FrostList

When to Winterize Your RV in Ankeny, IA

ON TRACK106 days until first 28°F freezeOct 25

Aim to winterize your RV in Ankeny by October 15, roughly a week and a half before the median first 28°F freeze of October 25, which one fall in ten shows up by October 11. The early-to-late range spans roughly 25 days, so treat the median as a midpoint, not a promise.

OUTLOOK

Typical first first 28°F freeze near Oct 25; local deadline about Oct 15. The live 10-day outlook loads here.

Local freeze dates for Ankeny

ThresholdEarly (1-in-10)MedianLate (9-in-10)
32°F (light freeze)Sep 30Oct 15Oct 28
28°F (hard freeze)Oct 11Oct 25Nov 5
24°F (severe)Oct 20Nov 1Nov 17

NOAA station: Ankeny · 2.6 mi away · 975 ft elevation.

The reference station for Ankeny is Ankeny (2.6 mi, 975 ft). First freeze there: 32°F by Oct 15, 28°F by Oct 25, 24°F by Nov 1. That hard freeze has landed anywhere from Oct 11 to Nov 5, a swing of roughly 25 days. Spring's last 32°F freeze clears around Apr 23. Snowfall averages 25 inches a year, first reaching an inch near November.

Expect the first frost near Oct 15 in Ankeny and the first hard freeze by about Oct 25. The 32°F date swings from Sep 30 at its earliest to Oct 28 at its latest, near 28 days. The last spring freeze averages Apr 23 and as late as May 6, which sets the safe window for reopening outdoor water and de-winterizing gear. About 25 inches of snow a year is enough to justify servicing the snow blower and watching the eaves.

Your rv checklist

  1. Drain the fresh, gray, and black tanks, then drain the water heater only after it has cooled and lost pressure.
  2. Bypass the water heater so you do not waste six gallons of antifreeze filling the tank.
  3. Blow out the lines with a compressor at about 30–40 psi, then pump non-toxic RV antifreeze through every faucet until it runs pink.
    Helpful gear: RV antifreeze (6-pack) — Recommended pick
  4. Use a water-pump converter kit to draw antifreeze straight from the jug through the plumbing.
    Helpful gear: Water pump converter kit — Recommended pick
  5. Pour a cup of antifreeze into each drain trap and the toilet to protect the seals.
  6. Fit a blow-out plug at the city-water inlet so you can clear that line too.
    Helpful gear: Blow-out plug — Recommended pick
  7. Remove batteries or put them on a maintainer, and store them off a cold concrete floor.
  8. Cover roof vents, close the propane, and set out traps or deterrents so mice do not move in.

What to have on hand

RV antifreeze (6-pack)
Non-toxic pink fluid for the fresh-water plumbing and traps.
Recommended pick
Water pump converter kit
Siphon kit that draws antifreeze straight through the pump.
Recommended pick
Blow-out plug
Adapter that lets a compressor clear the lines before antifreeze.
Recommended pick
Heated fresh-water hose
For anyone staying hooked up through a cold snap.
Recommended pick

What this means locally

Compared with nearby cities, Ankeny's first-freeze date near Oct 25 sits about a week ahead of Des Moines (Oct 30) and about a week ahead of Urbandale (Oct 30). Iowa's deadlines span Oct 8 to Oct 22 statewide — one date for all of Iowa would be off by weeks for Ankeny. Once you know Ankeny's freeze date, use it to shut down your sprinklers and winterize a boat too.

Other winter jobs in Ankeny

Every task below is dated to Ankeny's own freeze and snow normals.

Sprinklers → Oct 15Frozen pipes → Sep 30Ice dams → Oct 16Car battery → Oct 25Snow blower → Oct 25Sump pump → Apr 23Boat → Oct 18Motorcycle → Oct 15

See the full Ankeny winter checklist, in order →

Frequently asked questions

At what temperature do RV pipes freeze?
An RV's exposed plumbing and thin-walled tanks can begin to freeze once temperatures sit in the mid-20s for a few hours, sooner than a house because there is little insulation around the lines. That is why the winterizing deadline tracks the first 28°F freeze rather than the first light frost.
How much RV antifreeze do I need?
Most travel trailers and motorhomes take about two to three gallons of non-toxic RV antifreeze, and larger rigs more. Bypassing the water heater saves roughly six gallons you would otherwise waste filling the tank. Buy an extra jug; stores sell out once the first freeze warnings hit.
Can I just use my RV furnace instead of winterizing?
Relying on the furnace is risky. A propane run-out, a tripped breaker, or a dead battery during a cold night leaves the plumbing unprotected, and the furnace may not keep the underbelly and bays warm enough anyway. Draining and adding antifreeze is the dependable way to protect the system.
How do I winterize an RV water heater?
Let the tank cool and lose pressure, then drain it and, if fitted, pull the anode rod. Do not add antifreeze to the water heater tank; instead, set the bypass valves so antifreeze skips the tank and fills only the lines. Fresh antifreeze in an unbypassed heater just wastes several gallons.
When is it safe to de-winterize an RV in Ankeny?
Wait until the last spring freeze has passed, which averages near Apr 23 here. De-winterize by flushing the antifreeze from the lines, sanitizing the fresh tank, and checking for leaks before a trip. Reopening too early risks a surprise late freeze on a charged system.
Do I need to winterize an RV stored indoors?
A reliably heated indoor space that stays above freezing protects the plumbing, so full winterizing may not be needed. But an unheated garage or barn can still drop below freezing on a cold night. If you cannot guarantee the space stays warm, winterize to be safe.

Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals via Ankeny, live outlook by Open-Meteo. Sources · Methodology. Last updated: July 11, 2026.