• RV Parks & Campgrounds
  • RV Sales
  • RV & Outdoor Gear
  • RV Maintenance & Repair
gs logo
  • Categories
  • Campgrounds, Parks & Places
    Campgrounds, Parks & Places
    America’s Most Scenic Drives
    8 Great Summer Getaways Across America
    Indiana’s Ceraland Sports Park & Campground Rolls Out Recreation Fun
    Oceanside RV Resort: Experience the Best of San Diego
    Aerial shot of resort
  • Subscribe

Self Contained RV Lifestyle – Water

author image
blogadmin
  • Family:Travel & Camping
  • and Recreation Vehicles
  • and RV Gear & Accessories
  • and Tech Tips, Repairs, & Maintenance
March 17, 2008
157

    March 17, 2008

    Wanta Drink ?

    Howdy
    Water. . It’s one of the most important parts of the self-contained RV lifestyle and something a buddy of mine has a problem with. His “fresh” water tank was pouring out green stuff and stank like – well, it was bad !!

    For the most part, there are few problems and so we tend to ignore the workings of the RV water system until something goes wrong.

    There are two basic types of fresh water supply systems for RV’s. The older method is the pressure system where an air pump is used to pressurize a metal tank containing water while on the road and the city water connection provides the pressure to the tank when parked with hook-ups. Because of inherent problems with this system it’s not used any longer by manufacturers, although you will still see it on older RV’s.


    The system used for the last several years is the demand system. With this system the water is drawn from a non-pressurized fresh water holding tank by a 12 volt DC water pump which supplies water to the RV and also allows the use of pressurized city water in the RV by going around the pump. Let’s examine the demand system in more detail, after all, you can’t always call a plumber when you’re on the road.

    The Tank
    The water tank is usually constructed of natural white low density polyethylene material which is durable and easy for manufacturers to mold into the shape best suited to fit a particular RV. These tanks normally have three hoses in them. The freshwater fill hose is connected from the outside filler connection to the tank via a 1 1/2 inch corrugated hose. The second opening in the tank is a vent line which is a 1/2 inch hose that runs from the tank to the fresh water fill port. The last opening is the 1/2 inch line from the tank to the water pump. There will also be water level sensors for the tank which are connected to the monitor panel inside the RV. These may be the radar type which are applied to the outside of the tank or the probe type that are screwed into the side of the tank. If you have been RV’ing for any length of time, then you know that the probe type monitors sometimes are a bit erratic – that is, they lie ! You can often fix the problem by draining the freshwater tank and removing the probes. Clean them with fine steel wool or a 3-M Scotchbrite pad to remove mineral deposits, wash the probes and then re-install them into the tank.

    Sometimes the worst happens and the tank develops a crack or split. Here you have three options. The first is the use of a plastic epoxy repair kit made for fresh water tanks like the Syon repair kit. Solvent cement or fiberglass resin will not bond to polyethylene tanks, the Syon kit will. The second option is to find a shop that can do plastic welding. This is done with a special hot air gun used to soften and melt the area of the area around the crack and then fill the crack by “welding” with freshwater safe plastic rods. This type of repair is more of an art form and it’s difficult to find someone that can do it well. The third option is to replace the water tank with a new one. Fresh water tanks are priced by their complexity and size. A 3-5 gallon tank will cost around $60.00, a 41-45 gallon tank about $175.00 and a 100 gallon tank a bit over $300.00.

    The pump
    The water pump is called a demand type because it has a pressure sensing switch built into the nose of the pumping chamber. This switch turns the pump on when the pressure drops because of a faucet or other device drawing water from the system. The pump shuts off when the demand is finished and is normally set to hold 45 pounds of pressure in the water lines. If there are leaks in the system the pump will attempt to meet this “demand” and will run until the line pressure is restored. This is called burping and is a sign of a leak somewhere in the water system. The pressure switches are factory set but can be adjusted if needed. There is normally a 50-mesh screen or filter used between the tank and the pump to prevent any trash getting into the pumping chambers. A backflow preventer valve is used on the pressure side of the pump to prevent the city water connection from filling the water tank. This valve is usually built into the pump. The newest pumps are constant damand flow where the pump will speed up or slow down as the damand for water changes, like if you are in the shower and “someone” else turns on a water faucet. These are computer controlled units and they do draw up to 15-amps of power so you may need to install a larger wire to power them.

    City Water Connection
    When you are parked in a campsite with water hookups a connection is made between the campground hose spigot and the RV. This is called the “city water” connection. There is a backflow preventer installed in RV’s city water connection to prevent the water pump from moving water from the freshwater tank out of the RV through the city water hose connection. To connect the RV to the campsite freshwater connection always use water hoses designed to provide freshwater for drinking use. These hoses are normally white with a blue stripe. Because these hoses are made for RV use they are not reinforced against high pressure like a garden hose, so they must be protected from excessive pressure. Plumbing in RV’s is designed to operate at around 45 pounds water pressure. City water pressure can be well over this amount and can damage RV water lines. To prevent over-pressure damage you need to use a 45 pound water pressure regulator between the water faucet and the freshwater hose going to the RV, this will not only protect the lines in the RV but will also prevent the water hose from being blown-up !

