Every spring in East Tennessee, our phones ring with the same call: 'I went to use my RV and the water isn't working.' Nine times out of ten, it's winterization damage. Here's exactly what to check.
Why Winterization Damage Is the #1 Spring Call
East Tennessee winters aren't extreme, but a single hard freeze with water left in your lines is enough to crack fittings, split pipes, and kill a water pump. The damage is often invisible until you de-winterize and turn on the water.
1. Check Your Water Pump First
Turn on your water pump and listen. A healthy pump builds pressure, holds it, and shuts off. If it runs continuously, cycles on and off rapidly, or never builds pressure, there's likely damage to the pump itself or a leak downstream.
2. Inspect Every Faucet and Line
Turn on each faucet — kitchen, bathroom, outdoor shower — and watch for low pressure, discolored water, or drips under sinks. Don't forget the outside shower and low-point drains.
3. Look Under Every Cabinet
Grab a flashlight and look under your kitchen and bathroom sinks. Look for water stains, visible cracks in PVC fittings, or loose connections. Even a slow drip over a season causes serious wood rot.
4. Check Your Water Heater
Turn it on and wait for it to heat up. Does it ignite without issue? Any sulfur smell? Water pooling around the base? If it won't ignite or keeps shutting off, it needs service before your trip.
5. Run a Full System Test
Before your first trip, fill your fresh water tank, turn on the pump, run every faucet hot and cold, flush the toilet multiple times, and check under every sink for leaks.
Some winterization damage is DIY-friendly. But burst pipes inside walls, a dead water pump, or leaks you can't locate — that's where we come in. CampTech serves all of East Tennessee.