Eliminating cold water burst from shower head

First topic message reminder :

I thought this topic deserves its own post, so I am moving all the comments to this new post.

Many of us have complained about the burst of cold water from this shower after turning it off for a few minutes while lathering up. I found the following info, with pictures:

http://www.motorhomemagazine.com/boards/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/21981346.cfm

After doing more reading in the above post, someone suggests just using one of these:

http://www.dyersonline.com/Products/Camco-12-Check-Valve__86-8153.aspx

I'm thinking all we have to do is install this check valve on the hot water line at the back of the faucet, inside the little door on the outside.

Re: Eliminating cold water burst from shower head
by oldelmer1 on Wed Jan 21, 2009 10:47 am

I have replaced my faucet in the shower, (don't ask ) and it does the same thing, cold blast when turning on the water again. I also replaced the shower head with the Oxygenics. With this shower head, you have to leave a little stream coming out cause it wont shut off all the way, but still cold water.

Oh, and my outside shower is closed. Does Rod think we all would just miss water running down the side of our camper, and then do nothing about it?



Re: Eliminating cold water burst from shower head
by MaxRock on Wed Jan 21, 2009 10:41 am
With respect to the cold water, we have a different issue. The last few camping trips, when I turn the water back on at the shower head, the water comes out extremely hot! I've checked the outside shower and it is off, so I do agree it probably has something to do with the mixing at that faucet. While it feels nice the first second or two, the water gets really hot before it starts to cool. I know, weird, but it is what it is!



Re: Eliminating cold water burst from shower head
by MaxRock on Wed Jan 21, 2009 3:53 pm

oldelmer1 wrote:
Does Rod think we all would just miss water running down the side of our camper, and then do nothing about it?
Tom, that comment made me laugh! I don't know why my shower started doing the blast of hot water. I thought all along it was the water sitting in the pipe had just cooled off and when you started circulating the water again, it would heat up once you got "new" water from the HWH. Oh well...what do I know...except my outside shower does not have water running down the side of the camper!



Re: Eliminating cold water burst from shower head
by retired2 on Wed Jan 21, 2009 4:47 pm
Tom

I think Rod's comment was about having shut off the outside shower head while leaving the shower faucets on. (Still a good eay to have a wet wall). I have bothe the shower head and faucets turned off on the outside shower.

If a new shower head, and new faucets won't stop the cold water blasts, what is the next step? On occassion we also get cold water blasts while the shower head is open. I can get prepared for the cold blast when I know it is coming, but when it is out of the blue--WOW. Generally we just let the shower head remain open and let the hot water continue to run. This is ok unless you are dry camped and have limited water and grey water storage.



Re: Eliminating cold water burst from shower head
by Scruffy and Tater on Tue Jan 20, 2009 7:01 pm
retired2 - Gary,
When you solve the problem of the burst of cold water in the shower, please let us know. We're in Tallahassee FL right now. The temp is supposed to get down to 17-21 degrees, depending who we're listening to. That burst of cold water is going to be doubly bad tonight.

Tater



RE:Eliminating cold water burst from shower head
by retired2 on Tue Jan 20, 2009 10:18 pm
Tater

If I ever figure out what is causing the cold water burst, I will post it for all. I have had 3 RV's with showers and am familiar with several others and the WildCat is the only one with this problem. Forest River says it is because the exterior faucets are open, but that isn't the case with mine. I am going to try a different shower head, and am also calling Rod Batt for new ideas. I think it may be in the shower faucet mixer, but my shower faucet is not easy to remove -- no access panel.

We were in Ft Stockton the first of January in freezing temperature and I assure you that cold burst will give you a jolt!


Re: Eliminating cold water burst from shower head
by retired2 Yesterday at 3:59 pm
Tom
Thanks for the post. This sounds plausible. As I look back on my last 2 RV shower systems, I had a fairly equal length of hot and cold water line running to the shower. As I mentioned there was no temperature surge with them. I have continously thought of the length of the hot water line, but kept thinking that the check valve on the hot water line coming out of the hot water heater should not allow the hot water to "bleed" back down the line. The short distance of the cold water line and pressure makes some sense. As soon as I get my unit out of the shop, I will look into the possibilities of inserting the valves. I think I have a place where I can put them and create fairly uniform hot and cold line distances to the shower. If I can install them and it works, it will be a cheap fix. I would use the brass check valves from Camco. Should be easier, more compact and probably cheaper.

