About 40 years ago I had a small TT. It had only a small, noisy demand pump for the water.Flash forward and now my "new to me" Winne Chalet has the same barely adequate system. That's a bit disappointing.I'm thinking about "upgrading" to a better pump and one of the small pressure tanks (called accumulators, I think).That won't be a TON of money or trouble but thought I should ask others who may have done something similar if it is worth it or not.Subjective, I know.

Get a variable speed pump and skip the accumulater. That is the best setup available today.

If you install a higher capacity pump, you may need to install an Intellitec device to handle the higher current or rewire with heavier guage wiring. All pumps are noisy and tubing must be supported in foam rubber etc., to reducerattling/noise.

A fellow Chalet owner! :)We have an accumulator that we put in on our TT and took it out when we traded it and put it in our Chalet. Ours it just a little 3 gallon residential one from Lowes. What we like about having an accumulator is that we dry camp a lot at state parks where we often have tenters as neighbors. Helps me to feel less obnoxious in the middle of the night when I don't have to stumble around outside with a flashlight ;)

What is a good variable speed pump brand? I know ShurFlo sells a small (~1 gallon) accumulator tank, which is small enough to not take up much room... but large enough to minimize a normal pump's cycle.I'd say the tank and/or a variable speed pump is a must have, just like having a multi-stage converter.Oh, don't forget a pressure regulator. I'd like to find one that can be inline, as opposed to connected to a hose, just so it is one less thing a skulker can make off with.

mlts22 wrote:Oh, don't forget a pressure regulator. I'd like to find one that can be inline, as opposed to connected to a hose, just so it is one less thing a skulker can make off with.I put regulator at water spigot so the water hose doesn't blow out...

Water system upgrade ? | Good Sam Community

ron_dittmer
Explorer II
Mar 28, 2015
EMD360 wrote:
I put the pump on blue rigid insulation but it is still a bit noisy.
I believe the pump noise is reduced most when the tank is physically in between the pump and all the RV's plumbing to absorb the pump vibration. Otherwise the plumbing amplifies and carries the noise wherever it runs. Bobbo did a great job installing the large blue tank under his sink, but it won't be effective in dampening pump noise. Our setup pictured higher up changed the pump sound to a soft low hum, just enough to notice when it is running. Before, our pump sounded like a sick jack hammer banging on the pipes.
EMD360
Explorer
Mar 28, 2015
I finally replaced the tiny accumulator tank with a residential 2 gallon and I think it works a lot better. I had to change out the pump so I did the tank too. The new pump directions said it didn't need a tank but it didn't say it wouldn't work without one. I put the pump on blue rigid insulation but it is still a bit noisy. It runs a bit less often now though and we can usually make it through a night without it turning on.
Vulcan_Rider
Explorer
Mar 25, 2015
ScottG wrote:
Get a variable speed pump and skip the accumulater. That is the best setup available today.

I read all the replies and it appears that it is well worth it to make SOME improvement to the water system.

I will look into this. If you have a link to one, that would be appreciated.
Bobbo
Explorer II
Mar 24, 2015
Install the accumulator tank and try it for a while. You may decide you don't need to upgrade the pump. Don't get that dinky accumulator tank that Shurflo sells, get one like this. 2 gallon accumulator tank I like the 2 gallon tank because it holds enough water for DW and me to go potty all night without the pump (right under the mattress) coming on a single time.

Note that I put a bypass valve on mine, just like on my water heater. Keeps pink stuff out of the tank. Drain the tank and bypass. The line has a shutoff so I can flush the pink stuff through the line going to the tank though.
Matt_Colie
Explorer II
Mar 24, 2015
Leave the noisy pump. It serves as an alarm that there is water running . It is a real problem when someone makes a mistake or a tap vibrates open and you pump all the potable water overboard.

Matt
KristinU
Explorer
Mar 23, 2015
ron.dittmer wrote:
Eight years ago I installed this water accumulator from Home Depot. It changed our water supply experience from irritating to wonderfully quiet and consistently flowing, and trouble-free too, never a leak. Even showers are more enjoyable.

This looks almost exactly like our setup...except ours is blue, LOL.
ron_dittmer
Explorer II
Mar 23, 2015
Eight years ago I installed this water accumulator from Home Depot. It changed our water supply experience from irritating to wonderfully quiet and consistently flowing, and trouble-free too, never a leak. Even showers are more enjoyable.

If I had to do it over again, I would buy THIS ONE for $125 including shipping because it is the right tank for the application. No wood blocks and straps to mess with and the pump mounts cleanly on top for a smaller over-all footprint. I went "cheap" because I wasn't sure at the time if I would be wasting my money. It is "SURELY NOT" a waste of money.
hotbyte
Explorer
Mar 23, 2015
mlts22 wrote:

Oh, don't forget a pressure regulator. I'd like to find one that can be inline, as opposed to connected to a hose, just so it is one less thing a skulker can make off with.

I put regulator at water spigot so the water hose doesn't blow out...
mlts22
Explorer
Mar 23, 2015
What is a good variable speed pump brand? I know ShurFlo sells a small (~1 gallon) accumulator tank, which is small enough to not take up much room... but large enough to minimize a normal pump's cycle.

I'd say the tank and/or a variable speed pump is a must have, just like having a multi-stage converter.

Oh, don't forget a pressure regulator. I'd like to find one that can be inline, as opposed to connected to a hose, just so it is one less thing a skulker can make off with.
KristinU
Explorer
Mar 23, 2015
A fellow Chalet owner! :)

We have an accumulator that we put in on our TT and took it out when we traded it and put it in our Chalet. Ours it just a little 3 gallon residential one from Lowes. What we like about having an accumulator is that we dry camp a lot at state parks where we often have tenters as neighbors. Helps me to feel less obnoxious in the middle of the night when I don't have to stumble around outside with a flashlight ;)