Introduction
If this is the first time you’re dealing with an RV city water inlet leaking, you must be new to this whole RV experience. How do we know, you ask?
Well, this is one of the most common incidents for an RV owner. And we’re not going to lie; this is a pretty annoying issue that might pop up often.
And God forbid, if one day you stumble upon the inlet leak while you’re on the road, let’s just say you got yourself a ticket to the “bad days” ride.
Although most people would suggest, you tighten the water inlet. But sometimes it wouldn’t be much of a help.
So, that’s where we step in to take the steering wheel of your “bad days” ride and take a wide turn to the “Good days here I come” ride.
Because all the information that we’ve gathered will help you understand and solve your problem you’ve been facing all along!
RV City Water Inlet and How It Works
RV city water inlet, a.k.a RV gravity water inlet, is the easiest way to provide pressurized water into an RV unit. It is the primary source of water that flows throughout your RV and supplies it for various usage.
It basically works by clasping a hose from a campground or a building complex and running the pressurized water inside the RV. And then, the pressurized water will come into the RV bypassing the water pump.
The Problem
As you already know that the water inlet is supposed to let the water enter the RV. But in case of a leak in the water inlet, the water comes out of the RV rather than inside it.
Whenever you turn the water pump on, you might notice the city water inlet of your RV is rejecting the water. This can make your tank empty in a few minutes.
In this case, even if you try to plug in a city water line to get some water inside the water, the city water will not go inside. Because the force of the water coming from the inside of the RV will not let the city water enter.
So, that means you’re stuck, and we know that sucks big time.
RV City Water Inlet Leaking- Solutions
Moving around without water in your RV is like traveling with a portable dessert ride.
Various reasons may lead to such situations. But we have dissected them into a few common arguments. And we will be going there but at first, let’s check out the temporary solution.
Temporary Solutions
A temporary solution can get you through for some time, but you sure ain’t going for a long vacation with it.
Splitter Valve:
You can use this temporary solution to get through the night or to stop the leaking water for the moment. And the so-called temporary solution is getting a splitter valve.
You have to connect one end of the splitter valve with the city water connector and another end with the city water line. That way you can control the flow of water whenever you want.
You can keep it for a few days but the splitter is an extension that will ruin the look of your RV.
Crooked Hose:
If the hose you’ll use to connect the city water inlet is faulty or bent, the inlet will not stay in place and won’t create a good seal.
As a result, there will be a leakage in the city water inlet of your RV. And the easiest way to find a solution for this issue is that once you locate the bent or crooked hose, carefully inspect it.
If it isn’t in a risky condition, you can often easily bend it and connect it to the freshwater outlet. However, make sure that the bent part is on top of the water connection.
But it should be noted that this solution is not permanent and will only help you to run the RV through this process for a day or two.
It should also be noted that while you pump water into the RV, the pressure of the water should be low as possible, or else you’ll not be able to keep the crooked hose in place.
Permanent Solutions
Now let’s move on to permanent solutions because you don’t want to repeatedly spend your effort and money.
Extreme Water Pressure:
High or extreme water pressure can also cause leakage to your inlet. If the flow of water that is pumping through your RV is more than it can endure, then there’s a risk of leaking from the inlet.
First, you need to inspect the water leakage and where it is leaking from. Then turn off the water source because it might cause water damage or molding in the rig.
And then you’re recommended to buy a water pressure regulator which is easy to install and solve the issue you’re facing.
Bad Gasket
One of the common issues is probably a bad gasket. In order to inspect your problem, remove the water hose, and then carefully check your gasket for any kind of tear or cuts in it.
You may also remove the gasket to see more precisely where the problem is. And in order to solve this problem, you need to get your hands on some rubber rings. They are cheap and can be easily replaced.
You can find them in any camping supply stores around you.
Conclusion
RV’s are a great ride of a getaway but sometimes maintaining it can be a little tricky. Why not? It’s such a large vehicle, after all.
But if you’ve read through this article on RV city water inlet leaking, the reasons behind the leakage of yours and solutions to them are going to come in handy.
You now will be able to find out where and why your RV is facing the city water inlet leaking and solve the issues in no time!