    Water lines
    The last twenty years have brought several advances in water line technology over the old copper and hard PVC plastic pipe water lines for RV’s. The first major advance was Polybutylene (PB). This is a gray colored somewhat flexible pipe used for both hot and cold water applications. The fittings designed to be used with this pipe are either Qest flared cone-and-nut fittings or copper barbed fittings with copper crimping rings. The newest water pipe is Polyethylene (PEX) which is clear or a transparent red color. This pipe uses Flair-It connections which can also be used on the older PB pipe. Flair-It connections can be used to repair small splits and kinks up to 2 inches in length in either PB or PEX by cutting out the bad section and inserting a Flair-It union into the gap, not a bad thing to keep in the toolbox. You can get the parts from a RV shop or some home supply stores.

    Hot Water Heater
    The hot water heater in an RV is a sturdy and almost care-free machine. You may notice that sometimes the pressure relief valve seems to be leaking. The first reaction is to replace the valve – wrong answer. The relief valve is designed to vent excess pressure from the water heater and in most cases if it seems to be leaking, it’s just doing it’s job. The most likely culprit is that the air bubble that is supposed to be in the top of the hot water tank has been lost as the air was dissolved into the water. To correct this problem turn off the heat source and water supply for the water heater and open the pressure relief valve. Next remove the plug or anode rod from the bottom center of the water heater to allow all the water to drain out. Also open all the hot water faucets in the RV to ensure that all the lines are drained out. Now replace the drain plug/anode rod and close the relief valve. Turn on the water pump to start filling the tank. When water begins to come out of the hot water faucets close them. There is now a large air bubble in the top of the tank and the job is done.

    Sanitation
    Is clear water clean ? Not always. Is smelly or stale water bad for you ? Not always, it just tastes that way. The fresh water tank and lines need to be sanitized anytime water tastes odd or on an annual basis. Empty the water tank and lines using the RV’s built-in drain valves. The rule of thumb is 1/4 cup of chlorine bleach for every 15 gallons of water tank capacity. Pre-mix this in a gallon of water and pour it into the freshwater tank through the water filler. This makes a very strong, (200 parts per million), disinfectant solution as suggested by the EPA. With a half tank of water, drive the RV for 5 to 10 miles to slosh the mix around in the water tank. Fill the tank with fresh water and let the RV sit for several hours. Now, one at a time, open the water faucets in the RV until you smell chlorine in the water. Close the valve and let the mixture sit for several hours. Open all the faucets and let the water pump empty the tank and lines of the chlorine mix. Now drain the water tand then fill the water tank with water and flush the system by running the pump until you no longer notice the chlorine smell.

    To remove any lingering chlorine taste mix a half cup of baking soda in a gallon of water and add it to a full tank of water. Drive the RV for a couple of miles to mix and slosh around in the tank and then empty the tank by opening all the faucets and tank drain the running the water pump until the tank is empty.

    Accessories
    Water filters placed in the hose going to the city water connection will prevent sand, minerals, lead and other sediment from entering the RV’s water supply. You can also add an activated carbon type filter that will remove most bad tastes such as iron and sulfur from the water supply. You can also use the water filters on the hose to fill the fresh water tank.

    Accumulator tanks have an internal rubber bladder that divides the water chamber from a sealed air pocket. The air chamber is compressed by the water and as water is used it slowly expands, maintaining pressure on the water system. This reduces the number of times the water pump must cycle to provide pressure to the faucets. The tank can be mounted anywhere in the cold water side of the system past the pump. Don’t use one of these with the new type constant damand pumps – it runs them crazy because they can’t “read” the true damand for water.

    The water system is something that we generally don’t think about until it’s no longer there, and with a bit of understanding and maintenance it will be there to service us whenever we need it. As for my buddy, well, it took three days and four – thats 4 gallons of bleach !

