Last Updated on June 26, 2023
One of the most important and often overlooked aspects of RV camping is water pressure. You don’t want to get stuck in a campsite with no running water because your tank couldn’t maintain adequate pressure, so it’s important to know how to adjust RV water pressure regulators.
A regulator is a device that reduces the water flow rate and/or increases the water pressure of an incoming gas or liquid by reducing its energy input. Here we’ll look at how to adjust the regulator for your RV so that you can enjoy all the benefits of having high-quality water pressure.
What is a Water Pressure Regulator?
A water pressure regulator is a device that reduces the flow rate and/or increases the water pressure of an incoming gas or liquid by reducing its energy input. It’s used on fuel lines for gasoline engines to prevent them from being damaged because of excess gas speed.
The most common use for regulators in RVs is for providing correct water pressure at your campsite. If you want to pressurize your tank, wash hands, do dishes, and shower while camping, you’ll need a correct water pressure regulator installed on your RV.
It’s also important to have adequate vehicle battery power so that both the pump and any optional accessories run properly when connected to shore power.
How Do RV Water Pressure Regulators Work?
A generator produces electricity which goes through wire leads into your camper water pressure regulator. Means an electrical power cord transfers the electricity to your appliances.
RV water pressure regulators lowers the high voltage, amperage, and wattage input from the generator or battery, or shore power source down to a safe level for efficient use in your camper’s water system.
The process starts with all three types of energy (voltage, amperage, and wattage) coming into the camper through the electrical service line that goes into your camper meter box where it connects directly to the wiring.
Why Do You Need Rv Water Pressure Regulators for Your Rv?
It is important to control the water flow through your RV’s plumbing system. If you have too much pressure, it can damage or even destroy the appliances within your camper, so it is important to get adjustable water pressure regulators.
There are several good reasons to use a rv water pressure regulator. Here are some of them:
- Prevents damage caused by accidental overfilling of the freshwater holding tank
- Maintains safe working water pressure for plumbing, fixtures, and appliances
- Preserves hot water heater longevity by reducing the stress placed on the components
- Protects equipment against harmful fluctuations inline pressure (such as those caused by changes in elevation)
Tips on How to Adjust RV Water Pressure Regulator
When you are adjusting your RV’s water pressure regulator, it is important to be careful. To properly adjust your regulator, there are ten steps described below to help you figure out how to do it:
Prepare Your Supplies
To adjust your regulator, you’ll need the following materials:
- Adjustable wrench
- Screwdriver (Phillips or flathead)
Turn Off Main Water Valve
Before you can begin adjusting the water pressure regulator, you must first turn off the main water valve. This step is very important because without turning off the valve it will be difficult to complete the rest of the steps.
Make sure you always have an extra set of keys with someone who can work on RVs just in case yours continues to stop working when you need it to.
Turn on Cold Water Supply
Once you’ve turned off the water, turn on your cold water supply and check for leaks; if you don’t find any, this step is complete. If there are still leaks, shut off the main water valve and shut down your generator or battery bank before checking for leaks and repairing them.
Open Main Water Valve
With all your supplies gathered and the main water valve turned off; open up your rv water system by turning on the main water valve slowly until they feel resistance. Once you feel some resistance, stop opening it further.
If after doing this there aren’t any leaks, this step is done. If there are leaks, shut off the valve and check for leaks before turning on your generator or battery bank again.
Locate Regulator
Now that you’ve opened your freshwater system, it’s time to locate your water pressure regulator. It should be located directly below the tank you were just opening (downstream), but not always in plain sight.
If you can’t find the regulator, check to see if it’s hidden behind a panel or cover. If all else fails, open up your camper and look inside for small screws that could indicate where to open up storage lockers and other devices under your sink.
Disconnect Water Line from Regulator
Now that you’ve located your regulator, disconnect the water line from it by unscrewing the connector. The nut on top of the plastic fitting twists off easily using a wrench so if you have access to an adjustable wrench you can use it here.
If needed, try using a flathead screwdriver or Phillips screwdriver in place of an adjustable wrench for this step.
Once removed, note where you disconnected the line. The mark will be important in determining how much water pressure is in the system when you finish adjusting your rv water pressure regulator and turn on your freshwater tank again.
Screw Your Regulator Down
Next, we will install the water pressure regulator. You can do this by simply screwing it down further until the pressure in the system is just slightly lower than your factory setting, but not so low that you lose all water pressure through any faucet or shower within your camper.
Turn on Freshwater Supply
Turn on your freshwater supply and check for leaks in your water pressure regulator if there are still leaks, shut off the main water valve and shut down the generator or battery bank before checking for leaks and repairing them.
