Water pressure - caravan parks
Submitted: Saturday, Nov 06, 2010 at 08:42
ThreadID:
82328
Views:
9085
Replies:
7
FollowUps:
6
This Thread has been Archived
Box Hill Bill
Has anybody experienced excessive
water pressure during your travels around Australia. I have heard that some parks/towns have much higher
water pressure and the fitting a pressure regulator to the
water inlet would be beneficial in reducing the chance of leaks in the system throughout the van.
Reply By: Member - Graham H (QLD) - Saturday, Nov 06, 2010 at 09:06
Saturday, Nov 06, 2010 at 09:06
Have found a lot of camps suffer from insufficent pressure rather tha too much
Cant say we ever noticed it but then most vans have a limiting valve in the system anyway.
AnswerID:
435173
Reply By: Notso - Saturday, Nov 06, 2010 at 09:12
Saturday, Nov 06, 2010 at 09:12
Gedday,
There are some parks where the
water pressure is very high.
Most modern Vans have a built in reducer at the inlet connection. Particularly if you have a Hot
water service in the van.
AnswerID:
435174
Reply By: Member - Allan W (SA) - Saturday, Nov 06, 2010 at 12:03
Saturday, Nov 06, 2010 at 12:03
I never turn the
water on fully at parks, just enough to give me usable pressure inside the van.
AnswerID:
435189
Follow Up By: kend88 - Saturday, Nov 06, 2010 at 12:39
Saturday, Nov 06, 2010 at 12:39
Agree with Allan, usually find less than a full turn sufficient.
kenD
bris
FollowupID:
706339
Follow Up By: kend88 - Saturday, Nov 06, 2010 at 12:40
Saturday, Nov 06, 2010 at 12:40
Agree with Allan, usually find less than a full turn sufficient.
kenD
bris
FollowupID:
706340
Follow Up By: Member - Frank P (NSW) - Saturday, Nov 06, 2010 at 13:55
Saturday, Nov 06, 2010 at 13:55
Allan and Ken,
Opening the
park's supply tap only part of a turn will reduce the flow if you open a tap in the van or if a pipe or HWS bursts, so in that sense you have a measure of protection in that damage will be minimised by reduced flooding. But you HAVEN'T reduced static supply pressure.
If there's no open tap in the van or no burst pipe - ie, no flow - then even a partially open supply tap will allow the pressure to build up to full supply pressure and if it's too high, may cause a burst.
I would go for the pressure regulator.
Cheers
Frank
FollowupID:
706342
Follow Up By: Member - Graham H (QLD) - Saturday, Nov 06, 2010 at 21:13
Saturday, Nov 06, 2010 at 21:13
Turning a tap on partially on reduces the flow NOT THE PRESSURE.
Otherwise pressure reducing valves would not be necessary.
Most caravans have a reduction valve built in anyway so check and give up worrying.
FollowupID:
706368
Reply By: MEMBER - Darian, SA - Saturday, Nov 06, 2010 at 13:37
Saturday, Nov 06, 2010 at 13:37
Yep re the above - our relatively new van has a pressure regulator just after the
water inlet - this means I guess that the
water distribution system throughout the van (shower/vanity/sink/hot
water service) only ever gets mains
water supplied at low pressure - about the same as the electric
water pump. I doubt the regulator would cost the earth - might even be easy to fit :-o).
AnswerID:
435199
Reply By: Box Hill Bill- Saturday, Nov 06, 2010 at 14:21
Saturday, Nov 06, 2010 at 14:21
Thanks guys, the regulators are about $40 which when working
well could save me heaps of damage to the van and hopefully stop the comments " I told you to asked"
Cheers
Bill
AnswerID:
435204
Follow Up By: Member - Rowdy6032 (WA) - Saturday, Nov 06, 2010 at 17:02
Saturday, Nov 06, 2010 at 17:02
I have had a recent bad experience with this. I have a van that is not fitted with a regulator. I was told incorrectly that I could connect to mains as long as I only gave the tap half a turn and the inlet only partially open.
The pressure caused the
water pump to leak and spray
water.
I have since been told that without a regulator you should not connect to the mains. As mentioned above you can control the flow but not the pressure without a regulator.
Fortunately it does not appear that the pump has been damaged but the valve in the
water heater has been damaged and needed to be replaced.
I have not bothered with a regulator and will fill the tanks from the mains and run from the tanks.
I hope this is of some help and will avoid other people making the same mistake.
FollowupID:
706355
Reply By: kend88 - Saturday, Nov 06, 2010 at 18:03
Saturday, Nov 06, 2010 at 18:03
Thanks Frank,
Good point. I do have a pressure regulator fitted, but even with that we find that half to full turn is enough. One of the main reasons I only use a low pressure is, doesn't matter how much I pay for them, the connector to the tap or van inlet gives way with too many turns. I usually turn it up until one or the other lets go, then reconnect and back off.
kenD
bris
AnswerID:
435215
Follow Up By: Member - Graham H (QLD) - Saturday, Nov 06, 2010 at 21:16
Saturday, Nov 06, 2010 at 21:16
Still gives the same pressure if the taps at the other end are turned off.
Amazing how many people believe than turning a tap on partially reduces pressure IT DOESNT AND CANT. It only reduces the flow.
Put a gauge on it and see.
END OF STORY
FollowupID:
706369
Reply By: landed eagle - Saturday, Nov 06, 2010 at 22:53
Saturday, Nov 06, 2010 at 22:53
If you want to experience high
water pressure to test your regulator, try the Big4 at Umina Beach NSW. No need for pressure washers there to clean up a dirty 4wd and van, just use the hose.....unbelievable pressure!
AnswerID:
435231