Water hose diameter

[benb21601]

just a quick question on using 1/2 inch diameter water hose vs 5/8 inch. i have always used 5/8" but plan on changing around some plumbing and all i can find that will fit my plan is 1/2". curious if anyone has had issues/ no issues with the smaller diameter. not so much worried about pressure as volume. i think all the internal plumbing is 1/2" or smaller so this shouldn't be an issue, hoping for some first hand experience.

Thanks

[FlatBroke]

I would worry more about flexibility. I have 3 Camco hose that are soon to hit the trash. A real pain to roll up when it's cold and even warm they are a PITA.

[Lowsuv]

I would not use 1 /2" .
5 /8" is most common and cheapest .
In plumbing and electricity the smallest pipe diameter restricts the flow of the entire run .
As has been pointed out .
In actual practice there is a slight advantage to using 3 /4 if the runs are long .
That should not be true .
But it seems to work that way .
I have a 3 /4 ( expensive ) and a 5 /8 .

[benb21601]

Thanks all for the replies. I guess to simplify the original question down- Does anybody use a half inch? I agree that there should be no difference, just wanted to verify before I invest in the hardware. Thanks again.

[DutchmenSport]

To many folks here with PHD's in physics here. Simple solution .... just hook up the other hose and see if it works. I don't have a PHD in physics, just a bit of common sense. Actually, I'm not physical at all! I'm a vegetable, since I vegetate when I camp! Yup, no PHD for me!

[Lowsuv]

skipnchar wrote:
Water volume will be determined by the smallest diameter in the system between water source and the faucet.

Plumbers know three things :
Stuff flows downhill .
Payday is Friday .
A Steamfitter is a Plumber with a GED .

[wa8yxm]

I do not think it will make much difference, As the PEX in the RV is smaller. HOWEVER.. that said. The smaller the hose the more resistance to the flow of water... And that extra 1/8 inch will very likely make at least a small difference.

The biggest flow restriction in man RV's is the pressure regulator, they come in assorted types

Brass or plastic cylinder solid Very restrictive
Same with bright colored grip on female end (Camco has wings) still restricrive

Sur-flow (Often built into the city water inlet mine is an "in-line) slightly restrictive.

I just got a new ZURIN 70XL 3/4 inch with hose fittings.. I set it for 50 PSI, then turned on the outside shower and the pressure remained at 50 PSI

(With the sur-flo it dropped to about 10 Nt old Watts to 20, ,, NOTE the word "OLD" preceeding Watts. I think it is in need of a rebuild kit. but alas. I'm a couple parts short. If I ever fix or find the missing part I will get a rebuild kit and try it again.. it is old and much abused)

[mlts22]

There is one time where diameter matters, and that is if using a macerator pump. There, an oversized hose will be very useful.

[Hank_MI]

An RV just doesn't have enough plumbing to make a difference. Most of my house which is considerable larger is only 1/2" copper.

nomad297 wrote:

skipnchar wrote:
Water volume will be determined by the smallest diameter in the system between water source and the faucet.

This.

Bruce

Not really true. It's not a case of "The weakest link". The longer the restriction, reduced diameter, the lower the flow. Each restriction you add even if they're all the same diameter will reduce the flow.

[nomad297]

JBinOR wrote:

nomad297 wrote:

skipnchar wrote:
Water volume will be determined by the smallest diameter in the system between water source and the faucet.

This.

Bruce

Not necessarily when you factor in the fact that we are also reducing the pressure. Flow is directly related to pressure and the area of the cross section. If we decreased the pressure while keeping the diameter the same, we would decrease the flow, but by increasing the diameter, we may be able to recoup some of that loss.

Who are "we," and what does pressure have to do with this?

I suppose we could just stick some 1/2" stand pipes up through the ground along the streets and as long as the fireman puts a 2" hose with a 2"x3/4"HT adapter on it, he will be able to get the same volume of water as he would from a normal fire hydrant.

Once the restriction is there, you cannot increase the volume. When the restriction is at the source, how are you going to increase the pressure to give you more volume?

Just wondering.

Bruce

[Old-Biscuit]

You can hook you a 2" hose........plumbing inside RV is 1/2"

[JBinOR]

nomad297 wrote:

skipnchar wrote:
Water volume will be determined by the smallest diameter in the system between water source and the faucet.

This.

Bruce

Not necessarily when you factor in the fact that we are also reducing the pressure. Flow is directly related to pressure and the area of the cross section. If we decreased the pressure while keeping the diameter the same, we would decrease the flow, but by increasing the diameter, we may be able to recoup some of that loss.

[nomad297]

skipnchar wrote:
Water volume will be determined by the smallest diameter in the system between water source and the faucet.

This.

Bruce

[skipnchar]

Water volume will be determined by the smallest diameter in the system between water source and the faucet.

[nomad297]

down home wrote:
I have had a one inch water hose. It delivers more flow if your water pressure and flow is high enough.

Again, the size of the hose won't make a difference if you are hooking up to a standard hosebib/sillcock or boiler drain. Even the 3/4" versions of these valves are restricted to less than 1/2" at the seat. There's nothing you can do about that -- once it is choked down, that's all you're going to get. Now, if you are coming straight off of a 1" pump or other source with a 1" hose with no restrictions from one end to the other, that's a different thing.

Bruce