Water Pressure Relief

[ChockAndDrop]

Hi everyone!

First post on here and as I have seen in other topics y'all are full of great advice so as always I thank you greatly

Now- I was camping a few weeks ago and noticed the rv next to us--kinda hard not to stare at the 100k dollar bus- but they had a relief valve on the city water hookup that would relieve pressure from the lines as the hookup hose heated up or the quick shutoff after flushing the toilet. Do any of y'all use these and by any chance do you know what it is called??

Thanks again and Happy Camping!

[DieselTech39]

Glad you're aboard. Called a water pressure regulator. If you type that in the google search box above on the tool bar I'm sure you will find copious info and places to purchase. Enjoy your adventures and be safe.

[macantic]

if it's a water pressure regulator your talking about,you should have one if your rv doesn't have one that's built-in. some campgrounds have a lot of water pressure that could damage your plumbing.

[ChockAndDrop]

Thanks for the quick responses! I do have the regulator maybe his was just fancier. It would spit or squirt the water out of the fitting to equalize the pressure. I'm more curious as I've only seen a few like that

[dagmandt]

Originally Posted by ChockAndDrop

Now- I was camping a few weeks ago and noticed the rv next to us--kinda hard not to stare at the 100k dollar bus-
Thanks again and Happy Camping!

If it was a coach your estimate is a bit low... if it was a Prevost chassis you were looking at a 1.5 - 2 million dollar coach (750k just for the empty shell). If it was a Winnebago or something similar you'd be talking 100k - 300k ish. They are EXPENSIVE! But very nice.

[Bfmorgan]

Originally Posted by ChockAndDrop

Thanks for the quick responses! I do have the regulator maybe his was just fancier. It would spit or squirt the water out of the fitting to equalize the pressure. I'm more curious as I've only seen a few like that

It sounds like you were seeing a backflow preventer in action. It was not trying to equalize pressure, but prevent "contaminated" water from flowing back into the water supply. I put quotes around contaminated. The assumption is that once the water has left the faucet, it could become contaminated, and the backflow preventer is there to stop any flow from reaching the faucet. When water pressure in the hose exceeds the water pressure in the faucet, it will allow water to flow and equalize the pressure in the hose so that water is not forced back into the faucet.

[ChockAndDrop]

Dagmandt- it was a little 24 foot Winnie but compared my little 30,000 dollar trailer it looked expensive. But they were happy and that's what counts!

Bfmorgan- I googled it and that's exactly what it was. Kinda seems necessary to me but maybe my faucet was supposed to have one and didn't. I never drink the water anyway so didn't bother me.

Thanks for the input!

[dagmandt]

Originally Posted by ChockAndDrop

Dagmandt- it was a little 24 foot Winnie but compared my little 30,000 dollar trailer it looked expensive. But they were happy and that's what counts!

Thanks for the input!

My wife and I love to go to shows and tour those expensive ones. Dream a little I learned way too much about price. Maybe one day I'll win the lottery!

[ChockAndDrop]

Definitely! Doesn't hurt to dream a little! But when you have something you don't wanna get out of it's hard to enjoy the real camping. Nothing wrong with fantasizing though

[sknight]

If you don't have a regulator you need one, depending on whom you ask you'll find opinions about max safe pressure an RV can handle. Modern units have Pex plumbing which is rated up to 200PSI WP if I recall correctly, the units are factory tested to over 100 I'm told but consensus is 60PSI max in regular use. I have a water pressure gauge that I check the service with, if it's 60 or less then I don't worry about the regulator for max flow rate.

When you get one pony up for the adjustable version like the one below. That way you can always dial it up as you please and it includes a gauge. The cheap inline ones are not only restrictive but your fixed at 45PSI.

Adjustable Water Regulator - Lead Free - Valterra A01-1117VP - Faucets & Inlets - Camping World

[dagmandt]

Originally Posted by ChockAndDrop

Definitely! Doesn't hurt to dream a little! But when you have something you don't wanna get out of it's hard to enjoy the real camping. Nothing wrong with fantasizing though

I hear that, it is almost too comfy with the TT currently.

[chaps2018]

I started w/the camco but then moved to the $14 valterra (orange ring) an found the flow rste much better

[mel s]

Originally Posted by ChockAndDrop

Now- I was camping a few weeks ago and noticed the rv next to us--kinda hard not to stare at the 100k dollar bus- but they had a relief valve on the city water hookup that would relieve pressure from the lines as the hookup hose heated up or the quick shutoff after flushing the toilet. Do any of y'all use these and by any chance do you know what it is called??

Originally Posted by Bfmorgan

It sounds like you were seeing a backflow preventer in action. It was not trying to equalize pressure, but prevent "contaminated" water from flowing back into the water supply. I put quotes around contaminated. The assumption is that once the water has left the faucet, it could become contaminated, and the backflow preventer is there to stop any flow from reaching the faucet. When water pressure in the hose exceeds the water pressure in the faucet, it will allow water to flow and equalize the pressure in the hose so that water is not forced back into the faucet.

ChockAndDrop
I believe Bfmorgan is correct.
Most. (all?), campground city water hookup faucets have a vacuum breaker, (aka: back-flow preventer), on them.
Vacuum breakers are not an "RV accessory" supplied by the RV maker or RV owner.
Here's a pic of a commonly used vacuum breaker:


Mel
'96 Safari