Extended or full-time RV living offers an exciting life. After all, you can change locations whenever you want, explore new places, and eliminate expensive home mortgages. However, it also comes with some challenges, especially when the winter arrives.
Fortunately, there are simple hacks that can get your RV winter-ready, allowing you to live comfortably (and warm) without having to worry about expensive heating costs, bursting pipes, and other costly damages.
How to stay warm during winter?
Many new rigs have a heat pump installed into the rooftop and an onboard furnace that uses propane. However, the problem is that many people don’t know the difference between the two (and when to use them).
Your heat pump or HVAC system is best reserved for not-so-cold situations–i.e., the temperature has not yet dropped below 45 degrees Fahrenheit. But if it goes below this threshold, you need to switch to your RV’s furnace.
Take note that your HVAC system is not built to warm a freezing RV, so you risk burning it out if you use it continuously in the dead of winter.
Because you’ll be needing your furnace in winter, you want to have enough propane on board. Another option is to use portable heaters, which can heat up your RV living quarters if full hookups are unavailable. Make sure that you invest in a heater with a feature that automatically shuts off when it overheats.
You should also invest in warm clothing and bedding, especially if you plan to live in your RV full time.
To stay warm and comfortable in your motorhome, your best bet is to stay in an RV park that provides full hookups. You may want to check out Smoke Tree RV, which is located in Southern California. This top-rated RV park offers not only 30/50-amp full hookups but also clean restrooms, laundry facilities, shaded areas, and a swimming pool.
Is RV skirting necessary?
If you live in a region that experiences harsh winter, you need to install skirting around the bottom of your RV. Fortunately, you don’t need to spend a fortune or even hire a professional to protect your home “on wheels” against the cold weather.
You can use several materials as skirting: tarps, plastic sheeting, foam insulation, and even a stack of hay bales. If you’re quite handy and don’t mind doing some elbow grease, you can install all these by yourself.
How to improve your RV’s energy efficiency?
Fortunately, you don’t need to spend a fortune to improve the energy efficiency of your motorhome, allowing you to enjoy a comfortable environment without having to set your heater at full blast.
The first step to improve your RV’s energy efficiency is to insulate its windows. The cheapest and easiest way to do this is to install an adhesive plastic film on the inner side of your windows.
These are some additional DIY tasks that can weatherproof your RV windows and doors:
Add new caulking. Caulk around your doors and windows to prevent cold drafts from creeping into your living quarters.
Install a door snake. It looks like a tube of foam or fabric that you install across the bottom of the door to prevent drafts from entering and the warm air from escaping.
Replace your windows and doors. If your RV comes with single-pane windows, consider replacing them with energy-efficient models, which are always a good investment because they can significantly reduce your heating cost for years to come.
Meanwhile, don’t forget to insulate the RV slides by installing slide toppers, which are an excellent investment because they protect your motorhome not just from heat loss but also from water damage.
How to protect your pipes and hoses?
Use sleeves and heat tapes to protect your pipes and hoses from extreme cold weather. Also, make sure that you wrap your water lines with insulating material (or even just a towel) before going to bed to prevent them from freezing overnight. But if you want a foolproof way, you may want to invest in a heated water hose.
Related blogs: How To Clean Your Rv Like A Pro This Spring
RV Living in Bakersfield | Southern California RV Parks
While these tips can help your RV get ready for winter, nothing beats staying at an RV park that offers complete amenities (especially 30-50-amp full hookups) and is conveniently located near attractions, shopping centers, and other “conveniences.” If this sounds appealing to you, please check out Smoke Tree RV, which is located in Southern California.
We provide clean and comfortable facilities and competitive rates to campers who can stay at our park for a month, all season, or even all year. Contact us now to know more about our stunning community.
