Forum Discussion

LaPlaya's avatar
LaPlaya
Explorer
Aug 04, 2014

City water hookup and low pressure at the taps

I am hooked up to city water at the campground. I have a pressure regulator attached to the water tap, then my hose to the city water intake. There are no kinks in the hose. I am barely getting any water coming out of the taps, just more than a trickle... I removed my pressure regulator and there is a ton of pressure coming out the campground tap...I am not going to hook my hose directly without the regulator so I put back on my water pressure regulator and barely a trickle...I dont have any water filters so what is causing the loss of pressure. Before I go and buy a new pressure regulator, I want to be sure there isnt someething else I should check. Is there any chance that the water flows through the pump ? I know there is a little screen filter on the intake side of the pump, but I would not think the city water would circulate through the pump.. is there a screen filter somewhere else I need to be checking and cleaning ?
THanks.. Bill
Class A
  • HappyKayakers's avatar
    HappyKayakers
    Explorer
    Aug 04, 2014
    If you have an 'el cheapo' pressure regulator, they do fail and need to be replaced. On my RV there is also a screen washer where the FW hose connects to the rig. That has been known to get clogged with sediment/calcium/etc.

    As a last resort, you can always fill your FW tank and use it with the pump while you're troubleshooting.
  • tropical36's avatar
    tropical36
    Explorer
    Aug 04, 2014
    LaPlaya wrote:
    I am hooked up to city water at the campground. I have a pressure regulator attached to the water tap, then my hose to the city water intake. There are no kinks in the hose. I am barely getting any water coming out of the taps, just more than a trickle... I removed my pressure regulator and there is a ton of pressure coming out the campground tap...I am not going to hook my hose directly without the regulator so I put back on my water pressure regulator and barely a trickle...I dont have any water filters so what is causing the loss of pressure. Before I go and buy a new pressure regulator, I want to be sure there isnt someething else I should check. Is there any chance that the water flows through the pump ? I know there is a little screen filter on the intake side of the pump, but I would not think the city water would circulate through the pump.. is there a screen filter somewhere else I need to be checking and cleaning ?
    THanks.. Bill

    When did it first do this?? I mean has it always done so, or is this something new without any hardware changes? If new and OK before, then blockage or bad regulator. If it's always done so, I'd look for a built in restriction type regulator at the inlet somewhere and those I normally remove in favor of a whole house type and mounted at the water source. These can also have have a screen filter that could be blocked.
  • charlysmom_dad's avatar
    charlysmom_dad
    Explorer
    Aug 04, 2014
    Our kitchen faucet has a screen on it that we just had to unscrew & clean. It got clogged from minerals I water I guess.
    Something easy to check, anyway.
  • SDcampowneroper's avatar
    SDcampowneroper
    Explorer
    Aug 04, 2014
    If the city tap has a backflow preventer the screen washer on your regulator may be holding it closed. Move your regulator to the house end of the hose. Or turn the screen washer over so it is turned down.
  • donhoward49's avatar
    donhoward49
    Explorer
    Aug 04, 2014
    On mine it was the screen at the water hookup on the RV.. hard to see but it is in their.. Soaked it in vinegar and all is well..
    Also to check the regulator, take it off, then barely turn on the water,, if that improves your pressure buy a regulator.
    Good luck
  • BTPO1's avatar
    BTPO1
    Explorer
    Aug 04, 2014
    SDcampowneroperator wrote:
    If the city tap has a backflow preventer the screen washer on your regulator may be holding it closed. Move your regulator to the house end of the hose. Or turn the screen washer over so it is turned down.


    X2, has happened to me before. JMO
  • Golden_HVAC's avatar
    Golden_HVAC
    Explorer
    Aug 04, 2014
    Hi,

    I used to use a water pressure regulator just for those situations. I could check the pressure, and if it was say 25 PSI, then it is perfectly safe to not use the regulator. Anything below 40 PSI, you can not use the regulator.

    The regulator will slow the water flow, and stop it as you indicated when inlet pressure is below about 25 PSI.

    Fred.
  • LaPlaya's avatar
    LaPlaya
    Explorer
    Aug 04, 2014
    i left my good regulator at the last campground so bought an el-cheapo... I think I will just go now and buy a good one and try that... they are not that expensive.

    THnaks for all of your advice and comments.
  • wa8yxm's avatar
    wa8yxm
    Explorer III
    Aug 04, 2014
    The little cylinder ones: JUNK, even the "High Flow" or "High Capacity"

    Sur-Flo (Built into some RV, which is not where you want it) is the minimum acceptable

    I have both a 3/4 inch Watts that is old and damaged,, New it was fantastic but it now needs a rebuild (and some testing)

    I have a brand new ZURIN 3/4 inch.. It is fantastic as well.

    Even in parks which are already "Well regulated" I put it in line,, Just in cuss
  • tropical36's avatar
    tropical36
    Explorer
    Aug 05, 2014
    wa8yxm wrote:
    The little cylinder ones: JUNK, even the "High Flow" or "High Capacity"

    Sur-Flo (Built into some RV, which is not where you want it) is the minimum acceptable

    I have both a 3/4 inch Watts that is old and damaged,, New it was fantastic but it now needs a rebuild (and some testing)

    I have a brand new ZURIN 3/4 inch.. It is fantastic as well.

    Even in parks which are already "Well regulated" I put it in line,, Just in cuss

    Yep, whole house regulator at the faucet with no other inline, is the only way to go. Makes no difference what the pressure is and it won't limit volume with lower pressures, which is the biggest problems with the little RV cheapo models.

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