RV water lines may become damaged from road debris, improper installation, or not being appropriately winterized.
RV plumbing lines are composed of plastic tubing known as PEX pipe, similar to what can be found in homes. To freeze, this pipe requires sustained temperatures below 32 degrees F for long enough.
Water Lines
RV plumbing resembles home plumbing with one significant difference: water is supplied from a storage tank instead of from city lines, as well as having separate gray and black water tanks connected via water supply valves controlled by a pump.
If your RV water lines have broken or are leaking, replacing a section is often an easy and cost-effective solution. PEX tubing makes this easy; any good RV parts store should carry PEX tubing along with fittings and tools for crimping it. When joining two ends together, it is recommended to use compression union fittings, as these provide leakproof connections.
Air in the water lines is another frequent RV plumbing issue, often leading to an irritating pounding noise when using faucets or running the water heater. Usually caused by a faulty thermostat that creates hot pockets of water that are trapped within the system and, therefore, cause this complication.
Make sure to inspect for open drain valves when winterizing your RV, such as those located within its water tank and elsewhere. Otherwise, frozen water could form and expand, potentially creating cracks along its course.
Toilet
RV toilets need regular care, just like those in any house. Most RVs use bucket-style toilets with lids and seats that lift or pull down to flush; these should be emptied regularly to prevent overflow and solid waste deposits. Some campers use disposable bags in their toilet to reduce messiness, while others stockpile “RV-safe” toilet paper for easier use in an RV toilet. To be sure your regular home toilet paper is RV-safe, try testing some in a small amount of water. If it dissolves easily, then it should be safe to use when using an RV toilet.
Campers looking for a budget option might opt for a cassette toilet with a removable holding tank, which tends to be cheaper than other RV options but may take getting used to. When flushing, using either the foot pedal or handle opens a ball piece at the bottom of the toilet, which then releases waste into its tank below and fills its bowl with water so as to seal away odors before having to be dumped at an RV dumping station or sewer connection while camping.
Propane-powered RV toilets are another non-black water tank option available to campers who do not require black water storage tanks. Operating this type of toilet follows the same principle as cassette models but uses propane instead of electricity as a power source. While propane-powered toilets can be more costly to operate than their electrical counterparts, they could still prove an option in remote camping locations where no dump stations exist.
Sink
A sink is an indispensable feature of an RV kitchen and bathroom, providing water for washing hands, brushing teeth, shaving, etc. However, should it begin leaking, it can quickly cause water damage as well as disruption. Therefore, any issues with sinks must be dealt with immediately in order to minimize potential disaster.
RV sinks come in various varieties; some can be installed via drop-in installation, while others require under-mount installation. Your choice will depend on how often and where you plan on using your RV as well as the size and makeup of your family – smaller households might prefer using an RV with smaller sinks, while larger families should choose a more prominent option.
RV sinks can be connected to either freshwater tanks or city water. While joining an RV sink directly to a freshwater tank may be more convenient but can also be more costly, using city water may save on gas costs and time consumption. When selecting an RV sink with a drain compatible with your plumbing system is also essential.
RV sinks come in all colors and styles. Plastic sinks are popular due to being lightweight and relatively cheap; however, they are susceptible to staining and cracking easily. Baking soda and vinegar can easily remove these stains; for added ease, you could purchase special clog removers like Green Gobbler to consume grease and food debris that builds up.
Shower
Showers can be an enjoyable addition to RV travel, but planning and consideration should go into their use. Take into account how many people will use the shower at one time and any water usage (if camping without full hookups).
RV plumbing systems consist of various components, such as a water pump, water heater, lines, valves, and storage tanks for fresh and waste water, as well as plans for emptying and filling them up again when camping without full hookups.
Your RV shower could be suffering from leaks, so you should pay close attention to puddles or wet spots in the area, as these could be indicators that the floor underneath your shower is leaking. Address these issues quickly because water damage from leakage may lead to mold growth that rots the RV itself and must be dealt with promptly before further problems develop.
RVs typically include non-skid shower pans that, over time, wear down. If cracks or holes appear in your RV’s shower pan, replacing it is recommended – although many DIYers may feel overwhelmed by such an undertaking and should leave this task to professional RV plumbers. Also, remember to replace its doors since RV shower doors tend to be made out of plastic, which cracks over time.
