Community Forums

Wryly Blithe · 07-13-2015, 11:18 AM

Hi all. I'm thinking that I want to fill my tanks with softened water from my house system before a trip, then connect to city water once we arrive at a campground. I'd like to use the softened tank water for showers, ice, drinking, etc. and use the city water for utility water, like dishwashing and so on.

If I connect to city water and then turn my pump on, does the pump take priority over the city water? Or do I have to turn off the city water to pull water from the tank using the pump?

Thanks!

brian-nicola · 07-13-2015, 11:27 AM

Our unit the water pump only takes from the FW tank. The FW tank is isolated from the city supply by way of a by-pass valve which is either by-pass or fill (FW tank). Can't see that yours would be different.

mel s · 07-13-2015, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wryly Blithe

Hi all. I'm thinking that I want to fill my tanks with softened water from my house system before a trip, then connect to city water once we arrive at a campground. I'd like to use the softened tank water for showers, ice, drinking, etc. and use the city water for utility water, like dishwashing and so on.
If I connect to city water and then turn my pump on, does the pump take priority over the city water? Or do I have to turn off the city water to pull water from the tank using the pump?
Thanks!

Quote:

Originally Posted by brian-nicola

Our unit the water pump only takes from the FW tank. The FW tank is isolated from the city supply by way of a by-pass valve which is either by-pass or fill (FW tank). Can't see that yours would be different.

Wryly Blithe
My 12V water pump also "only takes water from the fresh water, (FW), tank".
HOWEVER, if city water is connected and turned ON while the 12V water pump is ON, the water from all faucets is a MIXTURE of tank and city water.
If I want to use ONLY tank water I must turn OFF the city water supply faucet.
Mel
'96 Safari

alank · 07-13-2015, 11:56 AM

I think it's going to depend on the city pressure. If the city pressure is high enough to keep the automatic switch on the 12v pump shut off all the time, then you'll only have city water unless you shut the city water off, then the pump will run.

If the 12v pump and switch is working at a higher pressure than the city pressure is, then you'll have FW tank water as long as the pump is on, if the pump is off, then you'll have the slightly lower pressure city water.

Statgeek · 07-13-2015, 11:57 AM

In my coach, if I leave the water pump turned on while connected to city water, the RV's water pump will only kick on if the water pressure from city water is very low, and then the RV's water pump will turn on and supplement water flow. I have no idea how all of this works, but it seems to be the case. I will add that the water pressure from city water has to be REALLY low before the RV's water pump starts up. Otherwise the pump never turns on.

Wryly Blithe · 07-13-2015, 12:15 PM

Thanks, everyone. That's kinda what I thought. What I was hoping for is that by using the pump, it would only come from the tanks regardless of whether or not I was connected to city water, but all of your posts makes perfect sense.

I'm still going to fill my tank with softened house water and then connect to the cg's water - I'll just turn it off to take showers in the softer water.

Thanks again!

HR2004 · 07-13-2015, 12:36 PM

I remedied that problem with a FLO Pur water softener... I got to use it while we were in Tucson and Louisburg Kansas in June... It did a really nice job.. And Tucson water is hard as a rock.. I picked up some quick connect fitting for the hoses and got it set up in no time.

Wryly Blithe · 07-14-2015, 12:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HR2004

I remedied that problem with a FLO Pur water softener... I got to use it while we were in Tucson and Louisburg Kansas in June... It did a really nice job.. And Tucson water is hard as a rock.. I picked up some quick connect fitting for the hoses and got it set up in no time.

Yeah, I'm moving in that direction, but if I can avoid buying and carrying one more piece of equipment, I'm gonna give it a try

Mr_D · 07-14-2015, 12:41 AM

That depends on how your rig is plumbed.

normandlegra · 07-14-2015, 03:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wryly Blithe

Yeah, I'm moving in that direction, but if I can avoid buying and carrying one more piece of equipment, I'm gonna give it a try

Nothing easier then using this on line water filter Camco Water Filter, 2 Pack - Walmart.com ; it is cheap and works just fine for a full season, and you do have a spare !

Czar Of Poop · 07-14-2015, 03:58 AM

On ours , if the city water pressure is lower than the pump pressure....the pump will boost the pressure when turned on and draws directly from the FW tank. We always keep our FW tank pretty full just in case of RV Park problems which just happened 2 days ago when a pipe broke.

Wryly Blithe · 07-14-2015, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by normandlegra

Nothing easier then using this on line water filter Camco Water Filter, 2 Pack - Walmart.com ; it is cheap and works just fine for a full season, and you do have a spare !

Yeah, I have one of those... in fact, I have three: Main supply; ice makers; kitchen sink. But those are just filters, and I wanted softened water to take out the hardness.

Wryly Blithe · 07-14-2015, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by niceguy9605

On ours , if the city water pressure is lower than the pump pressure....the pump will boost the pressure when turned on and draws directly from the FW tank. We always keep our FW tank pretty full just in case of RV Park problems which just happened 2 days ago when a pipe broke.

I think mine works the same way, though I haven't tested it and there's nothing specifically about it in the owner's manual. It describes how to use the system, but not how it's plumbed. I'm sure 007 has a quick-tip posted for it somewhere, but it wasn't worth looking up.

I just connected a new hose bib to the outgoing water supply from the water softener in my house. I'll fill my FW tank with that and use it when camping; I can always connect to city water later if/when needed.

My biggest concern is mineral build-up in the sensitive systems, like the icemakers in my residential refrigerator, the clothes washer and the dish washer. That it'll make showering nicer is a bonus.

palehorse89 · 07-14-2015, 02:27 PM

Like on my water system, most all have a check valve, I asked this same question years ago.........One poster suggested that if the parks pressure is below the pump set point and when the pump kicks on, the higher pressure from the pump will force the check valve closed and just draw water from the fresh water tank............Most just think it is "Boosting" the Coach water pressure, but what you are seeing(If you have a CV) Is the pumps pressure.
Made sense to me..........
Might be different and work if there is not a check valve.........in the system, and if this is the case, one would think that the higher pump pressure would just back feed the CG.??