Get a water pressure regulator or suffer my fate

[67L48]

I knowingly did the wrong thing, did it anyway, and suffered consequences. I guess I'm about like a 6 year old. Wanted to share the experience so others don't do this.

Pulled into the campground about 4 miles from our house for a simple 1-night, shake down of the new trailer. First time out.

Plan was to set up camper and then drive down to Walmart to get some supplies, food, and various sundries. Wife mentioned she wanted a shower when we got back. I knew that we wouldn't have hot water until a good 30-40 minutes after filling the tank.

So, I decided to connect the campground's water even though I knew I didn't have a pressure regulator. The regulator was on my list for the Walmart trip. I knew I needed one, I knew the risk of connecting to CG water without one, and I proceeded to consciously make a bad decision.

About an hour later, we got back and there was a puddle of water under my trailer. Opened the side up to find that the water filter housing was the weak link. It was spraying a light stream/mist of water out the threads. Fortunately, nothing burst and no lines became disconnected. I had about 1/16-1/8" standing water in my compartment with the water system. Some had migrated out into my kitchen area, but only the size of a couple of frisbees next to each other.

Took me a trip back home and 6 bath towels to clean up. It could have been worse. If a hose would have popped off, I could have flooded my entire trailer.

Rest of the trip went great. But, do yourself a favor, don't be an idiot like me. Believe the 639 various posts and articles warning against super high campground water pressure. Spend at least the $8 to get a simple pressure regulator.

Good luck.

[cheeseheadjim]

Glad it wasn't worse than it was for you. THANKS for the reminder to always use a water pressure regulator. The same warning should also apply to using a power monitor/protector when hooking up to the campground 120 VAC power supply.

[Jay2504]

Thanks for the post letting everyone know how fast things can go wrong. Glad there was no serious damage. I learned my lesson about water pressure regulators when I turned on the water at a campground and my white hose almost burst! Tried flushing the toilet and there was so much pressure that the water jumped out of the bowl. Right now I have one of those cheap ones that you get at Walmart. I am hoping to upgrade to one that has a gauge, is adjustable and doesn’t restrict the flow as much. Jay

[DieselDrax]

While I would never connect a hose without a pressure regulator, it sure sounds like the water filter housing wasn't fully tightened or the O-ring is damaged/missing. I wouldn't blame that on lack of a pressure regulator and would make doubly sure that the water filter housing/assembly is sealing properly.

[ependydad]

Out of curiosity, did the problem go away simply by adding the pressure regulator? or did you also tighten the water filter housing?

[hybridlife]

Don't beat yourself up to bad, while you made a mistake not using a pressure regulator, those water filters have been known to be a weak link in the system and many others have spoke of water leaks because of them. I removed my water filter all together and only use an external in-line filter now.

m

[5picker]

And while the water pressure regulator is a good item to have in your system... the water filter 'should' be rated for at least double the pressure any water system could provide. If it was leaking from the threads, installing a regulator to lower the pressure isn't the fix for the leaky filter. You need to find out what is wrong there. Housing installed too loosely, damaged threads, etc.

And as a public service reminder... because these boxes go down the road shaking and twisting every trip... do not leave the campground with the water pressure left on. You just never know when something might start to leak... even under proper circumstances.

Enjoy your new R/V!

[bubbles]

Don't think a pressure regulator would have helped here.

[rockfordroo]

Originally Posted by DieselDrax

While I would never connect a hose without a pressure regulator, it sure sounds like the water filter housing wasn't fully tightened or the O-ring is damaged/missing. I wouldn't blame that on lack of a pressure regulator and would make doubly sure that the water filter housing/assembly is sealing properly.

Originally Posted by bubbles

Don't think a pressure regulator would have helped here.

X2.

[Nurek]

I bypassed by filter housing and use a Camco inline filter right off the tap after reading that these filter housings are notorious for leaking.

Never had issues with water pressure being too high.

[67L48]

Originally Posted by ependydad

Out of curiosity, did the problem go away simply by adding the pressure regulator? or did you also tighten the water filter housing?

Problem went away after installing the basic Camco pressure regulator. I did not tighten the water filter. Left the water connected for the next 14 hours and not a drop.

Anyway, I just wanted to put a fresh reality spin on this. It's not a theoretical issue ... CGs really do have high water pressure.

Good luck.

[DieselDrax]

Originally Posted by 67L48

Problem went away after installing the basic Camco pressure regulator. I did not tighten the water filter. Left the water connected for the next 14 hours and not a drop.

Anyway, I just wanted to put a fresh reality spin on this. It's not a theoretical issue ... CGs really do have high water pressure.

Good luck.

Still, do yourself a favor and ensure the filter is properly sealing. Even with "high" water pressure at the CG it shouldn't leak. The filter assembly should be rated for roughly 150psi and I really doubt the CG water supply was that high. Your filter has a problem, you need to fix it rather than assume correlation is causation and think everything is fine now.

[emm-dee]

Where are these campgrounds with high water pressure? Seems to me at least half that I go to have pressure so low that I only use it to fill my FW tank so I can use the camper water pump in order to have enough pressure for a decent shower.

[Scrapper]

Originally Posted by Nurek

I bypassed by filter housing and use a Camco inline filter right off the tap after reading that these filter housings are notorious for leaking.

Never had issues with water pressure being too high.

I have my water pressure regulator set ot 40psi. Anything above that I get water shooting over the side of the bowl from one hole on the china toilet. The toilet is a Dometic 310 and doesn't have a rim like a household toilet.

[kc8lvy]

Pressure regulator is a great thing to have and use. All newer RV's are ran with pex tubing and connectors which they use in house plumbing and rated for high pressure. But the RV it gets bounced around a lot. I don't use one and we have 80 psi here at the park. But I have a water filter and a water softener in line so my pressure at the RV is not at 80. I used to have an adjustable one and had it set on about 80. When we leave for any long time I always turn off my water and hot water heater.

[ependydad]

Originally Posted by 67L48

Problem went away after installing the basic Camco pressure regulator. I did not tighten the water filter. Left the water connected for the next 14 hours and not a drop.

Anyway, I just wanted to put a fresh reality spin on this. It's not a theoretical issue ... CGs really do have high water pressure.

Good luck.

[Flybob]

To add to this, be sure the pressure regulator you buy is actually a pressure regulator and not a pressure reducer. The pressure reducer restricts the flow of water to control the pressure. This works when water is flowing ( think of kinking a hose), but once the flow stops the pressure on both sides of the regulator will equalize and you gained nothing. Spend a few bucks and get a good water pressure regulator.

[Rdeejr]

I don’t use a regulator. I don’t turn the water on all the way. Maybe 1/2. Don’t have any problems.

[DieselDrax]

Originally Posted by Rdeejr

I don’t use a regulator. I don’t turn the water on all the way. Maybe 1/2. Don’t have any problems.

That does nothing to reduce the pressure, that just reduces flow. Once the flow stops the pressure will equalize and you will have full pressure to the RV. Use a pressure regulator.

[Flybob]

Reminds me of a dive trip I was on, Guy next to me only turned on his air tank half way. When I asked, he told me that was so when he ran out of air he could turn on the other half of the tank