Low Water Pressure

[TS Pindel]

Hi Folks. New here. Just bought a 2025 RiverStone 44DBL. Love the RIG. I’ve had it for about 3 weeks. Recently notice water pressure drops after turning on. Starts out strong and then drops off. We are on city water but it does it on Dry Camp mode also even with pump on. It has been cold here in GA. I checked every hose, fitting, screen and filter and nothing makes a difference. Changed regulator. Some background; within the last week I de-winterized the dishwasher and cloths washer since then the pressure dropped. Don’t asked why I waited so long to do it, I haven’t used it.. lol. No water leaking outside the rig. I’m too far away front the dealership I bought it from and was hoping it was something I’m missing. I’ve heard about a check valve or one way valve but dang things only month old. Please help anyway possible. Thanks everyone for your ear.

 

[Randall Jay]

Recently notice water pressure drops after turning on. Starts out strong and then drops off.

Does this happen on every faucet, inside and outside? Shower too?

Stumped but looking for clues.

 

[TS Pindel]

Sorry should’ve been more specific. Every faucet inside and outside to include both showers. Cold and Hot water.

One other note; in the last few weeks since the temps have dropped and have been hovering around 20s-30s at night I bought some heated hoses. Camco from campers world ( I know I was desperate) Pressure seemed to be fine in the beginning but has fallen off as I mentioned. No leaks anywhere.

This River Stone has the ability to shut off certain parts of the RV in the event of leaks. I tried zone by zone and no changes.

I’m stumped.

I believe that’s all.

 

[Randall Jay]

This River Stone has the ability to shut off certain parts of the RV in the event of leaks.

It senses leaks and shuts off water to certain parts of the RV? I never heard of that. Or do you mean there are valves you can manually close?

You did not mention your water pump turning on periodically when no water is being used so i would rule out a leak.

When the pressure tapers off, does the pump eventually run and increase the pressure to normal?

This "sounds" like there is a kink or other restriction somewhere between your pump/pressure tank and ALL of your faucets (so close to the pump before the line forks to each faucet). I'd start at the tank and look for physical line constriction.

Thats all i got. If you find more clues, maybe someone can figure it out if you post them here.

 

[TS Pindel]

Yes there is a valve body that allows me to shut off manually different parts of the Rig in the event of leaking.

I do not have the pump on when hooked to city water.

I did try Dry camp mode and turned on the pump but didn’t see much of a change.

 

[Randall Jay]

I do not have the pump on when hooked to city water.

I did try Dry camp mode and turned on the pump but didn’t see much of a change.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯​

I dunno, out of ideas. Sticking with pinched/restricted line somewhere, somehow.

 

[5picker]

If you are certain the issue is the same (you said it didn't SEEM to make much of a difference) on both city water and pump, you can rule out your heated hose and regulator.

Does your rig have a whole house filter?
I'm not familiar with Riverstone's water manifold you speak of but in any R/V, construction debris can get lodged in faucet and toilet valves so it's possible something is awry in that manifold. Randall's suggestion of a pinched, kinked, restricted line is a good suggestion too.

You mention not being able to go back to your selling dealer but warranty repairs can be done by a mobile mechanic. You may need to contact Riverstone for prior approval.

 

[RhumbleFish]

Super nice rig, and sorry you're having problems.

I'm in the same mode as the other posters - sounds like a partial inline obstruction or kink. Since the pressure drop is affecting EVERY water outlet, sounds like it's in the cold side, and early on in the system - like a filter housing. If it happens while on pump/tank as well as on city water, then it's not the entry point and is downstream from there.

I've never heard of a valve to shut off PART of the system in the event of leaks. Are you sure that this valve fully opened right now? An *almost* closed valve could cause the described symptoms.

Also, how long does it take for the water pressure to "taper off" and how long does it refresh/renew itself? Gradually with time? Instantly after water off-and-on? If you're on pump, how does the pump act when the water pressure reduces and then increases? Is there an pressure accumulator tank inline in the system?

We had a guy on the board who - when winterizing - replaced his water filter with an empty soda bottle (to displace antifreeze in the filter housing). Unfortunately he neglected to swap the filter back into place next spring, and ran his system with the soda bottle inline. Thing is, the soda bottle top was sized "just right" to be pulled up into the intake and partially block it, such that he'd have water pressure (on city water and on pump), which would start strong, and then mysteriously slow.

I'd be tempted to check and remove the filter, and see if the water pressure reduces w/o the filter in place. I'd also look very carefully at this shutoff valve and see if it's not closed down when it should be opened.

Challenging problem, but I think you can definitely chase it down.

Just my .02 - hope this helps, I can be - and often am - wrong.

 

[TS Pindel]

Update: As I mentioned in my initial post I checked everything and I mean everything. Something told me last night to pull the filter out of the built in filter system out that the rig comes with and see what happens. Again I did pull the filter off initially and checked it but it didn’t appear to be dirty. The Rig is only a month old. Sure enough with no filter on pressure is back to normal. Guess I’ll be buying stock in Rv mini filters for my new rig!!!!

Oy Vey!

Thanks again for those who chimed in.

 

[RhumbleFish]

Update: As I mentioned in my initial post I checked everything and I mean everything. Something told me last night to pull the filter out of the built in filter system out that the rig comes with and see what happens. Again I did pull the filter off initially and checked it but it didn’t appear to be dirty. The Rig is only a month old. Sure enough with no filter on pressure is back to normal. Guess I’ll be buying stock in Rv mini filters for my new rig!!!!

Oy Vey!

Thanks again for those who chimed in.

Hey - sounds like we found the issue!!!! Seriously, though, thanks for letting us know. Is the filter that was installed the RIGHT ONE for the housing/mount? (often the housing will have the filter part number on it). I can see having the WRONG filter, in place, or it not being seated properly, or - heck - even if someone had a brainfart and didn't take the outer plastic wrap off the filter in the first place... I can't imagine your filter is already clogged with only three weeks of use (especially since you just dewinterized the dishwasher and clothes washer). I'm sortof thinking the filter's either not installed properly.

The learning curve on all these things is pretty steep, and all a little different, and we have to relearn all of the systems that we already know from home ownership.... AND not miss a step on our checklists. I find myself making all kinds of little mistakes, mostly from being a little casual about how I go about doing them. Maybe I need to take that checklist a little more seriously.

Anyway, glad to hear you've identified the issue and that you're back in business.

 

[NMWildcat]

Congrats on finding your issue! And you got to know your RV much better in the process

Honestly, all the folks I know who owned an RV with inline water filters eventually removed them, filter and housing. Some went to external filters, other just do without (like myself). The water filter game can be an expensive and frustrating rabbit hole......

Just another option.