Cold water in the shower

[MrFixit454]

I have noticed this in my newer trailer. I get plenty of hot water everywhere in the trailer. The bypass is closed and all other water valves are off (external shower, kitchen sink with water saver on spigot.) I can mix the water in the shower to get the perfect temp. When I turn the shower head off to save water, the drip slowly turns to cold. The shower head does the standard drip (At least I think it is standard) I have messed with the vavles in the manor that I have the hot on full and the cold slightly cracked and I still eventually get cold water. One would think that since the hot is fully cracked, it would be more over powering but it seem that the hot does not have as much pressure as the cold. This all happens on water pump or city water. I do have an expansion tank next to the water pump which is at the rear of the trailer (opposite end of the of the bathroom) The water heater is right next to the shower. Any ideas of what is causing this?? My old trailer had the water heater at the rear of the coach next to the water pump and I did not have the expansion tank and I did not experience this cold problem at the shower head while shower head was off.

1999 Aljo 5er , 2755 28' w/ custom installed Onan generator and Inverter/Charger
2001 Dodge Ram QC 5.9 Cummins 24 Valvl HO, 6 Spd, 3.54, Rhino Liner, Cipa Towing Mirrors

[MrFixit454]

I have noticed this in my newer trailer. I get plenty of hot water everywhere in the trailer. The bypass is closed and all other water valves are off (external shower, kitchen sink with water saver on spigot.) I can mix the water in the shower to get the perfect temp. When I turn the shower head off to save water, the drip slowly turns to cold. The shower head does the standard drip (At least I think it is standard) I have messed with the vavles in the manor that I have the hot on full and the cold slightly cracked and I still eventually get cold water. One would think that since the hot is fully cracked, it would be more over powering but it seem that the hot does not have as much pressure as the cold. This all happens on water pump or city water. I do have an expansion tank next to the water pump which is at the rear of the trailer (opposite end of the of the bathroom) The water heater is right next to the shower. Any ideas of what is causing this?? My old trailer had the water heater at the rear of the coach next to the water pump and I did not have the expansion tank and I did not experience this cold problem at the shower head while shower head was off.

1999 Aljo 5er , 2755 28' w/ custom installed Onan generator and Inverter/Charger
2001 Dodge Ram QC 5.9 Cummins 24 Valvl HO, 6 Spd, 3.54, Rhino Liner, Cipa Towing Mirrors

[Diane and Danny]

When you figure out what causes this problem, please be sure to post the solution. We suffer with the same problem. However, some days it does not do it and others you get a blast of ice cold water. I thought I had it fixed once but it eventually came back. Hopefully some of the great gurus we have on this board will help us figure out what causes the problem.

Good Luck.

Diane

[jmerritt]

I had the same problem until I ran water through the shower head until it was the temp I had after mixing at the faucet. Seems I didn't let the water completely mix at the shower head before I turned the shower head off. Don't know if this is the problem you are having. Also, the pressure is equal through both valves unless you have some regulator on one line that you don't on the other. If anything the pressure might be a little higher out of the water heater since expansion takes place as the water is heated.

32' Coachmen Royal
99.5 PSD F-350 SC SRW SB 4X4 Woodland Green

[Darrel]

Do you have a single valve bypass on your water heater? If so, there is also a check valve in the plumbing system which can contribute to your problem.

In the 6 RVs that I have owned, 3 of them had the single valve system and each of them rewarded me with an icy blast if I shut off the water and then turned it back on. (I would have to crouch in the far corner of the shower until the temperature stabilized.)

On my RVs with the 3 valve water heater bypass valves, the water temperature stayed constant.

This was only my experience and might not be valid for all systems.

Good Luck with your problem - Darrel

[MrFixit454]

jmerritt - I have the correct temp coming out of the head, I rinse off, then shutdown the head to save water. In the soaping up process is when the drip out of the head turns to cold. I have to point the shower head to the ground and turn head back on and wait for the warm water again. There is not much room in these showers so when in drips out of the head, it lands on you. My wife can't stand it. I told her to rest the head on the floor while lathering up. A temporary fix but I would like to get to the root of the problem. You would think that pressure is equal.


