Water diverter valve

[Whistlepig]

I believe that the water diverter valve on my RV is broken since when I turned on my water pump, water came shooting out of the diverter valve and blew off the lever that switches it from city water to water tank.  I then turned off the water pump and hooked it up to the city water and the same thing happened.  Water just shoots out of the diverter valve.  I assume that means the valve is broken.  We are leaving on our family vacation in 3 days and the local RV service center doesn't have any openings for weeks.  Is there any quick fix so we can have water in our motorhome? 

 

[Rene T]

Welcome to the forum.
Can you remove the valve. It may be that just the stem nut is loose and has to be tightened. Or maybe you can buy a new one

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

It does indeed sond like that valve is physically broken, maybe shattered from a winter freeze up?

That "diverter valve" is not used to switch from city to pump/tank. Instead, it is used to fill the tank from the city water side. In most RV water systems, it's a simple open/close valve, allowing city water to bypass the pump and enter the tank.  The valve is normally closed when water is in use, whether city or pump. It is opened only when city water is connected and you want to fill the fresh water tank for future use.

It's not an RV-specific part and should be easy to replace with a standard water valve available wherever plumbing fittings are sold.  Or you could temporarily remove the valve and patch through with a flexible (rubber) sleeve coupling, also available at hardware & home stores. However, you would need an alternate way to add water to the fresh tank, should you need to do so.  Does the trailer have a gravity fill for the tank as well?
The valve is probably similar to this one:
https://www.lowes.com/pd/sharkbite-brass-1-2-in-push-to-connect-ball-valve/1000680101

Addendum: See follow-on replies.

 

[Old_Crow]

It does indeed sond like that valve is physically broken, maybe shattered from a winter freeze up?

That "diverter valve" is not used to switch from city to pump/tank. Instead, it is used to fill the tank from the city water side. In most RV water systems, it's a simple open/close valve, allowing city water to bypass the pump and enter the tank.  The valve is normally closed when water is in use, whether city or pump. It is opened only when city water is connected and you want to fill the fresh water tank for future use.

It's not an RV-specific part and should be easy to replace with a standard water valve available wherever plumbing fittings are sold.  Or you could temporarily remove the valve and patch through with a flexible (rubber) sleeve coupling, also available at hardware & home stores. However, you would need an alternate way to add water to the fresh tank, should you need to do so.  Does the trailer have a gravity fill for the tank as well?
The valve is probably similar to this one:
https://www.lowes.com/pd/sharkbite-brass-1-2-in-push-to-connect-ball-valve/1000680101

Gary, on my coach, at least, if I was to repair it like that, I'd have water flowing into the tank at all times when hooked up to city water.  I'd have to remove the valve and cap the lines to block it off.  Then use the gravity fill port.

I know this because when I had the coach re-plumbed, I had the guy reverse that same "repair" that the previous owner had made, so I can fill my tank through the city water connection now.

 

[John From Detroit]

I would say there is a 100% chance that valve is broken.. I will give you several repair options.
Temp fix. Remove valve and cap the lines

Remove and replace with a 3-way valve non-identical
Remove and replace with identical valve.

If and when mine fails I'll replace with a "T" and a quarter turn valve (The fuil line) so city water is always sent to house. You can use two quarter turns as well. House and fill.

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

Or you could temporarily remove the valve and patch through with a flexible (rubber) sleeve coupling, also available at hardware & home stores.

Good thing Old Crow caught this - it was totally bad advice!  The opposite of what I intended to say, so I'll plead a brain fart!  If the valve is removed temporarily, both sides need to be capped (closed off).  It's just as easy to install the new valve.

 

[GreenSteve]

Good day,

My hot water diverter handle busted in the cold 5 days ago.

It just warmed up and the handle is completely busted. I can put a drill bit through the whole.

My rig is a coachmen mirada 1999.

My question is do I just need to get a replacement handle and how do I replace it?

Thanks

Call please if free to describe and happy new years.

815-274-6777

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

Can't really answer without seeing the valve, e.g. a photo. These days it is often all but impossible to find repair parts for items like that, especially for plastic valves, but if it is a metal valve with removable handle you might find one in a hardware store. Is the handle held in place with a screw?

 

[GreenSteve]

Its a plastic valve and here is a image.

No screw either.

 

[Rene T]

I would remove the valve and check around for something that would work. Try an Ace Hardware.

 

[Kirk]

No screw either.

I would doubt that you can find the knob but could it be glued back together?