water pressure regulater

[rblake39]

Purchasing our first RV and we are looking on Amazon for accessories. Just wondering what the max water pressure was for a typical RV? Should I buy the cheap one that allows 40 to 50 pounds of pressure or get an adjustable one with a gauge in case we need more pressure? Thanks

[tenbear]

I had to have some warranty work done on my Thor, Four Winds, Dutchmen MH at their factory. They tested the water system at 80psi. Other manufacturers probably use similar pressures.

This was 10 years ago, possibly it has changed since???

[Lynnmor]

myredracer wrote:

path1 wrote:


RV's supposed to be checked by manufacture to 55PSI (I believe is the latest) when being made.
Here is latest water mess...

Curious - where did you read that? I thought it was tested much higher like 90 or 100 psi. Maybe they test at 55 but should be able to withstand much higher. I have our Watts regulator adjusted to 60 psi upon the recommendation of RVwaterfilterstore. Pex, pinch clamps, fittings and faucets should be good for at least 100 psi.

CG water pressure can get pretty high sometimes and I've read as high as 200 psi. We had 120 psi somewhere this season. If you don't use a regulator sooner or later you could have a big problem on your hands.

The low cost inline regulators aren't really regulators and are just a flow restrictor and all they have is a small diameter orifice inside. Pressure will equalize on both sides in a static state. I am going to make up a demo setup in the near future to demonstrate this. A "real" regulator like a Watts is the only way to go.

I doubt that RV's are all factory tested with high water pressure or even tested at all. The delivering dealer probably tested the water system at whatever his line pressure is.

The inline (tubular shaped) pressure regulators should work in theory. They are not just a flow restriction device, but have a spring-loaded valve inside. That valve should prevent pressures only as high as the spring allows. The problems are that they are cheaply made allowing leakage thru the valve and the design allows little opening at certain pressures and flow levels.

Gil, if you do some testing, try various pressures and flow requirements. I did some rudimentary testing and found some unexpected results.

[myredracer]

path1 wrote:


RV's supposed to be checked by manufacture to 55PSI (I believe is the latest) when being made.
Here is latest water mess...

Curious - where did you read that? I thought it was tested much higher like 90 or 100 psi. Maybe they test at 55 but should be able to withstand much higher. I have our Watts regulator adjusted to 60 psi upon the recommendation of RVwaterfilterstore. Pex, pinch clamps, fittings and faucets should be good for at least 100 psi.

CG water pressure can get pretty high sometimes and I've read as high as 200 psi. We had 120 psi somewhere this season. If you don't use a regulator sooner or later you could have a big problem on your hands.

The low cost inline regulators aren't really regulators and are just a flow restrictor and all they have is a small diameter orifice inside. Pressure will equalize on both sides in a static state. I am going to make up a demo setup in the near future to demonstrate this. A "real" regulator like a Watts is the only way to go.

[Bobbo]

Walaby wrote:
I got one of the cheap brass ones free with my trailer purchase. I've used it about half a dozen times thus far, at various locations, with no problem.

I have no problem with the water pressure in my shower. I don't want to say having one of the more versatile, adjustable ones is overkill or anything, but I haven't seen a need for it yet.

And you won't see a need for it until you SEE a need for it. Personally, I prefer to learn from the posts of people who HAVE had problems with water pressure and had to fix the leaks.

[temccarthy1]

DutchmenSport wrote:
For many years I used the simple water regulator like this:



I actually had 2 of them. I never had any problems with over-pressure and the lines in my camper exploding or anything. I thought it worked pretty well.

Then one time, we stayed at a KOA. The manager warned us to be sure to use a water regulator on our camper as the water pressure at the spigots was 110 pounds and that would blow out our lines if we didn't use a regulator.

It was at that point, I had the "Ah Ha!" moment and realized I didn't know how trustworthy that device REALLY was.

EVER since (and it's been a few years now), I don't attach a hose to my camper. I fill the fresh water tank and pump from there. When it gets low, I fill again. I may leave my water hose laying on the ground, but it's not attached.

I know some folks will probably chime in with some pretty sophisticated water pressure regulator suggestions, with gauges, and valves, and settings, and everything else. But simplicity is the best. Isn't it? Your on-board pump will not over pressurize. I prefer to be 100% safe and never have to worry about it.

Several years ago, we had a garden hose burst on us. I had the regulator between the hose and the camper. If it would have been between the spigot and the hose, it might have saved the hose. Something to think about? Where do you place the regulator?

