The nice weather is back and it’s time to hit the road. Before you pack up and disappear for a few days it’s important to do some routine spring maintenance on your RV and your appliances. 

When you’re ready to enjoy some springtime RVing, here are eight areas to inspect before pulling out of the driveway.

1. Air conditioner: When your rooftop air conditioner sits for a while, it can collect dust and debris. It may even have a furry inhabitant! Be sure to thoroughly clean your coils and filters. You may even want to do a test run before hitting the road to make sure everything is in proper working order.
2. Refrigerator: If you didn’t open up your refrigerator before retiring for the winter or properly winterize it, you may have mold buildup. If there is mold or mildew in your refrigerator, you’ll want to take extra care cleaning every surface to make it food-safe again.
3. Safety alarms: Check your smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, and any source of propane or gas. Test each alarm and install new batteries to keep you safe when camping.
4. Awnings: It’s easy for dust and debris to build up in your awnings. Open and close each one for a quick cleaning and to check for tears. Repair or replace any torn or broken awnings.
5. Roofs: As your RV ages, certain features may wear out faster than others. Caulking is one of those areas. Check all of the caulking and joints on your roof. If damage is excessive or you want to be cautious, your roof can also be serviced by a dealership or service company.
6. Pest Control: As we mentioned earlier, your empty RV could have made the perfect home for rodents, insects, and other pests, so be sure to check every nook and cranny in and around your RV before bringing an unwelcome guest along on your next trip.
7. Water systems: It’s a good idea to flush your water systems before your next trip to wash away any dust that may have built up, as well as getting rid of any antifreeze that you may have added for the winter months.
8. Tires: Tires are another area of your RV that can wear out, so be sure to look for cracks and dry rot on every tire, including any spares. Replace any that appear particularly worn down to avoid a roadside changing.

We want you to enjoy the warm weather without any major hiccups. Routine spring maintenance every year, particularly after letting your RV sit for a while or taking any winterizing precautions, keeps you ready to go at a moment’s notice.

Contact your dealer or local repair shop for replacement parts.