Community Forums

**JohnRR** · 04-29-2015, 10:16 AM

It's come up in another thread about shutting off the water while traveling or away from the RV for an extended amount of time, what do you do?

The poll is multiple choice.

Mr_D · 04-29-2015, 10:20 AM

We never have but I'm reconsidering after the King Aire thread in the Newmar forum!

MRUSA14 · 04-29-2015, 10:23 AM

I travel with my water
pump off. Have been doing this for years.

Selah · 04-29-2015, 10:26 AM

I always turn my FW pump off while traveling. Once after traveling I went to hook up city water at a CG and found the pump running. No water was running. The pump apparently had an air bubble such that the pressure switch kept cycling.
No harm and probably only a one time incident but now I turn the pump off out of habit.

**JohnRR** · 04-29-2015, 10:27 AM

Sorry I was so slow getting the poll up.

It's multiple choice.

Sky_Boss · 04-29-2015, 11:20 AM

I've always wondered what folks think is an "extended" time. Since we are full timers I can't imagine turning off water for a day trip.

Because of the other thread I am certainly more aware that it is probably a good idea to turn off the water pump while driving. While I doubt my 9 year old coach will develop such a serious leak under any normal conditions, it doesn't take any time to flip the switch on and off.

Also, I always use a pressure restrictor when on city water so I don't think there is a high probability of the coach developing a sudden leak while sitting on a site.

Waiter21 · 04-29-2015, 12:06 PM

We generally only turn the pump on when we need water. I think this was a habit we got into with my Ole Toyhouse because the pressure switch didn't work.

The Mirada pressure switch works, but we just turn it off.

MattC · 04-29-2015, 01:32 PM

My friends often say I am paranoid, and then I remind them that I am OLD and paranoid.

We travel with a potable pump off because I am a waterman that spent much of his life on tidal (salt) water. It is a real bummer when you get back in after a day's sail to find that somehow the tap in the heat got open and you have pumped all the fresh water overboard. If this happens in the coach, it isn't gone, but now you have to dump.
We shut the city water off when we are not going to be in the coach so if a similar thing happens, and the black tank dump is closed (as it should be), then carpet stays dry.
We travel with the gas off because we can keep the reefer without it. Fire is a primary cause of loss of RVs. I just don't need to add that as fuel.
Yes, I am paranoid, old and paranoid.....
Matt

MaverickBBD · 04-29-2015, 02:00 PM

We usually do if gone for longer then 12 hours. Of course, it is a foot race when we get back. DW runs for bathroom and I run for water connection. Okay, sometimes I turn on the tank flush to get even.

newmarpusher · 04-29-2015, 03:17 PM

We always turn the water pump off while traveling. We never turn the city water off while parked but we don't live it the RV, just vacation in it. We now have an all electric coach but before always left the propane on to run the refer while traveling.

DebnDan · 04-29-2015, 03:40 PM

As a general rule the pump is off until needed. I think that is why the RVs have a pump switch at all the water taps. It's a habit I picked up as a kid, 40 years ago in the much less sophisticated motor homes. About a year ago I had the back flow valve go bad, while boondocking, at the city water connection. Woke up to no water and a pump that just kept running.

When we leave the site for any extended time I will generally turn off the city water. I have, on several occasions turned off the spigot at a neighbors site after seeing water flowing out their door or compartments.

Also before leaving the site or before retiring for the night I hit the retract button and bring in the patio awning.

Dan Callahan, North Jersey
2008 Fleetwood Excursion 40E
Freightliner, Cummins, Allison
It's not the Destination or the Journey
It's the Excursion

BFlinn181 · 04-29-2015, 03:55 PM

Because of a slight leak in pressure from a one-way valve, if I leave the water pump on it will run about every 10 minutes or so for a few seconds. Since we have switches in spots convenient to the water taps, it's no problem to shut the pump down when water isn't needed.

We turn the city water off when away from the campground so pressure doesn't burst the hose in sunlight. In cold weather, we leave the hose disconnected unless we need to fill the tank.

Gordon Dewald · 04-29-2015, 03:56 PM

We turned the water and propane off in the 5er when traveling.

We turn the water off in the coach. No propane, but if we had it it would be off.

Sky_Boss · 04-29-2015, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BFlinn181

...
We turn the city water off when away from the campground so pressure doesn't burst the hose in sunlight. ...

UMM...maybe I am missing something but the only way I think a connected hose in sunlight could burst from the heat is if both the city water valve on the coach and the water supply valve are closed. If either one is open, I don't think pressure can build up.