Our mailbag at Girl Camper is always full of questions about best practices for RV maintenance. We picked some that come up time and again.
Should I drain the water from my fresh water holding tank at the end of each trip?
I prefer to drain the entire water system after every camping trip, but If you have another trip planned in a month or less, it’s okay to leave the water in the RV’s plumbing system. With that said, there are a few caveats.
- It is easy to forget water was left in the RV’s plumbing system, and if your next planned trip gets canceled, the water can get stale and possibly have a bad odor.
- In cold temperatures where it might dip below freezing and stay there for several hours, you don’t want to chance leaving water in the RV.
- Remember, water is not only in the fresh water holding tank. It is in the plumbing lines and the water heater tank. When you drain the water, make sure you drain all the water, especially in freezing temperatures.
If I am using solar in my RV is there a battery that is preferable?
It is not so much the battery as it is how many amp hours (AH) the battery has. Amp hours rate deep cycle RV batteries. The more amp hours the battery has, the more energy it can store. This allows the solar panels to charge for longer periods of time. Of course, it can get more complicated when you consider battery wiring arrangements, the size of the solar panels, and other add-ons like inverters.
If I had to rate the battery type itself, lithium batteries would rank number one. AGM batteries would rank number 2. Lead acid batteries would rank number 3. But you need to consider cost, the correct size battery, and if you use lithium batteries, the converter charger must be capable of properly charging lithium batteries. There are websites like gpelectric.com that help properly size a solar system depending on how you plan to camp.
Do you have any tips for making an RV refrigerator work more efficiently?
For starters, the initial cool down process can take four to six hours. I recommend turning the refrigerator on the day before you plan to leave on your trip. To maximize efficiency, it’s best if the food you put in the refrigerator is already cold, and food you put in the freezer is already frozen. Do not over pack the refrigerator. Air needs to circulate through the compartment for best results.
A simple solution to assist with air circulation is to purchase an inexpensive, battery-operated refrigerator fan. Install the batteries in the fan and place it in the front area of the refrigerator compartment blowing upwards. When you arrive at the campground the RV needs to be fairly level for the refrigerator to operate properly and for optimum performance. And the outside temperature directly affects the operation and efficiency of your RV refrigerator, so when it’s hot outside try parking your RV with the side the refrigerator is on in the shade.
How often should I change the anode rod in my hot water heater?
If you have a suburban water heater, there is an anode rod attached to the drain plug. This anode rod is designed to attract all the mineral deposits inside the tank, as opposed to the deposits damaging the lining of the tank. To keep the tank lining in the best shape possible it is recommended you replace the anode rod when it is ¾ of the way consumed.
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Do I need to install screens on the outside vents of my RV?
Insects and mud daubers like the odorant in liquid propane gas. So they build their nests in and around areas where the propane burners are located, like furnaces and water heaters. To help prevent some of these infestations there are aftermarket screens designed to cover LP gas vents and help keep insects out. Check with the manufacturer to see if they are recommended for your rig. Some advise against them.
Do you have other questions about RV Maintenance? Tell us in the comments below!
This article on RV Maintenance was originally published in Girl Camper Magazine.
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