Close Up System
Once you’ve completed the previous step, it’s time to put everything back together by completing these steps in reverse order.
Shut down any generators or battery banks that were turned on during this process, then shut off the water supply valves, close up your freshwater tank, hook up the rv water pressure regulator again using the same mark you made previously when disconnecting it, then reconnect your water line to it.
Test Your Work
If you followed all instructions correctly, your system should be adjusted properly now. If there are still some leaks check for them and if needed adjust the rv water pressure regulator one more time until there are no longer any leaks.
Common Problems And How to Fix Them
If you’ve adjusted your regulator correctly and still experience low water pressure, there could be a few reasons why this could be happening. Here are some of the most common problems with low water pressure and how to fix them:
Water Pressure Issues
This is the most common problem and fortunately one of the easiest ones to fix by simply adjusting your rv water pressure regulator which is something you can easily do yourself even if you’re not very experienced with doing such things.
Slow Fill-Up
If your freshwater tank fills slowly when turned on, then there could be some debris in the line that needs cleaning out before turning on the system again.
Debris in Tank Line
When debris builds up in your freshwater tank line, it can create a slow flow or an annoyance like low water pressure.
To fix this issue, you would need to use the tank line for connecting your camper’s fresh-water hose and by placing it into a bucket of clean water, then turning on the water tanks after having removed their caps.
Bacteria Buildup
If you’re noticing black particles in your freshwater tank’s lines, this usually shows an excess of sediment that is too thick to pass through the line. While not harmful, it can cause low water pressure or a slow fill-up rate, so cleaning out the tank is recommended.
Air In Lines
One of the most common causes for low rv water pressure is air in lines which occurs because when any part of your system has been drained, it leaves behind some trapped air that needs to be removed before turning on the rest of the system again.
If there are still some leaks check for them and if needed adjust the rv water pressure regulator one more time until there are no longer any leaks.
When Should You Replace The Adjustable Water Pressure Regulator?
There are a number of signs that indicate it is time to replace an old regulator with a new one:
Low Water Pressure
If your water pressure is very low, consider replacing the adjustable water pressure regulator. They designed these systems to maintain a certain level of pressure, but they cannot handle too high pressure or too low.
In this situation, if the low-water cut-off sensor fails, then the result may be exactly as you see it now.
Clogged Water Filter
Water filters should be replaced every year, but if it’s clogged or has some other problems, this could also lead to low water pressure.
If the filter gets clogged over time, there is nothing you can do about it. Some of these filters are easy to clean while they must completely replace others; this decision will be up to you.
Water Leaking at Hoses Or Connectors
They make the fittings on the water pressure regulator of plastic, so it could easily break down after some time resulting in leaking at the water hose and other connector.
It is necessary to replace the whole RV water pressure regulator set if this happens, since they sold separately no parts of this set.
Bad Leak Sensor
They equip the water pressure regulator with a Low-Water Cut Off Sensor that monitors the level of water in your storage tank and shuts off the system when it runs out of water; if this sensor fails, monitor your freshwater tank levels manually which is not very convenient at all.
Bad Control Unit
You will need to replace the whole rv water pressure regulator set if your Control Unit stops working properly. This is a computer system that regulates the water pressure in your freshwater tank so without it, the entire system won’t work and you will have to buy a new one.
After replacing your adjustable water pressure regulator, check your water pressure again. You might have to choose a different water pressure regulator if the problem persists.
Tips for Maintaining Proper Water Pressure While Camping
The best advice that anyone could give is to check your water level frequently after filling up. Make sure you don’t let it get too low without adding more water which is why it’s best to monitor it manually if possible.
- Be careful when using any valves; reversing them will reduce the water pressure significantly and this may lead to rv water leaks as well.
- When adding more water, make sure you turn on all valves first and then add the new water; this way the addition will reduce the pressure less.
- Always use a clean filter when hooking up fresh water to your camper water pressure regulator and change it every year or as soon as it gets clogged.
- Check your fittings for leaks and replace any parts that show signs of corrosion.
In order to maintain a proper water pressure regulator when camping, make sure you turn off all valves completely after using the rv water system and before heading out somewhere else.
Make a habit of checking the freshwater tank levels frequently and always use clean filters. Replace corroded or leaking parts and don’t forget to use a clean filter next time you go camping.
Final Words
Rving is a great way to see the country and spend time with family and friends, but it’s important to maintain a proper water pressure regulator while on the road. The best way to do this is by following our tips for adjusting your rv pressure regulator.
If you have questions or problems, reach out to us for help. We want everyone who hits the open road in an RV to enjoy their trip without having to worry about something as simple as water pressure.
