Water Pumps & Water Pressure Regulators
RV water pumps are used to increase the flow and pressure of water, and can be an important element in your water system. Excessive pressure can cause your plumbing to leak or even rupture. It doesn't take long at high pressures to cause damage, even a fairly brief "spike" can do it. RV pressure regulators are installed in your water supply line to limit the water pressure going into your RV.
Water Pressure Regulators
Water Pumps
1. Providing Pressurized Water from Your Tank
Most RVs have a built-in tank to store water. An RV water pump is employed to get the water to your faucet, shower, and toilet. Most are small diaphragm pumps that run on 12 VDC so they can run off your batteries.
Aquatec is on the leading edge when it comes to RV pumps. Aquatec makes two units that overcome the problems typically found in most built-in pumps. They are very easy to install and offer the following benefits compared to your built-in pump:
- Quieter Operation - At the same flow and pressure as your standard motorhome water pump, the Aquajet pumps will normally be much quieter, due to slower motor speeds and superior design. The higher pressure may emphasize the vibration and noise from loose water lines, etc. Full speed running when multiple faucets are in use, will make more noise than at lower speeds. The sound is more of a whirring than a thumping.
- Greater Flow and Pressure - A 5-chamber pump head produces better flow and pressure than the standard 3- or 4-chamber pump. Use more than one fixture at a time and still have adequate pressure.
- Smoother Flow - The combination of a 5-chamber design, variable speed, and soft starting enables the Aquajet to produce even flow, usually without the rapid cycling heard from other pumps that are not variable speed.
The Aquajet RV is the bigger of the two, giving you 5.3 gallons per minute (GPM) at 65 pounds per square inch (PSI) of pressure. This is sufficient to give you full flow with several fixtures in operation. The Aquajet ES is a less powerful version of the Aquajet RV pump, but still produces 3.5 GPM at 65 PSI. It consumes less power, which is a real advantage for boondockers and those with limited power supplies.
Most built-in RV water pumps are the ShurFlo brand and are acceptable, but many people find them lacking. Specifically, in the following areas:
- They are noisy and irritating.
- They don't pump enough water at a high enough pressure.
- They cycle during low flow conditions.
- The Aquajet RV and the Aquajet ES are exact replacements for the built-in ShurFlo pumps
- Boosting Pressure for Reverse Osmosis Systems
Water pressure in RV parks varies widely, and reverse osmosis (RO) systems need a pressure of 60-65 PSI to work well, so if you have a whole-RV RO system, you should use a booster pump. By providing the recommended pressure, you will get the performance you paid for. Operating RO at the rated pressure increases the life of the membrane, improves the quality and quantity of product water, and minimizes the amount of brine produced.
Our RO Boost Pumps are made by Aquatec, and they are the most common and popular in the world. The Aquatec 8800 is a large capacity pump that is available for 24 VAC operation and 12 VDC. The 24 VAC unit includes a transformer for use with standard 120 VAC power. It is available with either 1/4" or 3/8" inlet and outlet ports. The unit with 1/4" ports will easily supply an RO system with a 75 to 150 gpd and will supply a dual-membrane RO system. The 3/8" model is designed for higher demand flow rates, or matching up to 3/8" tubing systems.
- Pressurizing Reverse Osmosis Product Water
If you have a reverse osmosis (RO) system for your drinking water, the clean water produced will be stored in a small pressure tank. Due to the way RO systems operate, the product water is usually at a low pressure, and some people find it to be inadequate. A permeate pump solves this problem in a clever way. It utilizes the pressure of the bypass water, or "brine", to increase the pressure and volume of the product water. Because of this, it does not require any electricity to operate. So, if your RO system has a pressure tank, a permeate pump is a nice addition. It is not necessary for a whole-RV RO system.
- Boosting Pressure to Whole RV
In some RV parks, the water pressure supplied by the park is just too low to provide an adequate flow and pressure at the fixtures in your RV. The solution to this problem is to add a boost pump capable of supplying your whole rig. We sell the Aquatec 550 Whole RV Boost Pump specifically for this purpose.
- Macerator Pumps for Dumping Waste Water Tanks
We carry Flojet brand portable and non-portable models. Both models are 12 VDC. The Portable comes with carrying case and hand held shut off switch. It has a separate connection for adding a garden hose to make more liquid when dumping black water tank, if needed. It comes ready to hook directly on sewer outlet of RV. It has ample cord to hook to a nearby battery or to an installed 12-volt receptacle when a plug is mounted on the end of the cord. The non-portable motorhome water pump model is designed to go in the service bay near the sewer outlet and be hooked up with a sewer fitting and a section of 3" sewer hose. Then you can hook a line on the outlet to go to the sewer. Connections for power and sewer line are not included.
