How to upgrade your RV hot water system for better water pressure

After a hard day exploring the great outdoors, there is nothing greater than a nice hot shower to wash away the glorious Australian dust. And nothing should be allowed to ruin your enjoyment, certainly not questions like: Will there be any hot water? Will there be enough water pressure to rinse away more than the tiniest amount of dust?

Miserable water pressure is the stuff of nightmares in an RV, so the team here at RV Parts Express got together to discuss the main culprits in compromised water pressure and our tips and tricks to resolve the issue as fast as possible.

First things first: How to upgrade your RV hot water system for better water pressure

Maybe you are dealing with an older vehicle or one lacking a decent hot-water system and fighting a losing battle trying to coax anything out of it. In this case, we also stock all the components you need if you decide to upgrade your RV water system, a solution guaranteed to solve the problem, guaranteeing you the most reliable, trouble-free supply. Our expert technicians can help you ascertain which elements might be holding you back.

Should you decide it is time to replace your old RV hot water system altogether, at RV Parts Express, we have a superb selection of cutting-edge on-demand hot water heaters to give you a dream supply. Before we get started with things you can look for yourself when wondering how to increase water pressure for your RV, we are obligated to mention the most obvious solution:

Ask an expert

For those of us less inclined to investigate the causes of practical problems, there is no shame in contacting an RV technician and having them assess the situation for you. Not everybody aspires to be a budding DIY expert and some people can think of nothing they’d like less than to go scrabbling around looking for the source of withering water pressure. And that’s fine if you’re in a location where there is somebody you can take the RV to for further investigation but it won’t always be the case. Here are some simple things you can check if you are not able to get professional help as fast as you would like or just curious to see if you can spot the cause of the problem for yourself.

How to increase water pressure for your RV

There are a few things prone to causing a loss of water pressure in an RV and, as with any job of this nature, it pays to start with the simple things first. We’ve all gone overboard chasing after a problem only to find it was something so obvious we didn’t even think to look first. RV issues are no different, so start with the basics:

Check you have water in the freshwater storage tank

This is one of those ‘roll-your-eyes-and-slap-your-forehead’ moments we mentioned earlier. You’ve spent an hour chasing leaks and checking electrical connections, and now you’re stripping the pump down to look for issues, only for some bright spark to ask if you’ve got enough water in the tank.

Freshwater storage tanks run dry fairly quickly, especially smaller-capacity ones, and you wouldn’t be the first or the last person to get caught out. It takes moments to check and can save you a whole heap of trouble and embarrassment, so check the tank before you do anything else.

Check the incoming freshwater supply

If you are connected directly to an external freshwater supply, in an RV park or camping ground, for example, make sure the problem does not lie there. Follow these steps:

Take note of the amount of pressure you get from the tap/shower furthest from the onboard water pump while still connected to the external supply
Ensure your onboard freshwater tank is at least 50% full
Disconnect the external water source
Check your onboard pump is powered and primed
Turn on the same tap/shower from earlier and note any difference in output

It should be immediately obvious if the water pressure is better with or without the external source; if it’s better without it, good news. You know the issue lies with their supply and not your system. They probably have a fault of their own or are experiencing high demand, mention it and let them know. Job done.

Hunt for leaks in the water pipes

Now there is actually some water in the system to leak out, you can start checking your water lines if the problem is not already solved. Cracks of any kind will kill the pressure and result in a feeble flow at the point of use. Any leaks should be fairly obvious once you start looking, just follow the lines wherever they go and check. Use some dry tissue if you are not sure as it will immediately soak up any water and reveal problem areas.

A short-term repair for a water line leak

Carrying a few bits and bobs which you think might come in useful but probably never will is one of the great disaster-averting tactics in life. One you will be grateful you obsessed over when you find yourself in a tight spot in the middle of nowhere, in need of some supplies. If you are on the road and cannot pop along to your nearest RV tech, you may be able to use some good old-fashioned materials to see you through until you can get there. Running repairs will probably not last long where water is involved but might give you the edge in a pinch and let you carry on your expedition for a bit longer, or at least reach help.

Turn off the water to the affected line
Wrap the area with plumber’s tape and go around it as tightly as you can with duct tape

This is by no means a solution designed to last much longer than a few hours, depending on the severity of the leak. But it might prevent you from being forced to keep the water off altogether and nobody wants that.

