anyway. Draining and adding antifreeze is the dependable protection. If the RV is stored somewhere that reliably stays above freezing, full winterizing may not be needed.

How we set the deadline

We use each station's median first 28°F freeze and publish a deadline about ten days earlier, matching the sprinkler timeline. The city pages also show the earlier one-year-in-ten date so you can judge your own risk tolerance.

Find your state

Frequently asked questions

Other winter-prep guides

See the methodology for how these dates are calculated and their limits, and the data sources behind them.