OK, Here's a weird water pressure problem

mello mike · 01-07-2006, 10:15 PM

I have excellent water pressure when using my water tank/water pump. However, when on city water my water pressure if very, very low. A little more than a trickle. Is there a valve or something that could cause this? It's probably something dumb on my part that I'm overlooking.

Thanks,
Mike

Buttercup · 01-07-2006, 10:23 PM

How about a bad pressure regulator, clogged screen on the hose inlet, crimped pipe somewhere?
I would look at the regulator first...

overlander63 · 01-07-2006, 10:24 PM

Your city water pressure regulator is probably stopped up. Your onboard water system doesn't go through it, so is unaffected.

mello mike · 01-07-2006, 10:36 PM

On other RVs they are placed outside in between the intake and water hose. Where is the regulator on an Airstream?

**azflycaster** · 01-07-2006, 10:45 PM

Mike,
The regulator is the first thing the water goes through from the city connection. It should be close to the water inlet connector. On my 75 it would have been under the bathroom sink and behind the shower, right on the other side of the water connector. My regulator was removed sometime in the past 30 years by a PO. I assume it was done when the copper was removed and the Pex installed. I use a hose attached regulator when I hook to city water (very rarely).

Hippo · 01-08-2006, 12:55 AM

Mike,
On my 25FT AS a 1975 model the orginial regulator was outside under the rear bumper on the left side if you were standing behind the trailer. I removed the regular and replaced it with a brass pressure reducer.
Chuck

**wahoonc** · 01-08-2006, 07:16 AM

Mike,
On the my 75 Sovereign the regulator is in the rear storage compartment. There is also an inline check valve in the same general area. I would take the regulator out of line to see if that is the issue. They can be worked on if that is the problem, or you can replace it with one that goes on the end of the hose.

Aaron

Cracker · 01-08-2006, 09:47 AM

I had a similar problem on my 2000 Excella - and I still do - even after replacing the regulator! For the record, the regulator on the 2000 Excella is mounted behind the panel where you attach the hose - and it is accessible by removing the appropriate screws on the box/panel. It's a pain in the butt to get to it but, overall, it's not that difficult.

I still turn my pump on when I want to "up" the pressure at the shower head. I really don't have any problem with the pressure at the kitchen or bathroom faucets.

safari57 · 01-08-2006, 01:34 PM

Have you tried putting a shop vac up to the water inlet on the trailer? It could be something in the line that this would free up, or perhaps free up the regulator. I don't know if this would work, but for the amount of effort it is worth a try. I know years ago a friend told us he'd had a problem with his water pressure (he had a pressure regulator on his water hose at the tap end hook up so he didn't overload the pressure on his hose. After playing with it for some time he finally found the culprit. A mouse had crawled into his waterhose while it was stored in his storage cupboard, then been washed into his trailer water line. Not pleasant. To keep his wife happy he ended up replacing the water lines so she would once again use the water.
Barry