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02-06-2015, 10:59 AM
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#1
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Established Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Oakville
Posts: 38
M.O.C. #16050
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A couple plumbing problems
I've had our 3900FB for several months and have a couple plumbing issues.
1 - low water pressure when on city water. The pressure coming out my water treatment equipment (filter & softener) is just fine. I've checked it at the hose connection in the convenience center after the treatment equipment and get several gallons a minute. Inside it is terrible! It takes 9-11 seconds to fill a std water glass at the kitchen sink. Forever to fill the coffee pot, not to mention trying to do dishes. Sometimes not enough to keep the sprayer in spray mode. Not much better elsewhere. Sometimes I get a beginning rush of water for a second then it returns to 'normal'. I've checked, and cleaned, the screens at the convenience center input and at the faucet. It is better when running the water pump but not what I'd call perfect.
2 - front bath toilet drain periodically clogs. In this floor configuration the drain for the toilet does not drop straight into the holding tank but takes a couple of jogs getting there. Normally there is no problem but it has clogged at least a half dozen times since getting the rig last June. The solution is to take a plumbing snake, connect it to a portable drill motor, and run it up and down the drain for several minutes. Once the clog is loose we are good for a few more weeks. I've used enzyme based drain cleaner but it didn't really help. One of the first times I did the snake it came out with a screw so I suspect a protrusion into the drain pipe that is catching the TP.
Any help in resolving these situations or pointers on how to get to the plumbing to check things out would be appreciated. I don't have a truck at this time so taking it in for service is problematic.
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02-06-2015, 12:26 PM
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#2
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Montana Master
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Ronan
Posts: 513
M.O.C. #5756
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I had the same toilet problem with another 5'er we owned a few years back. I ended up replacing the drain with all the jogs in it and found a bunch of glue dripping and dried out in all of the joints thus catching the TP and clogging things up after redoing the drain and I was able to take 1 jog out of it and it worked perfect. The fix worked but I didn't like having to do this job. Also after fixing I made sure we flushed with a lot of water. Hope this helps
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02-06-2015, 12:31 PM
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#3
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Montana Master
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Kansas City, Missouri
Posts: 2,707
M.O.C. #7992
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There is a check valve behind the hose bib on the city water hook-up. If you take the screen out of the inlet you can manipulate the tit that controls the check valve. Perhaps it has gotten tilted in it's housing. Short of that you may have to remove it to see if that is the problem. They do go bad.
For the toilet issue, providing you are using plenty of water to flush, I would find someone that has a camera on the flexible shaft to take a look at the inside of your plumbing. On mine it is all 3 inch abs pipe with glued joints so there shouldn't be anything for debris to cling to. Those cameras are available for about $90 at harbor freight but I have no idea how good they are. Jim
__________________
2006 3000RK
2009 Ram 2500
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02-06-2015, 12:31 PM
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#4
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Montana Master
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Kelowna
Posts: 1,475
M.O.C. #6237
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There are flow restrictors in the tap that you shoud remove and use lots of water when flushing.
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02-06-2015, 12:36 PM
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#5
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Established Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Oakville
Posts: 38
M.O.C. #16050
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I've done a fair amount of plumbing work but don't look forward to opening up the trailer. At least we have the middle toilet for when it clogs and if I have to take it out of commission for a couple of days.
Actually, since these are only 'minor' irritants, I'm waiting for something major to justify having someone haul it back to the dealer for the work. If I had a truck that is what I'd do in a heartbeat.
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02-06-2015, 01:25 PM
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#6
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Established Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Oakville
Posts: 38
M.O.C. #16050
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Someone forgot to tell me that when I push in that tit that I'd get a face full of water. LOL.
Got clean glasses but the water pressure did not improve.
I've taken the spray head off the end (that should have removed the flow restrictor) but the pressure didn't improve. Besides, the sporadic good flow I occasionally get when first turning it on indicates a restriction prior to the faucet.
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02-06-2015, 05:13 PM
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#7
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Site Team
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Omaha
Posts: 6,750
M.O.C. #7560
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Tom--Unless you are a long way from the dealer you purchased the unit from, I'd be taking it back to them to figure out the problems. Your unit is a 2014 and should still be covered under warranty.
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02-07-2015, 01:36 AM
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#8
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Montana Master
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Kansas City, Missouri
Posts: 2,707
M.O.C. #7992
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[quote]Originally posted by stillcampin
Someone forgot to tell me that when I push in that tit that I'd get a face full of water. LOL.
Oh yah, I forgot to tell you if you push in the tit you will get a face full of water. My bad. Are you by chance using a pressure regulator? I had one go bad but only when under pressure. Flowed good through the hose but once hooked up to the 5'er, low pressure inside.
__________________
2006 3000RK
2009 Ram 2500
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02-07-2015, 03:26 AM
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#9
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Site Team
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Wilsey
Posts: 18,799
M.O.C. #11455
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Did you check the flow over a period of time. If your filters are restricting the flow you'll get good pressure for a very short period of time and then it will drop. I've had to use less restrictive filters in my system to eliminate that issue.
