Community Forums

mjwest · 04-22-2012, 01:00 PM

My shower doesn't seem to work. I don't know the names of the parts but under the hot/cold water handles, the hose to the shower head fits onto a plastic fitting. This fitting fits into the single water outlet. This fixture has a hole to allow water to go from the fixture to the shower hose/head. It also has a small hole on top. I don't know what that hole is for other than it appears like it's for some type of pressure relief in the event of overpressure (not sure, just my guess). My problem is that all the water comes back out of this small hole. No water comes through the shower hose to the shower head. The hoses are NOT obstructed, I've bought and put 3 new hoses on the connection. Water flows freely out the water /shower connection. I don't have any clue what I need to do to fix this and I can't trust the local repair shop to do any work correctly so I'm on my own.
Help! Please

Robi.1014 · 04-22-2012, 01:46 PM

What you've found is a "check valve" that is no longer working. The valve, made out of simple rubber, is there to prevent water from the shower-head to accidentally flow back into your rig's piping ... and possibly introduce contamination. We don't have these at home, just on RV rigs.

Disassembling the connection of the shower hose from/at the bath fixture (H & C valves) and cleaning (or eliminating??) this rubber check valve .... or replacing this valve ... is what will get your shower going again.

mjwest · 04-22-2012, 02:47 PM

Thank you. I just found the part (or at least a similar one) called a "Vacuum Breaker" (as pictured at http://www.rvpartscountry.com/D-spudvacuumbreaker). Is this the part that you are referring to?

I'll call tomorrow to see if I can get a replacement. We're leaving for a 4,400 mile excursion next week and this just came up. I'm at a loss to figure out what would have failed on it. There's really nothing to it, but stranger has happened before.

Robi.1014 · 04-22-2012, 06:28 PM

Mine doesn't look like what I see here, but my piece-of-rubber-gasket is doing something similar.

ahicks · 04-22-2012, 08:56 PM

I've replaced that fitting with a nipple (1/8"x 1 1/2") and bushing (1/8 pipe x 1/2 or 3/4 pipe, don't remember which for sure) - common hardware plumbing parts that aren't as pretty but will function perfectly well - but eliminate the vacuum breaker function.

mjwest · 04-23-2012, 04:36 AM

I'm not smart enough about plumbing problems to understand what those items are. Any chance you have a photo or can point me in the direction f some image so I can better understand? I'm still not convinced that I really understand what this vacuum breaker is supposed to do and why water is backing up through the second hole. Either mine is missing some internal part or I'm just missing the whole concept. Either way I hope I can find a solution. 4400 miles without a shower isn't going to be pretty.

ahicks · 04-23-2012, 09:52 AM

Those things have been creating problems for so many, for so many years it's not funny. Vacuum breaker police that were supposed to enforce the use of these gadgets (a code requirment) were disbanded many years ago.

I'm on the road with a slow connection today or I would google terms for you and give you some links. Do you have a good old fashioned hardware where you can get some help available? A Home Depot/Lowes with experienced help in the plumbing department? If you do, maybe you could remove your part, print off my note, and see how you do? This is REALLY basic stuff for anyone with any plumbing experience, so you should be able to make out OK if you can find somebody. Make sure they understand you want to defeat the vacuum breaker function!

mjwest · 04-26-2012, 04:23 PM

Sorry for the delayed response. Had to work long hours to pay for this thing.

My local stores claim they have never seen this device before and were no help. Ordered one online and it looks like the right item. Times short so hope it will work. If you have those links I'm definitely interested. I've searched out so many but seem like I'm spending wheels and finding links that really don't apply. Would be nice to find links that matter. Your help would be much appreciated.

deSanford · 04-26-2012, 07:39 PM

If that fails Michael I would suggest you replace the whole shower fixture with something decent. The crummy one that came with my coach was replaced within 2 months of ownership. Now it is a PLEASURE to use the shower and have DECENT control of the hot and cold mixing valve. (Navastar Monaco are you reading this?). deSanford

mjwest · 04-29-2012, 12:05 PM

For anyone else with this problem, aHicks (above) provided details of the solution. Took minimal time to fix and shower works like it should Many thanks to him. !!