Last updated on November 27th, 2023 at 07:35 am
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There is a lot of water running through an RV that allows you to shower, use the toilet, wash the dishes, and more. If you’re looking to clean your water lines, and empty out the water for winterization or storage, you may be wondering how to get all of the water out of your RV system. To do this, you’ll need to locate the low-point drain on your RV.
So let’s find out, what is the low-point drain for on an RV?
A low-point drain on an RV is a small valve able that you can locate at the lowest point in your RV. The purpose of low-point drains is to ensure the water lines throughout your plumbing system can be emptied in preparation for cleaning, storage, and winterization to make sure the lines don’t freeze.
There are many reasons why you may need to run all of the water out of your RV’s plumbing system, and knowing where the low-point drains are on your RV and how to open them, will make maintenance jobs far easier in the future.
So, let’s see what the low point drain is for, how to open and close it, and more!
What Is The Low Point Drain For On An RV?
The low-point drain on your RV is a valve that’s rather small and located on the underside of your RV. The job of the low-point drains is to allow you to drain all the water out from the lines, which is what you’ll need to do to protect your RV plumbing in sub-zero temperatures.
Not winterizing your RV and leaving water in your lines while you store your RV for winter isn’t a wise idea and can lead to expensive damage. When temperatures plummet over winter, any water left in the plumbing can freeze, expand, and eventually lead to burst pipes and leaks.
RV-specific antifreeze can also be useful over winter, as areas such as your toilet may not be able to be drained fully. To prevent any water in the toilet from freezing, pouring a little antifreeze into the toilet should do the trick, this is also a good idea for any drains throughout the RV too.
What Is The Purpose Of Low Point Drain?
The main purpose of the low point drain on an RV is to allow all the water to be drained out from your system. There are normally at least a couple of these points on an RV, and they will be an essential part of your regular RV maintenance.
1. Drain Water From Lines
Being able to carry plenty of water on board your RV and use it for showering, washing up, and drinking is great, but it’s also important to be able to drain this water out from your RV when you need to. If you’re new to RVing and haven’t given much thought to the low-point drain on your RV – don’t panic!
When you first set off on the road, there’s a lot to think about and it’s completely normal to forget to prioritize things whilst you’re still finding a routine that works for you. It can be useful practicing certain RV tasks before you hit the road full-time and using the valves on your low-point drains is a good thing to try beforehand, so you can get confidently into the swing of things.
2. Clears Lines For Winterization
An essential part of annual RV maintenance will be prepping your rig to be stored in cold temperatures. Not winterizing your RV can lead to water freezing in the plumbing lines, leaks, and even mold growth if moisture manages to work its way inside.
To get your RV in the best shape for its time in winter storage, you’ll need to be able to clear the lines and get all of the water out of the system. Even leaving a small amount can freeze and cause problems further down the line, so it’s vital to know how to use the low-point drain on your rig.
3. Allows For Thorough Cleaning
Emptying the water out from your RV with the low-point drains will allow you to thoroughly clean the water lines, which is something you should do every 6 months or so. Making sure the water lines are clean will help prevent bacteria from growing and keep your water safe to be used as normal.
Low-point drains are simple to operate once you’ve located them, and as they are usually red, blue, and white, they shouldn’t be too hard to find. They should be near your freshwater tank, so if you’re struggling, find your tank and have a good look around it.
Does Low Point Drain Empty The Water Heater?
When you open the valves at the low-point drain on your RV, you may be wondering if doing so will result in your water heater being emptied too. Opening the valves at the low-point drains will usually empty the water heater along with the rest of the water in your system.
Draining your water heater when you’re putting an RV in storage for a while is a good idea, as otherwise, the water can start to get stinky and smell like sulfur or rotten eggs. It doesn’t take long to drain the water heater, and getting into the habit of doing so when you return from a vacation will help keep your system fresh and working better for longer.
How To Open The Low Point Drain Valve On An RV?
Using the valves at the low-point drains isn’t difficult and can be done by simply turning the valve to the open position. Each drain point may look a little different, so don’t feel nervous if yours doesn’t look the same as a friend’s RV drain valve.
1. Attach A Hose If Possible
It may be a bit of a nightmare to figure out at first, but being able to attach a hose to the valve means you can control where the water gets drained out. Allowing the water to pool underneath your RV isn’t a good idea, especially if you’re on soft, muddy ground.
Directing the water away from your RV will prevent it from pooling underneath the rig, and keeps the ground around your RV dry, so you won’t get muddy shoes every time you walk in and out of your RV!
2. Open Faucets
Once you’ve attached the hose and moved it away from your RV, you’ll need to shut off the water supply going to the RV and open up the faucets and outdoor shower if you have one. This increases the airflow and allows the water to flow out of the system quicker and easier.
3. Open The Valve
The low-point drain valve will have a lever or twist knob allowing you to open and close the valve as and when needed. You can go ahead and turn the lever or twist the cap and let the water start to drain out.
It shouldn’t take long to drain the water out of your RV, and be sure to complete the process in a suitable place will ensure the environment is respected and that you don’t flood your parking spot!
How To Close The Low Point Drain Valve On An RV?
Closing the low-point drain valve on your RV is just as easy as opening it and can be completed in a few steps. As you complete more and more RV tasks and maintenance, your confidence will grow, and soon the things that once felt difficult will become a breeze.
1. Remove The Hose
The first job is to remove the hose from the valve as dragging the hose underneath your RV whilst driving isn’t the safest or most attractive option. Keeping the hose handy in a storage compartment in your RV is useful as you’ll have the correct tool for when you need to drain the water next time.
2. Close The Valve
Once all the water has finished draining and you’ve removed the hose, you can close the valve on the low-point drain. This will stop the water from continuing to drain out when you fill your RV back up with water.
3. Turn Water On
Although the method of closing the low-point drain valve may differ from model to model, it should be as easy as turning the lever back to the closed position it was previously in.
Sometimes there may be a cap that needs to be twisted off to allow water to drain out from the system and these caps can leak over time if they become worn. It’s possible to replace the caps with a valve that you can simply turn on or off depending on whether you’re draining your system or not.
The video below shows how easy it is to replace the caps with ball valves that can both prevent and allow the water to flow out depending on where the handle is positioned.
The process is inexpensive and could be a good idea if your low-point drains are leaking. Using some tape before you thread the new valves on can help create a watertight seal and help the valves last longer.
Brass ball valves are a more expensive option but have improved longevity when compared to plastic, PVC ball valves. If you have a bigger budget and are able to use brass ball valves, you may see better results which can lower costs in the long run as you won’t need to replace parts.
Closing Thoughts
There are usually at least two low-point drains on an RV, and it’s essential to know their purpose along with how to open and close the valves. To complete your RV’s winterization, you’ll need to first drain all the water out from the system, and knowing how to do this is an essential part of the winterization process.
There are many different types of RV, and each style and model may have a slightly different low-point drain setup. If you’re not sure where your low-point drain is, or how to open and close the valves, take a look at your owner’s manual, as this is key information you will likely find in there.