Beware the Exploding Faucet!

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     We have a pretty well orchestrated set up routine which puts me in charge of the outside activities, and Joyce handles the interior stuff.  At the appropriate point I ask her to purge the hot water lines before I turn on the water heater.  Until this trip there was never more than a little sputtering and thumping as the city water worked out the air pockets.
This time, probably because the 'Pod sat for so long between trips, the water surged through the kitchen faucet with enough force to blow the aeriator off the end of the faucet.  More scary than anything else and a little splashed water to clean up.  (Plus a trip to a (fortunately) nearby WM for a replacement aerator...)

From now on I will ask Joyce to "bleed" the hot water line.  You may want to do the same. 

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coopercdrkey Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 26 Aug 2012 Location: Cedar Key, FL Online Status: Offline Posts: 457	Topic: Beware the Exploding Faucet! Posted: 25 Sep 2014 at 1:45pm
	We have a pretty well orchestrated set up routine which puts me in charge of the outside activities, and Joyce handles the interior stuff. At the appropriate point I ask her to purge the hot water lines before I turn on the water heater. Until this trip there was never more than a little sputtering and thumping as the city water worked out the air pockets. This time, probably because the 'Pod sat for so long between trips, the water surged through the kitchen faucet with enough force to blow the aeriator off the end of the faucet. More scary than anything else and a little splashed water to clean up. (Plus a trip to a (fortunately) nearby WM for a replacement aerator...) From now on I will ask Joyce to "bleed" the hot water line. You may want to do the same.
	Bob and Joyce Jennifer and Baxter, the Campin' Cocker Spaniels RP 177 "Key Pod" Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LT / Z71

Luv2Q Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 30 Aug 2014 Location: Central TX Online Status: Offline Posts: 309	Posted: 25 Sep 2014 at 9:11pm
	Hoping this isn't too dumb a question, but here goes: If the trailer sat for a long time - in a hot summer - and if all taps/valves were closed, could the heat have built up the kind of pressure you're talking about? John
	John & Teri Tundra 5.7L V8 / RP 180 E2 WDH / Integrated controller (POS) replaced by Tekonsha P3

dsmiths Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 10 Oct 2011 Location: Southern Ind Online Status: Offline Posts: 866	Posted: 25 Sep 2014 at 10:39pm
	In the short no, outside air temps 70, 80 or 90 is not going to cause a increase in pressure in the closed system. My best guess is that there may have been an air pocket in the hot water heater and it boiled and created a high pressure pocket. but I am not sure. any one else got an idea ?
	Dane and Donna Smith 2011 RP-172 2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer 4X4 lift kit prodigy wireless brake controller

coopercdrkey Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 26 Aug 2012 Location: Cedar Key, FL Online Status: Offline Posts: 457	Posted: 26 Sep 2014 at 6:51am
	The water heater had not yet been turned on. We were running water through the system to make sure it was full prior to turning on the electric element. My best guess is that there was so little water in the lines that the first onrush at city water pressure hit the aerator with enough force to blow it off. (And shred the pot metal threads, BTW.) We had never had a problem opening the faucet fully at this point, and in fact considered it a benefit to purging the air from the system, but from now on we will both take the additional time to just crack the faucet and the water bib until the air is purged. I know there are devices designed to regulate the pressure from the city water bib- in fact I have one, but it leaks too badly to use. I don't think the water pressure was excessive.
	Bob and Joyce Jennifer and Baxter, the Campin' Cocker Spaniels RP 177 "Key Pod" Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LT / Z71

rcamper Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 22 Sep 2014 Online Status: Offline Posts: 16	Posted: 26 Sep 2014 at 7:33pm
	i would turn the water supply on half way at the camp ground then open faucets to clear when done open campground valve all the way. sometimes the pressure at the caMPGROUND MAY BE HIGH BUT, IF THAT'S THE CASE THEN TURN IT DOWN AT THERE SPIGOT
	gone camping

wildfire305 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: 22 Jul 2014 Location: Erlanger, KY Online Status: Offline Posts: 85	Posted: 28 Sep 2014 at 10:28am
	Speaking from the viewpoint of a plumber, slowly opening is better for the plastic piping system. Also when the water was turned on, the air in the water heater compressed, causing a large volume of air under pressure to rush the faucet. The reason it blew the aerator off was the air hit a slug of water laying in the pipe and hammered it to the faucet. Also a regulator should be standard equipment in everyones hook up kit. The plastic system can't handle more than 75 psi static for prolonged periods without wearing faster. My regulator is set to 50.
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wildfire305 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: 22 Jul 2014 Location: Erlanger, KY Online Status: Offline Posts: 85	Posted: 28 Sep 2014 at 10:29am
	Also turning down the valve on any plumbing system will not reduce the pressure, only the volume.
	2005 Dodge Durango 4.7 V8 OLD Tow Vehicle 2004 Honda Odyssey 2015 RP179 "73b" OLD 2005 Viking Saga 2480ST popup