    Latter – –

    The Old Ranger

    Spring Cleaning? Don't get bitten by bugs! Previous
    Wheel Bearings, Lubrication and Adjustment. Next
    blogadmin

    blogadmin

    Leave a Reply

    157 comments

    1. Pingback: Furniture shops belfast ni

    2. Pingback: cialis

    3. Pingback: home bleaching

    4. Pingback: Gelinlik

    5. Pingback: Cheap authentic jordans

    6. Pingback: Tulsa Coupon

    7. Pingback: buy website

    8. Pingback: forex online

    9. Pingback: data recovery services

    10. Pingback: sell your screenplay online

    11. Pingback: Pass a drug test

    12. Pingback: fake christmas trees

    13. Pingback: sverige

    14. Pingback: how to earn money

    15. Pingback: Eli Rabadi

    16. Pingback: article submission sites list

    17. Pingback: Sacramento cigars

    18. Pingback: Click Here

    19. Pingback: Panda research reviews

    20. Pingback: make money at home scams

    21. Pingback: free mp3 downloads

    22. Pingback: How to unlock a phone

    23. Pingback: make money online

    24. Pingback: buy turnkey websites

    25. Pingback: get paid for surveys

    26. Pingback: Urlaub

    27. Pingback: USA Business Directory

    28. Pingback: the best home based business

    29. Pingback: Legal recruiter Chicago

    30. Pingback: Haraj

    31. Pingback: projectorsite reviews

    32. Pingback: Geek Shirts

    33. Pingback: webhosting

    34. Pingback: blue springs air duct cleaning 816-888-3686

    35. Pingback: High PH Water

    36. Pingback: Precise Moment Photography

    37. Pingback: gus dahleh

    38. Pingback: invest

    39. Pingback: check the website

    40. Pingback: click here

    41. Pingback: click here for more

    42. Pingback: Telefon Dinleme

    43. Pingback: toronto recovery services

    44. Pingback: safe baby infant cars seats

    45. Pingback: lida al

    46. Pingback: Wordpress Update

    47. Pingback: okna

    48. Pingback: french lessons nyc

    49. Pingback: pozycjonowanie stron

    50. Pingback: model train store

    51. Pingback: share positive thoughts

    52. Pingback: best slots online

    53. Pingback: best medicare supplement insurance plan

    54. Pingback: learn photoshop

    55. Pingback: Voodoohexe

    56. Pingback: 2012 NFL Odds

    57. Pingback: Nike Free

    58. Pingback: viagra

    59. Pingback: liposlim free trial

    60. Pingback: gwen stefani shoe line

    61. Pingback: zombie

    62. Pingback: Voodoo

    63. Pingback: Credit Blog

    64. Pingback: Cordless drill information

    65. Pingback: Articles Directory

    66. Pingback: iPhone news

    67. Pingback: blogging

    68. Pingback: lawyer joseph c. peiffer

    69. Pingback: rsa certificate

    70. Pingback: lead generation websites

    71. Pingback: seo

    72. Pingback: amazon publishing

    73. Pingback: LawCrossing

    74. Pingback: google pure green coffee bean extract

    75. Pingback: ormita commerce network

    76. Pingback: Learn More Here

    77. Pingback: How can I lose fat

    78. Pingback: Jasa SEO

    79. Pingback: d3 gold

    80. Pingback: Source

    81. Pingback: Fitness Coach Example

    82. Pingback: mens silver

    83. Pingback: personal trainer

    84. Pingback: SAT Prep Courses

    85. Pingback: replica watches

    86. Pingback: forex

    87. Pingback: Arkansas accident attorney

    88. Pingback: Tim

    89. Pingback: Connie Jackson

    90. Pingback: wedding loans for bad credit

    91. Pingback: ppi

    92. Pingback: redirected

    93. Pingback: how do you get rid of mice

    94. Pingback: somanabolic muscle maximizer

    95. Pingback: iphone 4 unlock news

    96. Pingback: lan betalningsanmärkningar

    97. Pingback: ???????? ????

    98. Pingback: ?????

    99. Pingback: Easy Money

    100. Pingback: affordable web hosting

    101. Pingback: Bangkok News

    102. Pingback: Silvia Copeland

    103. Pingback: sid solomon

    104. Pingback: CAR NEWS

    105. Pingback: resource

    106. Pingback: vitamin

    107. Pingback: benjamin trevor grenier

    108. Pingback: how to build muscle without weights

    109. Pingback: homes for sale in bel air

    110. Pingback: luxury homes in Beverly hills

    111. Pingback: homes for sale in miracle mile

    112. Pingback: luxury homes in los feliz

    113. Pingback: armband

    114. Pingback: Click Here

    115. Pingback: stock trading account

    116. Pingback: akcesoria

    117. Pingback: crunchbase

    118. Pingback: www.Youth1.com

    119. Pingback: Freshers jobs

    120. Pingback: travel blog

    121. Pingback: Retro inspired Eyewear $59.00

    122. Pingback: Aion Kinah

    123. Pingback: kanna

    124. Pingback: boston restaurants

    125. Pingback: reunion

    126. Pingback: security guard wages

    127. Pingback: Villas Mauritius

    128. Pingback: art collectors

    129. Pingback: Lipton Yellow Label Tea

    130. Pingback: more info

    131. Pingback: villas in calpe

    132. Pingback: Ira Riklis

    133. Pingback: here

    134. Pingback: urlopener

    135. Pingback: private detective in singapore

    136. Pingback: Hope & Memory Photography

    137. Pingback: pakaian dalam

