Beware the Exploding Faucet!
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Forum Name: Warranty, Service and Recall Bulletins
Forum Discription: Have a warranty or service experience to share?
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=5349
Printed Date: 27 Jun 2025 at 12:12pm
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Topic: Beware the Exploding Faucet!
Posted By: coopercdrkey
Subject: Beware the Exploding Faucet!
Date 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 |
Replies:
Posted By: Luv2Q
Date Posted: 25 Sep 2014 at 9:11pm
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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 |
Posted By: dsmiths
Date Posted: 25 Sep 2014 at 10:39pm
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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 |
Posted By: coopercdrkey
Date Posted: 26 Sep 2014 at 6:51am
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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 |
Posted By: rcamper
Date Posted: 26 Sep 2014 at 7:33pm
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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 |
Posted By: wildfire305
Date Posted: 28 Sep 2014 at 10:28am
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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. ------------- 2005 Dodge Durango 4.7 V8 OLD Tow Vehicle 2004 Honda Odyssey 2015 RP179 "73b" OLD 2005 Viking Saga 2480ST popup |
Posted By: wildfire305
Date Posted: 28 Sep 2014 at 10:29am
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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 |