Winterizing and storage in northern Alberta

Up here, a missed water line can freeze and split before Thanksgiving. Winterizing means getting water out of the plumbing and protecting what's left with non-toxic RV antifreeze. The steps below follow Keystone RV's antifreeze guide. Your RV's owner's manual comes first, especially for tankless water heaters, residential fridges and washers.

Two methods

Keystone describes two ways to do it. One is blowing the lines out with compressed air. The other is filling them with RV antifreeze. For the antifreeze method, Keystone says to plan on about 2 hours and 4 to 6 gallons of non-toxic RV antifreeze. Never use automotive antifreeze.

Antifreeze method, step by step

1. Drain everything. Open the low-point drains and drain the fresh tank. Turn the water heater off and let it cool, then drain it. For a tankless heater, follow its manual.
2. Remove inline filters and empty and flush the holding tanks.
3. Bypass the water heater so you don't fill it with antifreeze.
4. Protect the fridge. Don't run antifreeze into a residential fridge's ice-maker line. Follow the fridge maker's instructions.
5. Get antifreeze into the pump. Use the pump's winterizing bypass hose if you have one. If not, Keystone says to put at least 4 gallons in the fresh tank.
6. Open each tap, cold then hot, until pink antifreeze comes out. Include the outside shower.
7. Flush the toilet until antifreeze appears, then pour about a quart into the black tank and leave some in the bowl.
8. Pour about a quart down each drain to protect the P-traps.
9. Close the valves and drains to keep critters out.

Keystone also has a shorter 9-step winterizing overview. If you plan to camp through the winter instead, read its guide to wintering in your RV.

If your RV is another brand, follow that maker's guide. Some cold-weather packages change the steps. The 2027 Wildcat Maxx lists 12-volt heat pads on its holding tanks and a tankless water heater with active freeze protection, and both have their own instructions.

Storage reminders

• Empty the fridge and prop the door open.
• Remove food and anything that can freeze or attract mice.
• Check the battery storage instructions in your manual: disconnect, remove, or keep it on a maintainer.
• Check roof and window seals before snow load arrives.
• If you store on the street in town, check the local bylaw. Whitecourt, for example, limits RVs parked on the street to 72 hours (Traffic Bylaw 1573, town information sheet).
• Towing to storage in winter? Our sister site has a winter towing checklist.

Checked October 25, 2026.

Guides in this section

Our first in-depth guides for this section are being written and fact-checked now. In the meantime, start with the overview above or browse all guides.