2024 Tab 400 - Low hot water pressure

Beaniebone
Beaniebone
in Heating/Plumbing & Winterizing

Any ideas as to why I have low hot water pressure at all locations (galley sink, bathroom shower and sink). Cold water pressure is sufficient. Is there an easy fix?

Comments

  • MuttonChops
    MuttonChops

    Clogged TMV internal screen-filter?

    Several forum threads on this issue, try the Search Feature or check the resources section for Mixing Value Service

    TMV Overview link

    tmv.jpg
    tmv.jpg 60.3K

    '18 320 S, pitched axle, 3020HE; PNW based

    TV: '17 Colorado V6 Z71 4x4, Tow Package, GM Brake Controller
    TV: '25 Canyon AT4
    Adventures: 59 Nights: 411 Towing Miles 50,350

  • EPOD1
    EPOD1

    Advice from Muttonchops is spot on, check the link that was listed. The Alde mixing valve (Tempering valve) is in my opinion, undersized or simply not suitable for the needs. It has a small screen filter on the inlet that clogs and that was enough for me to swap it out with a better valve.

    My water pressure is now constant on both hot and cold.

  • Binghi
    Binghi

    Good to hear that you found a mixing valve that works for you. What valve did you choose?

    2021 400 BD / 2023 Ford F150 / Austin, TX

  • EPOD1
    EPOD1

    Hi Binghi,

    First you should read: Low Hot water pressure

    The valve that I used: Mixing valve

    The mixing valve does not come with a mounting bracket, however you can buy the same valve with a panel mount nut and make your own bracket for it. I made a custom bracket from 6061-T6 aluminum because, well…I can : )

    FIG3.jpg

    The Alde mixing valve does not come with a bracket either and the folks at NuCamp just used tubing hangars to mount it. I wanted something solid and also wanted to clean up the mess that is left by the rapid production line at NuCamp.

    FIG4.jpg

    Truthfully, my valve modification is a little overkill but I use this same valve in hotwater machines that I build for commercial divers hot water water suits, which use salt water and I get about six to ten years out of them before they fail. So it's most likely a one and done for this fresh water system.

    The flow we get from it is Glorious, the only drawback is that when boondocking, there are no Marriott showers but if you get a fresh water hook up at your site…. ahhhhh.

  • pthomas745
    pthomas745

    What we need: a better mixing valve compared to the constantly failing "Alde Thermostatic Valve" that is simple to install. There have been several threads with options, with Epod1's being one.

    There are one or two other examples of owners who have dumped the Alde valve for something simpler and readily available. Several owners have used the valve below in their 400's, and the same valves shows up on Amazon with different company names. This is a comment I posted back in July with the valve pictured:

    image.png image.png

    My question would be: is there a mixing valve out there that uses the same style/size John Guest fittings we have in the newer trailers? Would those "swivel" adapters in my comment work on the "Tremax" valve as long as they were appropriately sized? (Epods solution in his thread about the mixing valve is much nicer, however.)

    What is sort of surprising to me is we see about one failure or issue with the "new thermostatic mixing valve" per week, it seems. The "old" black cap LK550's rarely fail to deliver hot water, it seems, but they do/did have issues with leaks.

    2017 Outback
    Towed by 2014 Touareg TDi

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