Darrel - I think there are 3 valves, it has been a year since I looked at it, as I never have to use them in California. Don't know how a single valve would work. I think there are 2 valves at the in and out of the tank, and a line that connects the 2 vavles together with another valve on it. Don't remember what my old trailer had because I never messed with those valves either. In your 6 RV's, where were the water heater/pump in relation to your shower??? Maybe there are check valves in the water heater??? I will get a better look at it tonight and get all vavle configs and WH manufacturer. The problem is that I stuffed the generator in front of the WH and covered the access hole to the back of it. (this is all in the basement of the 5th wheel) I made a new hole on the side of the WH box so I could reach a hand in to turn the valves but not much room to see into the compartment. I need to crawl into the basement and take a look.

Maybe we need to put a valve in the shower head pipe to completely turn the shower head off.

Thanks everyone, sorry for the long post but sometimes it takes a lot of words to get a point across.

1999 Aljo 5er , 2755 28' w/ custom installed Onan generator and Inverter/Charger
2001 Dodge Ram QC 5.9 Cummins 24 Valvl HO, 6 Spd, 3.54, Rhino Liner, Cipa Towing Mirrors

[PSDExcursion]

Same problem here and it is REALLY BAD during the winter. Brrrrrr! I have a single valve bypass and I've been thinking about installing another valve in the crossover pipe.

MrFixit454: You say you have the problem with the 3 valve setup. Is your crossover pipe valve off? If so, then adding the valve may not help me. My WH is about in the middle of the rig, somewhat closer to the shower than the water inlet.

Michael

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2002 32' Keystone Bobcat 294BHS
2001 4x4 PSD Excursion, WD Chip, Diesel Innovations 4" exhaust, Gauges and other stuff. "7.3 liters of pure power. Arr arr arr"

[MrFixit454]

Michael,
I am pretty sure it is a 3 valve. Will check tonight. The 3rd valve(one that connects the in and out pipe of the WH) is off. I have checked this twice when I first bought the coach a year ago. The additional valve I am considering would be on the tube that comes from the faucet to the shower head. To completely shut the water coming out of the head. Or find a head that does not drip.. if one exists.
Ramon

1999 Aljo 5er , 2755 28' w/ custom installed Onan generator and Inverter/Charger
2001.5 Dodge Ram QC 5.9 Cummins 24 Valve HO, 6 Spd, 3.54, triple A-pillar, Diprocol gauges, Maghytech cover, Rhino Liner, Cipa Towing Mirrors

[MrFixit454]

Finally getting to take the trailer out this weekend. I bought a valve to put inline before the shower head. we will see how it works.

1999 Aljo 5er , 2755 28' w/ custom installed Onan generator and Inverter/Charger
2001.5 Dodge Ram QC 5.9 Cummins 24 Valve HO, 6 Spd, 3.54, triple A-pillar, Diprocol gauges, Maghytech cover, Rhino Liner, Cipa Towing Mirrors

[MrFixit454]

Well, Since I could blow through this device and hear a small amount of air pass through the valve while closed, I was doughtful for this device in the shower. It did not work, so back it goes. Need to try a valve that completely stops all water flow.

1999 Aljo 5er , 2755 28' w/ custom installed Onan generator and Inverter/Charger
2001.5 Dodge Ram QC 5.9 Cummins 24 Valve HO, 6 Spd, 3.54, triple A-pillar, Diprocol gauges, Maghytech cover, Rhino Liner, Cipa Towing Mirrors

[MrFixit454]

Update:

Well We sold the Aljo trailer that had the cold shower problem and bought a new one with the hot water heater on the opposite end of the trailer as the shower. This new unit does not drip cold water while shower head is off, which is the same configuration we had 2 trailers ago. To sum it up:

1993 Dutchmen - WH far from shower - warm water drip while shower head off
1999 Aljo - WH right under shower - cold water drip while shower head off
2006 Dutchmen Colorado - WH far from shower - warm water drip while shower head off

Anyone w/ the cold showers problem, where is your WH in relation to your shower??

[MrFixit454]

This was taken from "KTM Dirtider" in another post that might help some folks:

"The only time I cannot keep our water temperature correct ( hot or cold) is when I shut off the water at the shower head to conserve water. To correct this you need to install a one way valve at both hot and cold sides of your shower valve. When you leave the controls set and shut off the water at the head pressure builds in the hot line (usually) and forces hot water through the shower valve into the cold water line. This gives you a scalding hot shower when water resumes. This is also possible with a freezing cold shower too in that the cold water has more pressure and is forced through the valve into the hot water line."