Premier Posts - Premier RV Professionals

RV Battery Winter Storage: Lead-Acid vs. Lithium

admin@coloradospremierrvservices.com (Colorado's Premier RV Services) — Thu, 27 Aug 2026 18:30:02 GMT

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In addition to fixing plumbing issues that resulted from RVs not being winterized correctly or not at all, the replacement of RV batteries is one of the top items that Colorado’s Premier RV Services gets requests for in the springtime. To help mitigate additional stress for our customers in the spring and to help you save some money, we have laid out the do’s and don’ts of off season battery storage.

Do: Clean It and Keep It Clean

It’s important to clean the battery casing and the terminals thoroughly before you connect anything to it and to keep it clean throughout the battery’s life cycle. Dirt and corrosion can increase a battery’s discharge rate. As long as the battery is properly cleaned before it is stored, you should be able to keep it clean and dust free with just a clean dry rag for dusting.

Don’t: Store Without a Charge

One of the worst things you can do is store a battery away for months at a time without charging it. All batteries have a natural rate of self-discharge. By not charging the battery fully prior to storage, it increases the probability that you will have a completely dead battery that can’t be revived this spring.

Do: Ensure It’s Completely Disconnected

If you’re not planning on removing the battery completely from the RV, you’ll need to make sure that the battery is disconnected from any and all terminals. It’s important that nothing touches the battery terminals that could potentially create a discharge.

Do: Plan For Off Season Charging

Whether you will be using a trickle charger or just plan to hook up a standard charger every so often while the battery is in storage, it’s important to make sure that you have the charger you need and that it is in good working order. A battery that has been kept charged throughout its lifecycle will last longer and perform at peak levels throughout its lifespan.

Do: Store In a Controlled Environment

Your batteries should be stored off the ground and in a temperature controlled environment. Moisture and extreme temperatures will increase your batteries’ rate of self-discharge. It is best to store the battery above 32°F and below 80°F.

Don’t: Store It and Forget It

Batteries are not items you can put away for the winter and forget about. They have to be checked and maintained throughout the entire time they are in storage. Pay attention to the charge levels. Some maintenance chargers have an auto shut-off and some don’t. You’ll want to make sure your charger is keeping the battery right in the charge range as outlined by the manufacturer.

If you are in the market for one, we use this Battery Tender by Deltran.

Once you know how, properly storing a battery is an easy and effective way to lengthen the life of your battery and keep it working like new. Of course, if you find yourself in need of a new battery, Colorado’s Premier RV Services can help. As an Interstate Battery authorized dealer, we have what you need in stock. If you are looking to upgrade, ask about Battleborn Lithium batteries.

How to Keep Mice and Rodents Out of Your RV

admin@coloradospremierrvservices.com (Colorado's Premier RV Services) — Wed, 26 Aug 2026 20:30:02 GMT

RV Rodent Prevention: What Actually Works

Rodent damage can get expensive fast.

One of our technicians once suited up in protective gear before entering the underbelly of a fifth wheel. Mice had moved in during storage and damaged plumbing, ductwork, insulation, and other hidden components. What began as a few uninvited guests became an extensive RV repair.

That is why rodent prevention matters. Mice and other rodents can chew wiring, water lines, ductwork, insulation, flooring, and stored belongings. Their urine, droppings, and nesting materials can also contaminate areas that are difficult to reach safely. The best time to stop rodent damage is before they get inside.

SIGNS OF RODENT ACTIVITY IN AN RV

• Droppings in cabinets, drawers, storage bays, or near appliances

• Shredded paper, fabric, or insulation used as nesting material

• Chewed food packaging, wiring, hoses, or ductwork

• Unusual odors coming from walls, cabinets, vents, or the underbelly

• Scratching sounds or evidence of activity after the RV has been stored

If you find one sign, keep looking. Rodent activity is often hidden behind cabinets, beneath floors, inside the underbelly, or around appliances.

REMOVE WHAT ATTRACTS THEM

Rodents are looking for food, water, warmth, and shelter. Make your RV a less inviting target before every storage period:

• Remove all food, including dry goods, pet food, treats, spices, and snacks.

• Clean cabinets, drawers, counters, the stovetop, and the area beneath the burners.

• Vacuum floors, storage compartments, upholstery seams, and beneath seat cushions.

• Empty trash and remove paper, fabric, or other easy nesting materials.

• Check for leaks or standing water that could provide a water source.

• Store the RV away from tall grass, brush, trash, birdseed, and other rodent attractants whenever possible.

Scent-based products may be used as an extra deterrent, but peppermint, dryer sheets, soap, and similar remedies should not be treated as a substitute for removing food and sealing entry points.

INSPECT THE PLACES MICE USE TO GET INSIDE

Mice can squeeze through an opening about 1/4 inch wide—roughly the width of a pencil. On an RV, check carefully around:

• Plumbing, electrical, propane, and sewer-line penetrations

• Slide-room openings and seals

• Exterior storage compartments

• Furnace, refrigerator, and water-heater access areas

• Doors, windows, vents, and damaged weather seals

• The underbelly, wheel wells, and openings created by missing or damaged material

Use caution around appliance vents and combustion-air openings. These components must ventilate properly and should never be blocked simply to keep pests out.

SEAL ENTRY POINTS CORRECTLY

Small gaps may require metal mesh or steel wool secured with an appropriate sealant. Larger openings may need hardware cloth, metal flashing, or a properly fitted repair. Expanding foam alone is not rodent-proof; rodents can chew through it.

Before sealing an opening, make sure it is not a required drain, vent, or access point. When the correct repair is not obvious—or the opening leads into the underbelly, a wall, or an appliance compartment—have the RV inspected by a qualified professional.

IF YOU FIND DROPPINGS OR A NEST

Do not immediately sweep or vacuum dry rodent droppings. That can send contaminated particles into the air. The CDC recommends ventilating the area, wearing protective gloves, thoroughly wetting contaminated material with an appropriate disinfectant, and following its current cleanup guidance. Heavy contamination, inaccessible nesting, or activity in HVAC ducting should be handled by qualified cleanup or pest-control professionals.

WHEN YOUR RV NEEDS PROFESSIONAL ATTENTION

Call an RV repair professional if you notice chewed wiring, damaged plumbing, torn ductwork, contaminated insulation, appliance problems, or evidence that rodents reached hidden areas. A pest-control company handles removal of an active infestation; an RV repair facility can evaluate and repair damage to the RV itself.

Colorado's Premier RV Services specializes in the house side of RVs 19 years old and newer at our Berthoud shop. If you suspect rodent damage, call 970-342-6957 so our team can help determine the right next step.

The goal is simple: remove the attraction, close the entry points, and catch small warning signs before they become expensive repairs.

RV Roof Maintenance: A Small Leak Can Total Your RV

admin@coloradospremierrvservices.com (Colorado's Premier RV Services) — Wed, 26 Aug 2026 06:45:00 GMT

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