What's Up with the Water Pressure?

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Technically Speaking

What's Up with the Water Pressure?
By Mark J. Polk

We have an 87-year-old house, with an old well, pump and pressure tank. I got tired of priming the pump every time we used too much water and of the low water pressure. So a few weeks ago, I bought a new pump and a larger pressure tank, sized accordingly for the number of water fixtures in the house. When I installed them I also raised the cut-on and cut-off pressure from 20/40 PSI to 30/50 PSI. I had almost forgotten how nice it is to take a shower with good water pressure!...

Correcting the problems we had with the water system in the house made me think about the problems with the water system in our RV. When our 12-volt water pump pressurizes and then shuts off, it seems like the whole RV shakes. Now this may sound like an exaggeration, but when somebody turns the water on and the pump is under the bed where you're taking a nap, trust me-it's no exaggeration! At first, the noise and vibration is tolerable, barely enough to wake you up, but those last few seconds while it builds to the shut-off pressure will test your heart when you're sleeping.

The other problem with our motor home water system is the water pressure we get from the 12-volt pump. We do our fair share of dry camping and the water pressure reminds me of the pressure we had in the house before I fixed it. That's when the thought occurred to me, if I can improve the water problems in the house why can't I improve the water problems in the RV?

With that in mind, I started doing some research to determine what product could alleviate my two main concerns: less cut-off pressure noise and vibration and better water pressure from our 12-volt water pump. There were a lot of choices available but it finally came down to a Shurflo Extreme Series Smart Sensor 5.7 water pump.

I chose this particular pump because of the "smart sensor" technology and the 65 PSI water pressure it advertised. Smart sensor technology is a micro-processor-controlled variable speed pump that can deliver over 5 gallons per minute up to 65 PSI. The pump monitors your water pressure and automatically adjusts the motor speed, eliminating the need for a pressure switch, while delivering high flow for multiple fixtures. What this meant to me was higher water pressure to the shower and no more cycling to reach the cut-off pressure, exactly what I wanted. The Extreme Series 5.7 water pump is designed for use in Class A coaches and larger towable RV's. There is also an Extreme Series 4.0 pump designed specifically for Class C coaches and smaller towable RV's. It delivers 4 gallons of water per minute with pressure up to 50 PSI.

The installation was fairly simple. It's important that you follow the manufacturer's installation instructions. If you don't feel comfortable installing it you can have it installed at a Camping World close to you. If you do decide to install it yourself you will also need an "Extreme Series High-Flow" water strainer. The water strainer will protect the pump from any debris in the water.

To further minimize noise and vibration, add the Pump Silencing Kit.

The kit includes components to absorb pump vibration before it's transferred to the PVC lines throughout your RV, making pump operation significantly quieter.

While we're on the subject of water in your RV, let me point out some other considerations for keeping your RV water system safe. When you travel to different destinations in your RV, you use water from many different sources. There are no guarantees that any water is completely safe to drink, but if you take certain precautions you can keep your RV water system safe.

Start with a white non-toxic drinking hose. Hoses not labeled safe for drinking water can contribute to lead and other dangerous chemicals getting in the water. Use the white non-toxic hose for hooking up to the water source only. Take along a grey water flushing hose to flush out holding tanks or a garden hose for washing the RV. When you're not using the drinking water hose, roll it up and connect the two ends together, or use hose caps. This will keep dirt, bugs and other debris from getting in the hose. The next time you use the hose, run some water through it before hooking it up to the RV.

Always filter the water going into the RV with a high-quality filtration system. Water filters do not purify the water but they can control and remove bacteria, lead and other dangerous contaminants often found in drinking water. You have two choices on how to filter your RV drinking water. You can install an inline water filter directly to the water line that you drink from in the RV.

The second option is to filter all of the water going into the RV. I prefer to filter all of the water before it goes into the RV. This helps to protect the entire water system and if you have sensitive skin it even filters the shower water to help prevent skin irritation. Be sure you follow the manufacturer's instructions for replacing the filters or filter cartridges.

To put the new water pump to the test, I took a shower and was very pleased with the higher water pressure. It was about the same as taking a shower in the house with the new pump and pressure tank on the well. Next, I took a nap. I explained to my wife that once I drifted off to sleep she should turn the water on, run it for a while and then turn it off. I am pleased to announce that the experiment was a success. I slept through the pump starting and stopping. Now if I can just figure out a way to quiet the kids when I take a nap I'll have it made!

Happy Camping!
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Mark Polk is the owner of RV Education 101. He also hosts the RV Savvy segments for RVTV, which airs on the Outdoor Channel. RV Education 101 is a North Carolina-based company that produces professional training videos, DVDs and e-books on how to use and maintain your RV so all of your RV experiences are safe, fun and stress-free.
Mark's DVDs are available at Camping World.