__________________
Dick, Joyce, Diego, Picatso and Gustav
2017 3720 RL, and 2013 HC 343RL
Pullrite Hitch, IS, Disk Brakes, 3rd AC, Winegard Traveler, Bathroom door mod, Dometic 320, couch for desk swap, replaced chairs, sun screens, added awnings, etc.
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02-07-2015, 04:42 AM
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#10
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Montana Master
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Arroyo City
Posts: 3,110
M.O.C. #13395
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Do you have good pressure if you use your water pump?
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02-07-2015, 05:45 AM
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#11
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Box Elder
Posts: 4,701
M.O.C. #12947
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Even though you were able to clean your glasses while checking the check valve on the incoming hose bib connection, seeing that it is free, it still may be the problem. If you can, and you will have to get in behind the convenience center wall to do this, disconnect the line on the back of the hose bib, and temporarily connect a fitting without a check valve and see what your water pressure and flow does. It is very possible that you have a defective check valve that needs to be replaced.
__________________
Bob & Becky
2012 3402RL
2012 Chevy 2500HD D/A CC 4WD
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02-07-2015, 11:51 AM
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#12
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Established Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Oakville
Posts: 38
M.O.C. #16050
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by Rondo
Tom--Unless you are a long way from the dealer you purchased the unit from, I'd be taking it back to them to figure out the problems. Your unit is a 2014 and should still be covered under warranty.
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I agree but, unfortunately, I don't have a truck. I will need to have a mobile unit come out and do professional checking of things to satisfy my extended warranty so I'll have him spend some time if I haven't solved it by then.
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02-07-2015, 12:14 PM
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#13
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Established Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Oakville
Posts: 38
M.O.C. #16050
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by jimcol
Are you by chance using a pressure regulator? I had one go bad but only when under pressure. Flowed good through the hose but once hooked up to the 5'er, low pressure inside.
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Definitely use a pressure regulator but I'm on the second one since the first froze. During the few days I was without the regulator it didn't make any difference.
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02-07-2015, 12:21 PM
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#14
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Established Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Oakville
Posts: 38
M.O.C. #16050
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by DQDick
Did you check the flow over a period of time. If your filters are restricting the flow you'll get good pressure for a very short period of time and then it will drop. I've had to use less restrictive filters in my system to eliminate that issue.
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I've had lots of experience with filters clogging so I check the flow rate every month to determine if a change is needed. I've lost only a couple seconds when filling the water glass since these filters were new several months ago.
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02-07-2015, 12:25 PM
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#15
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Established Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Oakville
Posts: 38
M.O.C. #16050
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by K0LCB
Do you have good pressure if you use your water pump?
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It certainly isn't outside hose pressure (and I don't expect it to be) but it is acceptable. I get a 6 second fill time for my water glass and a decent morning shower when running the pump.
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02-07-2015, 12:33 PM
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#16
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Established Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Oakville
Posts: 38
M.O.C. #16050
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by rohrmann
Even though you were able to clean your glasses while checking the check valve on the incoming hose bib connection, seeing that it is free, it still may be the problem. If you can, and you will have to get in behind the convenience center wall to do this, disconnect the line on the back of the hose bib, and temporarily connect a fitting without a check valve and see what your water pressure and flow does. It is very possible that you have a defective check valve that needs to be replaced.
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That is a reasonable task and might even show some other problem with the covers removed.
It will have to wait until a non-rainy day so I can clear some working space in the bay. At my location that might not be until July.
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02-07-2015, 12:36 PM
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#17
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Established Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Oakville
Posts: 38
M.O.C. #16050
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by stillcampin
Quote:
quote:Originally posted by K0LCB
Do you have good pressure if you use your water pump?
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It certainly isn't outside hose pressure (and I don't expect it to be) but it is acceptable. I get a 6 second fill time for my water glass and a decent morning shower when running the pump. That is almost twice as fast as it is without the pump.
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07-29-2015, 04:18 PM
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#18
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Established Member
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Wiggins
Posts: 34
M.O.C. #14355
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1. Wonder if a plumbers snake is little too stout? I use a garden hose, and that seems to work well enough to clean the tanks and plumbing. Recently, flushed the tank/plumbing three times with the hose. On the last fill, almost overflowed, and some junk floated into the bowl. That made me wonder if there are some turns, crevices, etc. that a partial flush doesn't get to unless the tank and bowl are almost completely filled?
2. I used a pressure regulator along with a home-made double filter using an Omni-Pur filters. Understand that the desirable water pressure is about 40 psi. Found that using my filter and regulator restricted my pressure to almost unacceptable levels. (Filters are properly maintained). Removed the regulator and now only use the filters to regulate water pressure.
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07-29-2015, 05:19 PM
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#19
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Established Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Oakville
Posts: 38
M.O.C. #16050
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It has been some time now since I've had the toilet clog. We try to remember to use LOTS of water when flushing the front toilet. Using the snake is what does clear it but it does take a while. I wish it had a stiff wire brush on the end, similar to a dryer vent cleaning brush (but stiffer). I did try a dryer brush but the flexible fiberglass handle was too flexible.
The lack of water flow/pressure continues to plague me. The mobile tech agreed that is possible the entry valve could be the problem so I need to get the covering stuff off to verify.
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