Water spout in plumbing

[Skamper1]

Hooked up water supply. All inside plumbing works. Still don't know about water heater. Heard water running and opened up back compartment. There was a spout of water coming out the top of a right angle fitting. I touched the area and if actually felt soft like some sort of membrane might have been there. PO did replace water heater. Tried to get pictures. There are two red handled valves. The valve closest to the bumper goes back to a tee and this leads to a large grey device and to a right angle connector (leak) connected to a copper pipe that goes through another ball valve turnoff and then to clear plastic tubing. I noticed the levered ball valve is installed incorrectly because you can't shut it off becasue it is blocked by the metal wall. Please help solve this problem. Thanks. Jack

[DEITZ645]

Skamper,
The ball valve in your picture is in the off position. In the on position the red handle should be parallel to the pipes, not perpendicular. That is a bit of a strange hookup. Can you tell where the leaking "T" comes from or goes to? Maybe a wider angle picture showing the entire plumbing compartment would help diagnose the issue.

[Skamper1]

Will try to take better pictures, but have you noticed how small that compartment is? The ball valve pictured is installed incorrectly. There is no way to open it due to the metal "wall". Is it possible to unscrew the handle and move it to another position? This copper pipe leads to the clear tubing at one end and the other end goes to the "spout" tee that goes to the grey gadget and to another turn-off valve.

[DEITZ645]

Skamper,
The retaining nut on top of the valve should come off and the handle "simply" lifts off. You might be able to get an adjustable wrench / vice grips on the ball valve and open it that way. Be as gentle as possible and try not to mar the fitting that the handle slips over.

[memgrove2000]

the clear tubing SHOULD be the "line drain" When that valve is open it will let the system drain to the outside for winterizing. We have two in the rear and two under the kitchen sink.(ours is a 72)

I have seen the brass "stopper" on those ball valves cut off so they turn either direction to close. (on concrete trucks)

[barts]

Having just been working on that area replacing the water heater in our '71 Tradewind, that "right angle fitting" looks like remains of the pressure relief valve, which is there to prevent overpressure in the city water connection from causing damage inside the trailer. If one connection leads to clear vinyl tubing, then that's what it is.... it looks like yours has blown its top.

Something similar to this, perhaps?

Watts: 530C | Calibrated Pressure Relief Valves

If someone installed a shut-off valve in the drain from the relief, then they goofed. These trailers have a big water pressure regulator that controls the pressure in the trailer; the relief valve in addition is belt and suspenders.

- Bart

[Skamper1]

Thanks for the insight. The pressure relief valve does look like the one that is still there. The soft spot I felt could be plumber's putty to plug the hole. Do I need to replace this with a new pressure relief valve? What is the grey thing that is shown in the third/below picture? Could the PO have installed a different type of pressure valve? Thanks. Jack

[DEITZ645]

Skamper1,
I would replace the pressure relief valve with a new one. The device in your picture is a pressure regulator. It safeguards the plumbing in your trailer by restricting the water pressure to a safe level. I think ours has a tag that it is set to 45 PSI or something like that. So if the water pressure entering it is say 75 PSI the maximum pressuer coming out of it will be 34 PSI.

[barts]

Originally Posted by DEITZ645

Skamper1,
I would replace the pressure relief valve with a new one. The device in your picture is a pressure regulator. It safeguards the plumbing in your trailer by restricting the water pressure to a safe level. I think ours has a tag that it is set to 45 PSI or something like that. So if the water pressure entering it is say 75 PSI the maximum pressuer coming out of it will be 34 PSI.

Actually, all the ones I've seen use a spring (under the adjusting screw) for a reference pressure, so will regulate approximately to the tagged pressure.

- Bart

[Skamper1]

Found an adjustable pressure relief valve 3/4 inch for $21 at the box store. Lowest 30 psi and highest to 175 psi. Have read here that the original ones were fixed/set at 60 psi. Also spoke with a seasoned ASer who has by-passed the pressure valve altogether. There is already a pressure valve and AS put the extra one in there for insurance against campgrounds with unregulated pressure or spring fed water supplies. Since I plan to correct ball valve which allows me to drain the water system, might as well install new pressure valve. Will update when hopefully completed. Thanks. Jack