Shower backflow gasket

[tom39]

The title may not explain what I am having an issue with as I am not really sure what the gasket is called. My hope was that someone might know what it is and/or know what I it is calle, which would help me in my search for a replacement.

Anyway, where the shower hose connects to the faucet at the blend tube, there is a small black rubber gasket that kind of looks like a top hat. The gasket seems to have stiffened and no longer seals water from escaping when under pressure. At first I thought that there might be debris keeping it from sealing but even after cleaning it still leaks.

For additional help I have added a few pictures of the gasket still in the faucet output connection point, the faucet connection point with gasket removed and pictures of the gasket itself.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thank you,
Tom

[tom39]

Could it be the vacuum breaker gasket?

[tom39]

So with a bit more research and a trip to the local RV Dealer parts counter, I have confirmed that it is indeed the gasket for the vacuum breaker. Of course the gasket is not something that they have on the shelf and apparently the breaker is something that is not serviceable.

So the questions that I have are: Is the vacuum breaker a necessary function of the faucet? If not, would sealing the gasket in place cause any issues later down the road?

I realize that many may be thinking that replacing the faucet may be the best way to go. But replacement of the faucet would require cutting an access hole in the bedroom wall as Forest River provided no access to the connection point of the faucet to remove the water lines or faucet nuts.

Thank you
Tom