Just curious how people supply their water.... fist a little background story. Several years ago we were walking back to our RV and I saw water pouring out of the door of another RV. As I was running up to the camper, someone else was also heading that way and got to the water spigot first and turned it off. The owners were not there, I can only imagine what they found when they returned. So, while connected to city water, if we leave the RV for more than a several minutes, I turn off the city water. Others I have talked to like to fill the onboard tank and then exclusively use the pump to supply water , turning on the city water supply only when refilling the tank. What do you do ?

I hooked up once 7 years ago. Then I had an issue with the valve so I just capped off the city water line. I use my tank and pump. I shut off the pump at night or when I leave the camper.

Only tank. If the pump turns on in the middle of the night either someone is using the bathroom OR there is a leak.My guess would be that 95% of the RVers use the CG source.

I ran into a problem in one park where the city "Shocked" the system to sanitize. Well they over did it. and the water tasted like bleach for a long time. I got in the habit of filling the fresh tank and using the pump (Without pressure the chlorine swiftly dissipates) and.. Still do it that way .

We fill & use the tank. My brother usually connects to city only when his GF needed long showers to do her flowing hair. I suspect it depends on the RVr's usage model - if they are parked for the longer duration, they probably connect to the city. If, like us, we are on the move nearly daily where we boondock 2 or 3 nights out of 4, much of our water usage is away from city sources. Thus, even when in a campground, we'll run on the water we have until it's about time to leave. We then top up on fresh and subsequently empty the waste.

JimK-NY wrote:I hooked up once 7 years ago. Then I had an issue with the valve so I just capped off the city water line. I use my tank and pump. I shut off the pump at night or when I leave the camper.Did you try to fix the valve?I really like having the option of either tank or hook up. We do plenty of dry camping so the tank comes in handy. We usually turn off the pump when we leave. Have heard horror stories of something breaking or coming loose while people are away and return to a flooded trailer. When we have hookups I always use the campground water. I prefer this because it is much more quiet, our pump is not silent. There have been a very few instances where the campground water was not the best so the tank would be better but that is not worth all the hassle of towing all the weight around. I have a pressure reducer and I try to turn off the water at the faucet when we leave. Truth be told, I often forget.

Survey-- City Water vs pump | Good Sam Community

32 Replies

fj12ryder
Explorer III
Jun 27, 2019
The only thing that makes me worry about water pressure surge is one time we had our reverse flow valve for the blank tank washout, get destroyed when I turned the water on too fast. It was a 90° ball valve and since I was just hooked up to the blank tank flush, I didn't worry about blowing a line, but it blew the reverse flow preventer completely apart. Granted, they are just plastic, but so are most of my water lines. :)
myredracer
Explorer II
Jun 27, 2019
fj12ryder wrote:
I really like the idea of the solenoid shutting the water off when not needed. But I would be a bit concerned about the sudden increase in water pressure when the solenoid activates every time. When I attach the hose to the faucet, I turn the water on slowly so there are no sudden pressure surges. Activating the solenoid several times a day seems like you're introducing a lot of pressure surges.
I've never noticed a surge. What I do notice sometimes (barely) is the hum from the solenoid - open = 120 volt power on. You could always add a water hammer arrestor.
fj12ryder
Explorer III
Jun 27, 2019
I really like the idea of the solenoid shutting the water off when not needed. But I would be a bit concerned about the sudden increase in water pressure when the solenoid activates every time. When I attach the hose to the faucet, I turn the water on slowly so there are no sudden pressure surges. Activating the solenoid several times a day seems like you're introducing a lot of pressure surges.
myredracer
Explorer II
Jun 27, 2019
TNGW1500SE wrote:
Old-Biscuit wrote:
.............While sleeping a fitting gave way on WH Tank Hot out. FLOODED living room, kitchen, and on slide out........

I hooked up a valve to mine that's on a timer. There's 4 wireless buttons in the RV that if you push one, the valve opens for 15 minutes then closes again. Every time you press any button, the clock starts over. When we're gone, the water is automatically off.
Hmmm...

Below is the solenoid valve I installed. Easy to do and takes up little space. A timer switch in the kitchen and bathroom is a good idea. Having the water off all the time and only on when you need it makes sense.

A timer could be done using an adjustable time delay relay and momentary contact switch on the wall to activate it.

Too many stories out there of water flooding inside when you're not inside or asleep. I sense another mod coming up. :)
WTP-GC
Explorer
Jun 27, 2019
TNGW1500SE wrote:
Every time you press any button...

Which one is the "any" button..............
TNGW1500SE
Explorer
Jun 27, 2019
Old-Biscuit wrote:
.............While sleeping a fitting gave way on WH Tank Hot out. FLOODED living room, kitchen, and on slide out........

I hooked up a valve to mine that's on a timer. There's 4 wireless buttons in the RV that if you push one, the valve opens for 15 minutes then closes again. Every time you press any button, the clock starts over. When we're gone, the water is automatically off.
ependydad
Explorer
Jun 27, 2019
Same as doxiemom11: We use city water when there is a water hookup, tank and pump if there isn't.

On city water...

I always hook up a Watts water pressure regulator.

I always hook up my 2 stage ClearSource RV Water Filter system.

I always run drinking water through our Berkey.
doxiemom11
Explorer II
Jun 26, 2019
We use city water when there is a water hookup, tank and pump if there isn't. We actually prefer city hookup. Don't have to listen to that pump every time you turn the water on.
colliehauler
Explorer III
Jun 26, 2019
I use both. At the seasonal I use the campground water exclusively.
CavemanCharlie
Explorer III
Jun 26, 2019
Pump, To answer your question I only use the pump. Then I just refill the tank.

But, I have a 26 year old TT and I am just a weekend camper that stays close to home. I don't trust my plumbing system good enough to use the full hookup water system.

I turn the pump on when I am using it then shut it back off. No worries that way.

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Survey-- City Water vs pump

32 Replies

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