Will replacing a stock water pump increase water pressure?

[drbwilson]

Hello everyone. We recently purchased our first motorhome. It is a 2017 Winnebago 36z Sightseer. The water pressure is very week if we are hooked up to a campground with low pressure or if we are boon docking. If I replace the water pump with a larger horsepower one wont that give us a higher water pressure? Thanks everyone.

[YC1]

Welcome to the forum:

You should have decent water flow with the existing pump and your symptom of poor water pressure on shoreline leads me to believe you have something not quite up to par.

There are check valves etc and they can be bad.

[450Donn]

Nope! Water pumps typically are factoey set to 45PSI. And as far as I know there is no way to change it.

[Kiawah]

Originally Posted by drbwilson

Hello everyone. We recently purchased our first motorhome. It is a 2017 Winnebago 36z Sightseer. The water pressure is very week if we are hooked up to a campground with low pressure or if we are boon docking. If I replace the water pump with a larger horsepower one wont that give us a higher water pressure? Thanks everyone.

Check that you have the correct water filter(s), and that the screens at the shower/faucet heads are not clogged up.

[dave&ginny]

Yes

You can get water pumps rated for more GPM (gallons per minute). Also check the screens in your faucets as well as any filters you might have.

[ThePowells]

Every water outlet in your coach has a flow restriction device that will restrict the flow (duh ).

There is also a possibility that there is a valve somewhere that isn't totally open. You will just have to track down your water lines and check since there are many places that they hide them. Several of them will be in close proximity of the pump and the water heater.

Third is that there is a strainer in line just before the water pump that may have bits of plastic in it from the plumbing process and there is a canister water filter that may have picked up some trash and not flowing freely.

[Rocky Larson]

Bigger pumps (more horsepower) take more amps. You may need to upgrade pump wires, fuse, etc.

[drbwilson]

Originally Posted by ThePowells

Every water outlet in your coach has a flow restriction device that will restrict the flow (duh ).

There is also a possibility that there is a valve somewhere that isn't totally open. You will just have to track down your water lines and check since there are many places that they hide them. Several of them will be in close proximity of the pump and the water heater.

Third is that there is a strainer in line just before the water pump that may have bits of plastic in it from the plumbing process and there is a canister water filter that may have picked up some trash and not flowing freely.

Great info. I will check for those things. Awesome. Thank you.

[Campering]

If there is no major difference in water flow when you are hooked up to city water or using on board water everything is fine. There are flow restricters at all faucets, shower, and toilets in the entire camper. If not, the freshwater tank would be empty very quickly and the grey and black tanks would be full way to soon.

[drbwilson]

Originally Posted by YC1

Welcome to the forum:

You should have decent water flow with the existing pump and your symptom of poor water pressure on shoreline leads me to believe you have something not quite up to par.

There are check valves etc and they can be bad.

Thank you for the info and the welcome.

[drbwilson]

Thanks to everyone for the great info. I will check these things out.

[Old-Biscuit]

Standard RV pumps USED to be rated for 45 psi & 3 gpm flow rates but as with most everything RV--- upgrades became the norm

Now RV water pumps are rated for 55 psi (even 65 psi) and higher flow rates too (4gpm to 5 gpm)

Even the old standard pumps could be adjusted for higher pressure


*Pump inlet strainer may look clear/clean but could be clogged with plastic shavings from installations on fresh water tanks
*Pump internal bypass could be out of adjustment ---opening too soon/staying open to long which will affect discharge pressure
*'Fill valve' on wet bay panel being open will drop pump discharge pressure
**Clogged aerators at faucets etc would inhibit flow but pump pressure would not be affected...pump would short cycle on/off due to lack of flow


What is BRAND/MODEL of your pump?

[drbwilson]

I will have to check.

[ThePowells]

One other thought about water supply. You need to invest in a real water regulator with a gauge to see exactly what the pressure is. You can search for "water regulator" in the search box at the top if you need to research for one.