City Water/Fresh Water Tank Newb Question (2509S)

[jrichards]

This is our first Travel Trailer. Still discovering things about it :-). Do you have to turn the valve every time you want to use city water vs the fresh water tank? Or is there a way to have them both open for use and pull from the fresh water tank when the water pump is on?

[Greg in michigan]

Originally Posted by jrichards

This is our first Travel Trailer. Still discovering things about it :-). Do you have to turn the valve every time you want to use city water vs the fresh water tank? Or is there a way to have them both open for use and pull from the fresh water tank when the water pump is on?

When you turn on the pump your drawing the water from the freshwater tank. when you're hooked up to the camp ground water and turn on the faucet you're drawing from the camp ground water source.
Greg in Michigan

[jrichards]

Thanks for the reply and answer! I am sure I will have many more :-)

[rockfordroo]

A more detailed response: When hooked up to city water, with your pump ON, you will be using city water if it's pressure is higher than the pump shut-off pressure.

But if the city water pressure were to drop below the pump start pressure (or not be high enough to begin with), the pump will start, it will raise pressure higher than the lowered city water pressure and backseat the city water check valve, so your water will all be coming from your FW tank. Shut off the faucet/shower, the pressure builds up and shuts off the pump.

If you shut off your pump, then city water will be your supply, no matter how high or low it's pressure may be.

Some people leave their pumps on so they'll always have good pressure if the city water pressure fluctuates. But it may end up draining their FW tank.

I've attached a generic plumbing pic for you.

[jrichards]

Originally Posted by rockfordroo

A more detailed response: When hooked up to city water, with your pump ON, you will be using city water if it's pressure is higher than the pump shut-off pressure.

But if the city water pressure were to drop below the pump start pressure (or not be high enough to begin with), the pump will start, it will raise pressure higher than the lowered city water pressure and backseat the city water check valve, so your water will all be coming from your FW tank. Shut off the faucet/shower, the pressure builds up and shuts off the pump.

If you shut off your pump, then city water will be your supply, no matter how high or low it's pressure may be.

Some people leave their pumps on so they'll always have good pressure if the city water pressure fluctuates. But it may end up draining their FW tank.

I've attached a generic plumbing pic for you.

Thanks for that detailed PDF. Where did you get that? I have been trying to find documentation like that, but the Forest River Owners Manual's have not been very helpful.

[Scrapper]

Originally Posted by jrichards

Thanks for that detailed PDF. Where did you get that? I have been trying to find documentation like that, but the Forest River Owners Manual's have not been very helpful.

I don't think anyone knows who drew up that PDF or where it came from. It's been around for quite some time.

[rockfordroo]

Originally Posted by jrichards

Thanks for that detailed PDF. Where did you get that? I have been trying to find documentation like that, but the Forest River Owners Manual's have not been very helpful.

I made it myself. I've rev'd it a number of times, as others have described how their water heaters are bypassed. You can see there are a number of ways to do it.

[JayArras]

Originally Posted by rockfordroo

I made it myself. I've rev'd it a number of times, as others have described how their water heaters are bypassed. You can see there are a number of ways to do it.

Thank you for that!

[Scrapper]

Originally Posted by rockfordroo

I made it myself. I've rev'd it a number of times, as others have described how their water heaters are bypassed. You can see there are a number of ways to do it.

Now we know. It looks like you pretty much covered all the options. Good job.

[rockfordroo]

It doesn't cover units with those fancy "docking stations," though.

[JayArras]

Originally Posted by rockfordroo

It doesn't cover units with those fancy "docking stations," though.

Spoilsport!

[rockfordroo]

I haven't been able to figure out the docking stations. There appear to be a lot of different ones, some simple, some more complex. And all you can see are handles. Oh, well.