Running water may seem a pretty basic concept. And there’s no doubt about it, it’s one of the fundamental things that makes RVing such a comfortable and flexible way to travel. That said, things don’t always work exactly as they should, even in “simple” systems. Therefore, the more you know about RV plumbing and how to repair and maintain it, the more comfortable your travel will be.
In this article we will help you learn all you need to know about RV plumbing. We will include what parts and tools you should carry to maintain and repair your plumbing, as well as tips for making basic repairs.
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RV Plumbing System Basics
Before we dive into fixing your RV plumbing, let’s take a second to talk about how exactly the system works.
When you run your sink or shower or flush your RV toilet, that water has to come from somewhere. In most cases the fresh water is being fed through the lines via a city water inlet, which is connected to a potable water spigot at your campsite using a freshwater hose. When there is no spigot available, water can be fed up from a special holding tank.
No matter how you get your freshwater, the waste water is being squirreled away in separate holding tanks underneath your RV floor. These hold the waste water until you can find a sewer dump station in order to dump the water.
RV Plumbing Fixtures
Besides the obvious pipes and water lines, some of the RV plumbing fixtures that may require repair or replacement over the lifetime of your rig include:
- Sink faucets
- Shower faucet
- Shower head
- Toilet
- City water Inlet
- Water pump
- Waste outlet valve
We don’t necessarily recommend keeping these items on hand, but it is a good idea to keep an eye on them, watching for leaks and other issues. Fortunately, if you do need to replace one of these fixtures, most can be simple DIY jobs.
RV Plumbing Parts and Tools to Keep On Hand
So what kinds of parts and tools should you keep on hand at all times? Well, in an RV, the plumbing system is generally composed of PVC or PEX tubing as opposed to metal. It’s a good idea to bring along different sizes of tubing and/or pipe that your RV uses in case you need to make any repairs.
It’s also handy to carry:
- Crimp fittings and a crimp tool — These are used to hold tubing pieces together.
- Shark Bite fittings — These hold two pieces of pipe or water line together. They are easier to use than crimp fittings, but also bulkier and more expensive.
- Pipe Fix tape — This can be wrapped around a leaky pipe for a quick fix until you can fix the problem properly.
- Flexible pipe snake — This can be used to break up clogs in drain pipes.
- Tank backspray tool — This is used to spray a strong stream of water into your waste tanks, helping remove clogs and buildup.
Because RV plumbing fixtures are the same as those used in homes and elsewhere, you should be able to find them not only at an RV service center, but also at any hardware store.
Common RV Plumbing Troubles
There are a handful of RV plumbing issues that tend to come up often. Knowing how to handle each of these common problems is definitely a good idea.
Leaking Water Line
A leaking water line can cause big issues fast. If you are able to get to the leak, you can use plumber’s tape to temporarily repair the problem yourself. It is also possible to do a true DIY repair by removing the section of water line that is leaking and replacing it with a new piece using crimp fittings (or shark bite fittings).
Leaking Drain Pipe
Generally, if your drain pipe leaks, it will leak directly under the sink near the P-trap. This is because the fittings that hold the P-trap in place can wiggle their way loose. If you have a leak under your sink, look for loose fittings. In the case of a loose fitting, you may be able to simply tighten it back into place. If that doesn’t hold, a new fitting may be in order.
Leaking Fixture
Sometimes things like sink faucets, shower heads, toilets, and city water inlets will leak. Sometimes these can be repaired. Other times, it’s easier to replace the entire fixture.
Use the video below to fix a dripping sink faucet:
Use the video below to fix a toilet that won’t hold water:
Use the video below to replace a city water inlet:
Clogged Drain Pipe
If you’re dealing with a sink or shower that won’t drain, you likely have a clogged drain line. It might be tempting to reach for the Draino like you would for household plumbing, but don’t do it. The chemicals are so strong they can damage your RV water system, which isn’t built to be as tough as one in a sticks-and-bricks home.
Instead, use the aforementioned flexible pipe snake to clear the clog and get things moving again.
Clogged Tank
Clogged waste water tanks are a problem because they make it impossible to dump your waste water. There are a few ways to take care of such a clog, but in our experience the best method is the aforementioned backspray tool, which uses a strong stream of water to clear the clog.
Clearly there is a lot to know about RV plumbing. Fortunately, you now know everything you need to know to make basic repairs on the go. This is great because it means minor plumbing issues don’t have to ruin your adventures!
Why not learn about your RV electrical system next so you can know even more about the inner workings of your home-on-wheels?
