Use a flow regulator when power filling or black tank flushing?

Jay_and_Kat · June 7

Should we use, or can we skip using, a flow regulator when we're:

Power filling the fresh tank from a faucet?
Using the black tank flush when we're dumping?

We've been using a regulator, but it does rather slow down the process of filling the tank, which we've been doing at the campground rather than hauling several hundred pounds of water along.
As for the black tank flush, we've used a regulator, sometimes, if we need to (or should be) use a regulator here as well, I'm going to buy a dedicated one for the task.

Droid · June 10

I have never used one on the clean out, but sometimes the water pressure at some dump stations is pretty high. A dedicated pressure regulator sounds like a good idea. I think i will get one!

andytabrv · June 10

Other than the minoor restriction that the clean-out line running to the black tank puts on the hose, it's never blocked or in a system with pressure release valves (like the T@b 400 yellow valves under the bed). The black tank is vented and if it filled up the water would start to back up exhaust pipe and likely flow out the pipe roof vent....maybe? Anyway, I don't think a pressure reducer would do much other than restrict the water flow into the black tank where you probably want it spraying as hard as you can. And, even with low flow you would always want to mind it so it doesn't overfill. So, I think a pressure regulator isn't going to protect much. I mean, maybe it could be so high as it would blow off the components inside? Has anyone ever heard of that happening?

Thanks for stating above that you definitely DO NOT want to share using the same pressure regulator for your drinking water and your waste clean out.

As for when you are filling the fresh water tank, given it has a dedicated overflow I'm not sure what the pressure reducer would help prevent against. I have noticed that the tank has flex and will swell as I can fill it faster than the overflow can relieve it. Usually as soon as i notice it is overflowing and turn the water off, it will flow for up to a minute or more as the swollen tank "squeezes" the remainder out. For this reason I watch very carefully when I fill it. So, maybe filling slower would let you catch the overflow sooner before it's swelling. But, then you'd have to wait around longer watching. I've read the horror stories of people whose tank overflows were filled by dirt dobbers and had the tank swell enough to warp the floor. I will check the overflow with my finger to ensure I'm feeling air flow out when water is flowing in. But, given there is always some relief for the pressure of the water flowing in during powerfill, I'm not sure if there is enough risk to warrant a pressure reducer.

Has anyone here ever had issues of too-high water pressure when filling the fresh water tank (powerfill)?

Jay_and_Kat · June 12

@andytabrv I'm not so concerned about overfilling, so much as blowing out one of the water lines from too much pressure.

When I flush the black tank, the dump valve is ALWAYS open (as I believe is recommended) and it's hooked up to the hose to the dump pit. As for filling the fresh, I was hoping that filling without a pressure regulator would go quicker so we don't tie up the potable water station for too long, but again, my concern is blowing out the water lines...

Binghi · June 12

I installed regulators on both the city water and black water inlets in the Nautilus. No sense taking chances with your water lines or tank vents. The fresh water tank fills fast enough and the black tank cleans well enough with pressure-regulated water flow.

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Use a flow regulator when power filling or black tank flushing?

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