Alberta RV Seasonal Maintenance Calendar
What to do with your RV, and when, for Calgary and Alberta weather: from planning in February to winterizing before the early freeze and checking on it through chinook season.
Want a reminder at the right time? Handbook subscribers get a short email for each season with the checklist and links. Sign up below (it's free, and you get the printable handbook too).
February
Plan the season
Book the busy weekends, check registration and insurance, and turn last season's annoyances into a parts list while there's no rush.
- Find out when your favourite campgrounds open bookings
- Check registration, insurance and plates
- Make a repair list and order parts early
Guides:
Early March
Spring de-winterizing
Wait for nights above freezing (or a heated space), flush the antifreeze, reset the water heater bypass, sanitize the fresh water and check every fitting for leaks.
- Never heat an empty water heater
- Sanitize before you drink from the system
- Test propane, CO and smoke alarms before first use
Guides:
April
Spring inspection and roof check
Winter is hard on sealant. Inspect around every roof opening and the caps, use a sealant that matches your roof type, and do a full spring once-over of tires, batteries, lights, brakes and propane.
- Look for cracked or lifted sealant around vents, AC and skylights
- Match the sealant to EPDM, TPO or fibreglass
- Stay off wet, frosty or unsafe roofs
Guides:
Early May
May long weekend trip prep
Before the first long weekend: check tire pressure cold and the date codes, test lights and trailer brakes, set up weight distribution, pre-cool the fridge and make sure the furnace works.
- Set tire pressure for your load, cold
- Do a full hitch-up and brake test at home
- Mountain nights in May can still freeze
Guides:
June
Hail season prep
June through August is hail season around Calgary. Know where you can shelter the RV, photograph any damage first, check vents, skylights, the AC shroud and solar panels, and talk to your insurer before repairs.
- Have a covered parking plan for storm days
- Photograph damage before cleanup
- Cracked vent lids and skylights leak quietly
Guides:
July
Summer heat: AC, fridge and tires
Clean the AC filters, start cooling early, shade the fridge side and keep its vents clear, and check tire pressure cold in the morning. Never let air out of hot tires.
- Clean AC filters before the heat
- Keep fridge vents and coils clear
- Watch your amps on 30A sites
Guides:
August
Crown land, boondocking and fire bans
On eastern slopes public land you need a Public Lands Camping Pass and can stay up to 14 days in one spot. Fire bans change quickly in August, so check albertafirebans.ca before you light anything, including propane fire pits.
- Public Lands Camping Pass and the 14-day rule
- Check fire bans on the day, and read what they cover
- Plan battery power and water for the whole stay
Guides:
Early September
Fall shoulder-season camping
Test the furnace before you go, fill both propane tanks, vent while you cook to cut condensation, test your CO alarm, and watch overnight lows so the water lines don't freeze.
- A furnace that sat all summer may not light
- Propane use climbs fast on cold nights
- Condensation is the shoulder-season enemy
Guides:
Late September
Winterizing time
A hard freeze can come early in Calgary. Bypass and drain the water heater, drain the low points and tanks, blow out the lines or use RV antifreeze (never automotive), and don't forget the outside shower and ice maker.
- Use only RV and marine (propylene glycol) antifreeze
- Bypass the water heater first
- Outside showers and ice makers get missed
Guides:
November
Winter storage and battery care
Keep batteries fully charged (a flat lead-acid battery can freeze), check lithium charging limits, clear out food and seal mouse entry points, control moisture, and protect the tires.
- Charged batteries survive the cold, flat ones may not
- Most lithium batteries shouldn't be charged below freezing
- Mice, moisture and tires are the spring surprises
Guides:
December
Chinook and deep-cold checks
Chinook thaws followed by deep cold are hard on a stored RV. Clear heavy snow safely from the ground, check inside for stains and musty smells, look after the batteries, and never move a slide with ice on it.
- Melt and refreeze puts water where it shouldn't be
- Stains and musty smells mean act now
- Ice on slide seals and toppers causes damage
Guides:
January
Mid-winter storage check-in
Make a quick mid-winter visit: check the battery and maintainer, look for mouse droppings, empty the moisture tubs, and add anything you find to your spring repair list.
- Batteries, mice and moisture
- Book spring repairs early
- Plan trips while it's cold
Guides:
Dates are a guide for the Calgary area. Mountain, northern and southern Alberta weather can be weeks ahead or behind, so watch your local forecast. General information only. Follow your manufacturer's instructions and use a qualified technician for propane, 120V electrical and brake work.