Thanks again Gary, Glenda and a SheltyX dog
2003 Sierra 1500HD,CC, SB, 4x4, Quadrasteer
2008 Wildcat 24RL, Trail Air Equa-flex
16K Vallley Power Pull Glider hitch



Re: Eliminating cold water burst from shower head
by shooter Yesterday at 8:38 pm
Good find, Tom- Mike -

Mike's modifications: http://community.webshots.com/album/180262704smXHmj
2001 Chevy 2500HD 4x4,8.1,Alli,3.73,CC,SB,
Bilstein shocks, CIPA 70600 mirrors, spray-liner,
Reese 16K Slider, Prodigy Brake Control,
early production 2005 Wildcat 29 BHBP w/Carefree SlideOut Kover II slide awning &
Demco Glide-Ride pin-box, Trail Air Equa-Flex suspension (self upgrade - not OEM)
shooter



Re: Eliminating cold water burst from shower head
by oldelmer1 Yesterday at 9:29 pm
It sounds like we only need to put one on the hot water line. The original poster put them on both, just cause.....

If I remember correctly, in the little access door outside for the shower faucets, there is an elbow there that connects to the back of the faucet. If we put the check valve there, it should completely stop the cold water from pushing the hot back to the hot water heater.

Its too cold here to do it and try it now. But I think we are hitting the road early February, heading south to warmer weather. I'll get a check valve and give it a try.Tom & Sharon..... North East, MD
Good Sam Club Lifetime Member
2006 Wildcat 29RLBS With Trail Air Equa-Flex, 16K Reese Slider
06' F350 XLT 4x2, 6.0 PSD, Auto, 3.73, CC/SB, SRW
Rhino Spray in Lining
KSH Tool Box/Fuel Tank Combo



Re: Eliminating cold water burst from shower head
by shooter Today at 5:49 am
Alright Tom, you are the guinneapig, lol. Let us know what you find out.- Mike -

Mike's modifications: http://community.webshots.com/album/180262704smXHmj
2001 Chevy 2500HD 4x4,8.1,Alli,3.73,CC,SB,
Bilstein shocks, CIPA 70600 mirrors, spray-liner,
Reese 16K Slider, Prodigy Brake Control,
early production 2005 Wildcat 29 BHBP w/Carefree SlideOut Kover II slide awning &
Demco Glide-Ride pin-box, Trail Air Equa-Flex suspension (self upgrade - not OEM)

This may help. It is one of the modifications that I made and it works. http://picasaweb.google.com/robertz675/WildcatImprovements?authkey=Gv1sRgCPqdrdbfv8_GlgE#5304108055374411730
Bob

We are strill working on this problem. It appears the check valves are working for some, but not for others. Because of the location of our shower related to the water lines, and the work to get the check valves installed, I have not tried this yet. I did change to the oxygenics head. It is a nice head and did improve our situation some. Went from very cold blast to a less cold blast, but still cold. We did adjust the water flow downward but never shut the oxygenics head down to its minimum flow. This may be why it partially worked? I forgot the PVC shut off valve, so I wasn't able to go with a total shut off as some are using. I still need to try that, or use the Camco head.

I know we have a problem with the faucet handles as they do not always hold a constant "pressure". Often a slight adjustment of a handle can result in going from very hot to cold, or vice versa. This makes me wonder if the problem isn't in the mixer in the faucet, and that we are trying to find a solution for the mixer, and that different treatments are giving differing results for different users?

I put the back flow preventer in the basement where the hot water comes from the hot water heater, but this did no good.

So I put one into the hot water line going to the outside shower, but haven't tried it yet to see if it made any difference.

robertz675 wrote:This may help. It is one of the modifications that I made and it works. http://picasaweb.google.com/robertz675/WildcatImprovements?authkey=Gv1sRgCPqdrdbfv8_GlgE#5304108055374411730
Bob

That is exactly what mine looks like. Still have not tried it, so I can't report results.

When I open my shower access door, I just see the back of the shower wall. They seem to have cut the door about 6 inches too high. I have to stick my hand down to reach the fittings for the shower faucet.

oldelmer1 wrote:When I open my shower access door, I just see the back of the shower wall. They seem to have cut the door about 6 inches too high. I have to stick my hand down to reach the fittings for the shower faucet.

The tall guy was probably working that day.