Water Pressure Regulators - DO THEY WORK?

[Kyle401]

The one I have is the brass 40055.

Item

[perryg114]

I will have to get one of those and test it.

Perry

[mtbguy]

I am reading this thread trying to figure out if my Regulator has gone bad. I winterized system last month before a hard freeze that lasted a week. I drained the lines pretty well, but did not drain metal Watts (original factory installed) regulator.

When we went camping this weekend, I filled my fresh water tank and when I turned on the pump, water shot out the side of the trailer where city water hooks up (relief valve I guess). I then hooked up city water to that pipe and used it and the water system worked fine. I forgot to recheck the valve before leaving campsite to see if valve was still stuck open.

Could a hard freeze have ruined the valve, or do they sometime just randomly get stuck?

Thanks

Rick

[Protagonist]

Originally Posted by mtbguy

I am reading this thread trying to figure out if my Regulator has gone bad. I winterized system last month before a hard freeze that lasted a week. I drained the lines pretty well, but did not drain metal Watts (original factory installed) regulator.

When we went camping this weekend, I filled my fresh water tank and when I turned on the pump, water shot out the side of the trailer where city water hooks up (relief valve I guess). I then hooked up city water to that pipe and used it and the water system worked fine. I forgot to recheck the valve before leaving campsite to see if valve was still stuck open.

Could a hard freeze have ruined the valve, or do they sometime just randomly get stuck?

Thanks

Rick

Not the regulator. The check valve, which is supposed to prevent backflow, isn't preventing backflow anymore.

[DKB_SATX]

Originally Posted by mtbguy

I am reading this thread trying to figure out if my Regulator has gone bad. I winterized system last month before a hard freeze that lasted a week. I drained the lines pretty well, but did not drain metal Watts (original factory installed) regulator.

When we went camping this weekend, I filled my fresh water tank and when I turned on the pump, water shot out the side of the trailer where city water hooks up (relief valve I guess). I then hooked up city water to that pipe and used it and the water system worked fine. I forgot to recheck the valve before leaving campsite to see if valve was still stuck open.

Could a hard freeze have ruined the valve, or do they sometime just randomly get stuck?

Thanks

Rick

For a quick fix, if your checkvalve is still sticking open, you can put garden-hose style valve like this Orbit one or this Dramm one. I use one like the Orbit one (from Lowe's or Home Depot) when I discovered the same problem with my '75 Argosy after I fixed a leak in the tank and pressurized the system with the pump the first time instead of hooking up to city water.

It's not automatic, but it's been working for me for 2 years so far.

[mtbguy]

I found an extra check valve in a box of random parts previous owner gave me. Will install it, (there is not one in system). Previous owners removed some of the copper pipes, I replaced all with PEX so it looks like I need that valve in place.

I also will use the part that DKB SATX recommends for now. Thanks guys!