Seal off leaking or unused sections to increase pressure elsewhere

You may be able to close off individual affected sections of the problem water line, thus isolating them from the rest of the system. This should increase the pressure in the remaining sections until you can affect a repair on the leaking section. The major problem with this solution is if the leaking section is one you cannot comfortably live without, like the toilet. To close off a section of pipe:

Locate a metal valve if there is one installed in the line itself
Turn it to pinch off the flow
Have a bucket or pan handy to collect any water gushing out

Replacing a section of the water line

Once you have located any sections of pipe with cracks and holes, the only realistic option is to replace them. Once you have the necessary equipment and tools you can replace the affected sections as follows:

Carefully measure the affected section of the water line you need to replace
Measure it again. You know it makes sense…
Turn off the power at the fuse box/breaker panel
Disconnect the water line at both ends and remove it. Be ready to catch any dripping water if necessary
Take the removed section with you for comparison. check the diameter and purchase the requisite length at any decent hardware store.
Use plumber’s tape to wrap around the metal connections and attach the new line, ensuring a solid connection
Check for pipe clamps at both ends of the water line and tighten them
Turn the power back on and test, checking for leaks and other issues

Removing blockages in the water filter

As sediment unavoidably builds up over time, the chances of your filter becoming restricted and causing a loss of pressure increase accordingly. This is even more likely to occur if you allow your freshwater tank to run very low too often. Just as with fuel tanks on vehicles, the more frequently you allow the level to drop below a certain point, the more likely you are to have clogging issues.

This is exactly the issue the water filter is designed to address and it prevents unwanted material from reaching the deeper parts of the system when operating as intended. As with all filters, they must be replaced regularly to function as intended and maintain their effectiveness, ideally every 6 months at least.

Consider upgrading to a superior RV water pump

If the problems you are experiencing with frustratingly-low water pressure are down to the age or inadequacy of your existing equipment, it might be time to accept that you need an upgrade. Superior, compatible pumps with higher PSI ratings or per-minute flow rates will be a revelation in comparison to older equipment and you will wonder how you got by without one for so long. Remember, as the flow increases, your freshwater tank is bound to empty faster so you might want to consider upgrading to a larger one of those too while you’re committed to the task.

How to replace an RV water pump

Whether forced into a change due to breakage or simply choosing to upgrade to a more modern one, you should familiarise yourself with the steps needed to replace your water pump. They are as follows:

Fully drain your RV’s fresh water storage tank
Ensure the power to the water pump is turned off at the fuse box/breaker panel
Remove the clips securing the pump to the RV’s frame
Disconnect the electric lines and water line hose clamps. The pump should now be free to carefully remove
Insert the new pump, and be sure it seats firmly
Reverse procedures 1-4
Turn on a tap and check around the pump for leaks or other issues

Prime the water pump after draining the system

Some RV freshwater systems have pumps that require priming after the tank has been drained to prevent air pockets in the system. You can check online or consult your manual to see if yours is one of this kind, if so, here are the steps to prime it after draining:

Fill your freshwater tank to its maximum capacity
Open all the cold-water fixtures on the RV, making sure the hot ones remain closed
Turn on the power to the water pump
Allow water to flow for a short while, driving any air out of the system
Check all the fixtures, including hot ones, to make sure the system is free of air pockets and running smoothly
Inspect the length of the system for any leaks or issues

Final thoughts

In the grand scheme of things, having meagre water pressure is not something that puts you at any significant risk but it can be disproportionately frustrating and irritating. With a little knowledge and some basic tools and materials, it is perfectly possible to address most of the causes of low pressure without breaking the bank or your back. However, if you choose to make some running repairs as we have described here, it is imperative you have them checked over and approved by a professional as soon as possible afterwards.

While weak pressure might not be dangerous, leaking water can be and will, at the very least, cause untold damage to your RV if undiscovered or neglected for even a short period. Labour costs should be reasonable and, if you are merely asking a technician to check over your work, might even be gratis if you are a repeat customer.

Contact us

Hopefully, this has given you food for thought when it comes to the subject of how to increase water pressure for your RV. When you’re ready to talk a lot of hot water, please get in touch with the team here at RV Parts Express and tell us all about your exact issues and requirements. We have a highly-trained, knowledgeable group of experts waiting to give you all the help and advice they can.

When the problems are insurmountable or you simply want to treat yourself to the very best experience, the team can also give you the lowdown on the superb, modern RV water heating systems we offer. We even provide free shipping.

How to upgrade your RV hot water system for better water pressure