Low Water Pressure

[PhilNDenise]

I tried to do a search on this subject but wasn't sucessful. I have and have always from the beging, low water pressure. I just put up with it this far but recently retired and will be doing more traveling, and the low pressure is annoying. I understand there is a pressure regulator somewhere, does anyone know where it is and if it can be easily changed?
Thanks for the help.

[Fred and Bonnie]

Phil, NRV uses a city water connection that incorporates a pressure regulator, I believe 50 psi. All the interior water faucets use flow restrictors, remove them and replace the shower head with a more "flow friendly" unit. Your pressure will be affected if you use 1/2" water hoses or water filters. I prefer to fill the fresh water tank and use the internal pump; this is much more reliable than most fresh water hookups.

Fred

[KentM]

To the best of my knowledge, the regulator is part of the assembly where you hook up the park water source. In my 2005 Dolphin it is made by Shurflo and supposedly regulates the pressure to no more than 65 psi. This assembly also serves to prevent the onboard pump from putting water back out. In other words , a back flow prevention device. I, too, have always been disgusted with the water flow in the MH. I have changed that device and made no difference. I installed a pressure gage at the outdoor shower faucet and found that the pressure was the same as the pressure coming from the park supply. So my conclusion now is that pressure is not the problem but rather flow rate is the problem. I find that I get better flow at the sinks when using the onboard pump which leads me to believe that something is restricting the flow into the system. Whatever it is effects both hot and cold. Studying plumbing diagrams leads me to conclude that whatever it is, it is located right on the water control panel. It may well be one of the valves. I am trying to find a place where I can connect the output of the regulator directly to the system before it gets split into hot and cold and see if that corrects it. Right now I just do not have the time to get at it but perhaps others already have it figured out and will post their ideas here.
One idea that I am considering is to hook the park hose directly to the shower faucet with a double female connector and then if I turn on the hot water faucet only, the supply will feed the whole system.
Before you ask, yes, I replaced the shower valve with a deep sink valve set that I got at Home Depot. I modified the faucet by adding a brass male hose fitting. The valve set is a standard 4" sink set. This allows me to hook a hose onto the system for cleaning windshields etc. while traveling.
Good luck

[Belgian]

Low water pressure and low flow can make taking a shower a real pain and not at all relaxing. I don't mind the low flow in the sinks it is mainly the low flow in the shower that keeps me from feeling clean. We first tried the Oxygenics shower head. I wasn't impressed. I then decided to redo the water system completely. First I bought a Watts regulator from The Water Filter Store, the Watts 263A with the gauge RV Water Filter Store: Water Pressure Regulators for RVs. I mounted the regulator in the water bay and ran a short hose to the factory water inlet/regulator. I reworked the factory inlet/regulator by taking it apart and removing the regulator and drilling out the inlet which is made of plastic. I left the backflow preventer in place. I changed the shower head to a Shower Message w/hand held head from Home Depot. I set the regulator at 60psi and run as short a 5/8" hose from the park faucet to the Watts Regulator as possible. Now it's like taking a shower at home. Plenty of flow and pressure to feel realy clean. The only down side is we go through the 10 gallon water heater a little quicker now, but can still take a nice long shower without having to turn the water off between washing and rinsing. After this was all complete I added a filter and softener and that effects the flow a little but still nice showers. I keep meaning to take pictures and post them but never get around to it...some day.

[KentM]

Great stuff. So from what I gather, your flow problem was in the Shurflo device. I guess that is what I was trying to prove with my next effort. Now you have made up my mind for me and I just happen to have one of those units that I replaced before. I also have a regulator in my input line due to the fact that one of those cheap rv regulators failed and I blew a line in a park that had 75psi on the line. Not many parks have that kind of pressure. But I used an irrigation regulator from Home Depot and that is set to 65 psi. So I will dismantle that Shurflo unit and defeat the regulator part of it.
I agree with you completely. The shower is where it really counts.
Thanks for your input.
Kent

[speed racer]

On my 05 Dolphin the reg. is on the water inlet and I have found it is a restriction also. I removed the reg. parts and had to drill out the inlet to 3/8". I also have a whole house reg. I purchased from Lowes and a whole house filter. I now take a shower like I have at home.

[KentM]

Mission accomplished. I removed the guts of the regulator except for the back flow valve, bored two places to 1/2" , and reinstalled the unit. I first made sure that the back flow valve worked and then connected the supply hose. What a difference that made in the shower. Now I just have to be careful (as someone cautioned) not to use all the hot water..

[PhilNDenise]

Thanks for all the suggestions, I guess I have my work cut out for me after the holidays. This forum and the Workhorse forum are great. I found information on how to fix a couple of things that bother me including windshield wipers that won't shut off after a heavy rain, slow filling of gas tank and low water pressure. I will work on all of these the next time I get the rig out of storage.