    138. Pingback: Plumber in London

    139. Pingback: custom challenge coins

    140. Pingback: Self Catering Mauritius

    141. Pingback: letmewatchthis

    142. Pingback: Beach Villas in Mauritius

    143. Pingback: Louer Ile Maurice

    144. Pingback: online cash loans no credit check

    145. Pingback: trackback backlinks

    146. Pingback: do approve me

    147. Pingback: dont approve me

    148. bingo jackpotjoy

      Joseph Addison: “He who would pass his declining years with honor and comfort, should, when young, consider that he may one day become old, and remember when he is old, that he has once been young.”

      0
      June 21, 2012
    149. Crystal Quest

      Go to CrystalQuest.com to purchase a water filter for your RV… 800-934-0051

      0
      July 10, 2009
    150. Mike Seffen

      Howdy Jeff !

      Your back flow valve and lines are likely ok. The PEX lines that most of the RV makers use are good for about 150PSI, the weak point is the fittings so check them for leaks.

      Another thing is to avoid hoses made in China – they do NOT meet the NIF specifications and are much weaker then hoses that do meet the spec.

      Also, the The tag on some hoses that says: “Meets or exceeds FDA specifications” means nothing !! The FDA does not have any specs for hoses or the materials used in them, so the label is bogus advertising.

      Later – –

      Mike

      0
      July 31, 2008
    151. Jeff Schmidt

      Hi Mike,
      I am new to rv. hooked up to city water which went fine for the first couple of weeks. after that the water hose keeps blowing out of the connection. read your comment about the pressure regulator, will buy one today and use. Do you think i have damaged the back flow or anything else in the water system?
      thanks,
      Jeff

      0
      July 31, 2008
    152. David Wright

      My company manufacturers hose products (US mfg) including potable-water hose for RV OEMs but, do not currently sell to the aftermarket. After visiting a local Camper “Planet” facility, I’m amazed at the – how should I say this – complete absence of even one true quality potable-water hose product. What I found was more “marketing” than substance. Very cheap hose with “pretty” retail packaging. As a rubber & PVC hose expert (24 yrs), when I read “drinking water safe” I have to chuckle because I could NOT begin to sell potable-water hose products to the RV OEM using that statement not could I successfully use the ambiguous “FDA approved materials” claim. Unless it is clearly stated on the package as “made from NSF Listed materials for water contact”, I’d run the other way. Then there’s the “made in China” hose products….don’t even get me started!

      0
      June 24, 2008
    153. grandheart61

      What great timing I was just saying I have to clean tank and lines. You gave me the proper mixture. Thanks alot

      0
      May 24, 2008
    154. Lynne Caulkett

      Hey Mike, I have a question for you. I am a first time motorhome owner and I recently took a trip to Georgia. When I got to the RV park, I hooked up the water (city) and turned on my pump and everything was fine. When it was time to unhook 2 weeks later, I checked my gauges and it shows 2 holding tanks plus the septic tank. Both holding tanks were 3/4 filled. I first emptied the septic and then flushed with the gray water. The gauges now showed the septic empty, and holding tank #2 empty. Holding tank #1 was still 3/4 full. I do notice that there is a small tubing with a cap on it near the emptying valves. Would that be how to empty that other holding tank? Where is that water coming from? Would it be the tank that I can fill from home to use while driving? Or is it gray water? I am a bit confused as to how to empty that #1 holding tank. Can you enlighten me? The owners manual doesn’t address this at all. Thanks! Lynne

      0
      May 4, 2008
    155. Alpenliter

      Thanks Mike! Timely advice for sure. One other hint to your readers. NEVER, EVER, fill up your fresh water tank at any campground that has the word “Sulphur” in its’ name!

      0
      March 18, 2008
    156. paul crocker

      The information regarding the Wanna drink was very informative

      TNX

      0
      March 18, 2008
    157. clark

      This is the time of ear that I am doing exactly what you are discussing. Thank you for your great timing and information. .Clark

      0
      March 18, 2008

    Parks & Places
    NAMENEWEST

    • Campgrounds, Parks & Places
    August 15, 2024

    America’s Most Scenic Drives

    Good Sam Camping avatar image

    Good Sam Camping

    LOAD MORE

    Subscribe

    Enter your email address below and get the latest posts delivered straight to your inbox.

    For questions, please see our Privacy Policy & California Privacy Rights.

    We are Social

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Youtube
    • Rss
    • Pinterest
    • Instagram

    Good Sam Club

    Privacy Policy  |   California Privacy Rights  |   Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information  |   Targeted Advertising Opt Out  |   Terms of Use

    © 2023 Good Sam Enterprises, LLC. All Rights Reserved.