RV water programs provide potable water to varied fixtures – kitchen and loo sinks, bogs, indoor and outside showers, and many others. In this text, we’ll deal with the design and performance of your RV’s water distribution system and supply ideas for utilizing and sustaining it correctly.
How Do RV Water Systems Work?
Most RV water programs can function as self-contained programs – that means you draw from a tank of potable water on board. This tank is often known as your freshwater holding tank. This should be sanitized usually to make sure secure water for ingesting, dishes, and extra.
Potable: (adj.) secure to drink
Your RV water system pumps water all through your coach utilizing a water pump – a tool that pressurizes the plumbing traces to drive water from the freshwater tank out by means of your taps, fixtures, and scorching water heater. The water heater should be turned on to warmth water, which the pump distributes to scorching water traces.
Your RV water system additionally heats and distributes water to fixtures when linked to a metropolis water supply. A test valve in your water pump prevents your recent water tank from filling when linked to metropolis water. Another test valve on the metropolis water inlet prevents water from flowing backward out of the inlet when the pump is working.
City water: (n.) a municipal water provide. In the case of RV parks, it will possibly typically check with water pulled from a neighborhood effectively and distributed by way of underground mains to campsite spigots.
RV Water System RV Plumbing Diagram
Here’s a fast diagram of the fundamental design of RV water programs:
Disclaimer: This common diagram might not be 100% correct for all RVs. Consult your proprietor’s guide or contact your RV producer for an up-to-date diagram of your RV’s water system.
RV Water System Components
Here are the varied elements you’ll discover in most RV water distribution programs:
Pressure Regulator
Most RVs require using an exterior strain regulator put in on the spigot in case you’re connecting to metropolis water. However, some items have a built-in regulator on the metropolis water connection on the RV’s exterior wall. Most regulators even have backflow preventers and strainers to maintain particles out of your RV’s water system.
External and built-in fashions defend your water pump and system elements from harm that may be brought on by unregulated metropolis water strain. City water hookups can have pressures at excessive as 150 PSI (kilos per sq. inch). A strain regulator reduces that strain to an appropriate stage on your RV – often between 40 and 50 PSI.
Learn extra about why you want a water strain regulator on your RV.
RV Water Filter Systems
Some RVs are outfitted with a water filter constructed into the distribution system. Others require putting in an exterior water filter on the spigot (however after a strain regulator, if relevant).
Onboard filtration programs are usually put in in an beneath compartment or underneath the kitchen sink. They are often cartridge-style filters that take away impurities that have an effect on the incoming water’s texture and style.
Onboard and exterior water filters should be changed usually in keeping with the producer’s advice. Water high quality requirements differ dramatically from area to area and campground to campground, so some water filtration mechanism is significant to secure RV adventures.
Learn extra about getting clear ingesting water in your RV.
Potable Water Tank (Fresh Water Tank)
Potable water tanks are sometimes made from polyethylene or an identical plastic materials. The variety of gallons of water these tanks maintain relies on the make and mannequin, in addition to typically based mostly on provide chain availability.
Most RVs have a everlasting recent water tank constructed into the RV in manufacturing, however some have a small, detachable tank. Permanent RV potable water tanks are stuffed by way of a labeled fill port on most RVs’ off-camp facet – reverse the primary entry door.
In-line Strainer
Most fashionable water pumps embrace a built-in strainer, however older RVs could have a separate in-line strainer put in between the water tank and the pump. These inline filters are easy screens that gather filth, sand, and different particles earlier than they’ll harm your water pump, test valves, vacuum breakers, and taps. They don’t filter the identical impurities as a water filter.
Water Pump
RV water programs distribute water in three fundamental methods: by a requirement strain system, a metropolis water strain system, or a guide pump system.
A demand strain system makes use of a water pump powered by a small 12-volt motor. Most RV water pumps strain to a spread of 40-50 PSI. An inner strain change turns the pump off when the set strain is reached.
Most water pumps are additionally outfitted with a strainer and test valve. The strainer removes giant sediments that would harm the pump. The test valve prevents water from flowing backward by means of the pump into your potable water tank when linked to metropolis water.
A metropolis water strain system depends on the strain provided by a potable water supply from a spigot. It requires a water strain regulator to lower strain to a secure stage for RV plumbing.
A guide pump system makes use of a foot or hand-operated pump to pressurize the system and distribute water from the tank to the fixtures.
Technician Tip: There was a fourth technique for water distribution – air strain. This technique utilized an onboard air compressor to pressurize the system instead of a water pump. But it was extra frequent on older RVs and is rarer to seek out now. Should you come throughout a pneumatic system, grow to be absolutely educated within the use and upkeep of the system earlier than use.