I too use a brass Valtera regulator... But you make a GOOD POINT on where to hook up the device! From now on , I will attach it to the CG spigot, not at my city water intake so as to save my hose if a pressure problem! THANKS for the tip!

[shadows4]

Just a word of warning. I bought a Valterra adjustable water regulator. The regulator itself in awesome, just be aware that the guage itself cannot be left in the RV during the winter. The guage will not work after being frozen. I know I did it twice!!! Luckily Valterra replaced it both times. Didn't want to push my luck this year so I removed it from the storage bay for the winter. LOL

[tenbear]

Walaby wrote:
I got one of the cheap brass ones free with my trailer purchase. I've used it about half a dozen times thus far, at various locations, with no problem.

I have no problem with the water pressure in my shower. I don't want to say having one of the more versatile, adjustable ones is overkill or anything, but I haven't seen a need for it yet. Having said that, when one of us is in the shower, we aren't running any additional water.

To the question of where do you put the regulator, I put it between the spigot and the hose. Not sure if that is "correct", but it works for me.

Mike

That is exactly what I would post. It works for us.

[Walaby]

I got one of the cheap brass ones free with my trailer purchase. I've used it about half a dozen times thus far, at various locations, with no problem.

I have no problem with the water pressure in my shower. I don't want to say having one of the more versatile, adjustable ones is overkill or anything, but I haven't seen a need for it yet. Having said that, when one of us is in the shower, we aren't running any additional water.

To the question of where do you put the regulator, I put it between the spigot and the hose. Not sure if that is "correct", but it works for me.

Mike

[Clay_L]

Winnebago's are checked at 85 PSI at the factory. I had my regulator set at 65 PSI According to Winnebago that is fine. I spent a couple of summers with the unregulated pressure at over 120 PSI and the 65 PSI caused no problems.

Most household appliances are rated to 85 PSI - a few like my Samsung ice-maker. are more. I don't remember exactly what the specs said but as I recall it was over 100 PSI.

The water pressure here where our house is 135 PSI. The whole house Watts regulator was set at 65 PSI by the tech when he replaced the old Watts that had failed before we bought the house.
The old one was installed in 1999 and the rebuild kit for it is no longer available.

[rblake39]

Thanks everyone. A lot to think about just for a water pressure regulator. Glad I don't have any hair to wash. GF is another story.

[wa8yxm]

Question: Does your RV have a shower? The cheap ones like the brass one pictured a few replies above restrict flow and you won't be happy with them

Valterra makes an adjustable one that plays to good reviews on the net but I have not personally tested it.. Yet.

I have tested :Standard ones like the one above. Very low flow
"High Flow" Versions of the one above Still very low flow
Sur Flo, mine is an inline but is both functionally and physically identical to the units often installed in RV's at the factgory (They simply screw a hose fitting on the outlet end to make it "inline".. I give it a 9 when new.

Watts 3/4 inch and Zurin 3/4 inch with hose adapters.. These are adjustable have a "Bell" shape upper housing all brass. 3/4 inch was chosen for two reasons,m one was COST (Cheaper than half inch) and the other is ease of adaption to a hose coupling which is also 3/4 inch.

I give both of these a TEN when new

However as they (includes the sur-flow) The internal parts stiffen and flow is reduced.. I know the last 2 can be rebuilt (Got to get a kit for the Watts) Suspect the Sur Flo can as well (need to get kit for it too) but have not yet gotten the kits.. Have tore them down and put 'em back together (Easy to do) just have not got new internals.

Pressure I set is 50 PSI, RV stickered to 45 but I set to 50.. Generally anything under 60 is good.

Now here is the problem.. Regulator needs to go on the PARK end of the hose, nto the RV end.. 2nd if you have a fliter it may restrict flow, the solution is a higher fiter inlet pressure (Say 65 PSI) but if you do that you need a SECOND regulator on the filter outlet.. (Or a filter that is less restrictive (And less effective) can also be used.. how I do it).

Hope this helps.

[dan-nickie]

icanon wrote:

enblethen wrote:
I have been happier with one like this. More flow at set pressure.
Adj. Water regulator

X2

X3

[icanon]

enblethen wrote:
I have been happier with one like this. More flow at set pressure.
Adj. Water regulator

X2

[Dakzuki]

What I did is get a Watts adjustable regulator from these guys LINK and hook it up to one of these LINK That I got cheap and replaced the crappy plastic faucet with a brass one. The whole assembly screws onto the campground outlet and I still have an outdoor faucet.