These programs will include a really excessive quantity of strain, and extreme damage can happen if excessive warning isn’t exercised. Also, the compressor should be meals grade and certain oilless. Using the mistaken compressor or sustaining it incorrectly can contaminate the potable water system.
Most RV recent water distribution programs are designed to make the most of two potential provide sources – demand pump (by way of your moveable water tank) and metropolis water are the most typical.
Shut-Off Valve
The shut-off valve in an RV water system retains water within the tank if repairs are required in different components of the distribution system. Closing the valve permits for repairs with out draining the tank.
Piping/Tubing
According to NFPA 1192, the piping that transports water from that tank to your fixtures should be rated to be used with potable water. Pipes and tubes transporting scorching water should even be rated for decent water use.
The commonest piping materials utilized in at present’s RVs is CPVC or polyethylene cross-link tubing (PEX). Other frequent supplies embrace PVC and polybutylene. The supplies should be rated for cold and warm installations, and the necessities for materials, sort, dimension, set up, and assist are all outlined in NFPA 1192.
Water distribution piping is usually crimson or blue however could also be clear or opaque. RVs with crimson and blue piping make figuring out cold and warm water traces simpler, however extra testing is required to find out if the traces are scorching or chilly for fashions with clear or opaque piping.
Accumulator
An accumulator tank is generally discovered on higher-end items however could be added to any unit by knowledgeable RV technician. It’s a small water storage tank (often made from ABS plastic or steel) that’s positioned downstream from the water pump to assist preserve constant water strain, cut back water sputtering, and reduce the biking of the water pump.
Internally, an accumulator is split into two halves, separated by a rubber membrane. The consumer will pressurize half of the accumulator by including compressed air by means of a Schrader valve, usually to 30 PSI. The water system will add pressurized water to the opposite half.
When there isn’t a demand on the system, the strain is saved contained in the tank and might be instantly launched when a fixture or valve is opened. This offers quick high-pressure water circulate immediately. The water system then retains the water flowing.
If the water pump is getting used, the accumulator will take up the pulsations brought on by the pumping motion. This offers a smoother, extra city-water-like expertise. The air strain is adjustable to fine-tune the efficiency to the consumer’s desire.
Water Heater
RV water heaters provide scorching water to your fixtures and run on 120-volt AC energy, propane, or each. Many RV water heaters at present are referred to as DSI (direct spark ignition) water heaters. That means there’s no pilot gentle to be lit manually earlier than every use.
Water heaters that use propane should be listed for RV use as a result of they should be designed and examined for the added vibrations and bouncing that include the RV life-style. You’ll additionally see ‘on-demand’ or ‘tankless’ water heaters in lots of new RVs.
Certain water heater installations may additionally embrace a bypass equipment for simpler winterization. This equipment eliminates the necessity to fill the water heater with antifreeze to guard the tank and your scorching water traces from freezing temperatures. Bypass kits can embrace 1-3 guide shut-off valves.
Technician Tip: Winterization shut-off valves ought to NOT be closed when winterizing a tankless, on-demand, or hydronic (boiler) water heater, as they MUST be protected against freezing by displacing all water with RV antifreeze.
Fixtures
Most RVs are outfitted with the next frequent fixtures: tubs, bogs, indoor and outside showers, and kitchen and loo sinks. These fixtures are the ultimate ingredient in your RV’s water distribution system earlier than the water enters your RV’s plumbing system for waste assortment.
Approved RV fixtures should be listed and put in by the phrases of that itemizing, comparable to these stipulated by the National Sanitary Foundation (NSF) and the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO).
Low-Point Drains
The low-point drains in an RV water system help you drain the system utilizing gravity. However, the potential for low spots within the distribution system requires blowing out the traces utilizing an air compressor or filling them with RV antifreeze when winterizing your RV.
Technician Tip: Due to the potential for freeze harm, there isn’t a guarantee at Camping World for the Basic Winterize Package (blowing traces out with compressed air). The Complete Winterize package deal consists of blowing the traces out with compressed air and filling the traces with RV antifreeze, which carries Camping World’s normal guarantee.
Contact a Camping World Service Center to study extra about RV winterization companies.
How to Maintain Your RV Water System
Now that you simply perceive the fundamental operation of RV water programs, listed below are some ideas that will help you preserve yours working easily and effectively:
When you know the way it capabilities, something is less complicated to work on or troubleshoot. Hopefully, you now have a greater understanding of RV water programs. Still, you’ll be able to all the time contact an RV service advisor at your native Camping World Service Center in case you want help.
Do you’ve got any questions on RV water programs? Let us know within the feedback beneath.
Tucker Ballister is our Technical Content Writer. He’s a lover of the open highway and the proud proprietor of a 2021 Sunlite Classic journey trailer (his third RV so far). Check out extra of his RV adventures, gear evaluations, and outside recommendation at thebackpackguide.com.