Outside Shower Question

Shane826 · 07-09-2017, 08:39 PM

I just put a new nipple and seal on the back of my outdoor shower. It's been broken since I bought the camper. Hooked it all up, turned on the water, opened the faucet, and I have water coming out of the part I just replaced that comes through the front of the shower box... I don't think that's supposed to do that, is it? Sorry for the crappy picture, but it's late.

Edit to add: Also it sounds like a pump is running when I turn on the faucets, but I'm hooked to city water.

Shane826 · 07-09-2017, 08:42 PM

Here's what I replaced... The water is coming out the long tube part of the "straight nipple" (personally I think they are labeled backwards in this picture but we will go with it).

oldstick · 07-10-2017, 06:47 AM

Are you sure it's coming out of the new part or could it possibly be a crack in the nipple of the original valve? The nipple that the new part screws onto.

That's where mine was cracked and it seems to be a fairly common weak link on the Fontana units.

So I had to replace the whole mixing valve unit and simply threw away that white back flow valve shown in the picture. The valve nipple is a common garden hose type, so I got an adapter from Lowes with female hose threads to male 1/2 " NPT. Then reinstalled the shower hose to the male end.

Shane826 · 07-10-2017, 10:07 AM

Yeah it's definitely coming out of the tube that comes off the new piece and goes through the front of the box. If I put my finger over it, water will shoot out under pressure when I move my finger. So it's not just dribbling down and running out, it's under pressure. And yes I was using a Camco water pressure regulator!

So if I'm reading you correctly, you just eliminated all the ITC Fontana/Rube Goldberg pieces on the back and put a connector between the mixing valves and the shower hose? Did you keep the vacuum breaker? Pending a reply from ITC, I'll probably go the Lowes route. Thanks!

oldstick · 07-10-2017, 05:15 PM

The backflow valve is the part I eliminated. I can't remember exactly, but mine (2003) may have been slightly different than yours because I can't remember those extra plastic pieces.

I had to order one of these due to it being cracked.
http://www.campingworld.com/shopping...FUkdgQod-ekEfQ.

Then I left off the backflow valve, picture attached. The brass end of the valve went onto the mixing valve and and I don't remember why the outlet nipple is missing. I think maybe I was trying to see if it could be removed and replaced with something else for extra clearance. Anyway all I have now is the mixing valve with the adapter and hose put on it. You could even use something short like a washing machine hose and skip the adapter, depending on how you will use the shower.

Shane826 · 07-10-2017, 05:19 PM

That's the same mix valve I have but nothing on mine is brass. I'm gonna take it all apart and head on over to Lowes or Home Depot next time I'm playing Fix-the-Camper.

oldstick · 07-10-2017, 05:28 PM

I almost forgot the most important tip. This is why I decided against using a washing machine hose, even though I had two of them brand new lying around.

You will thank yourself if you replace the original shower hose with one of those super flexible slinky types with the coiled metal housing. It pulls right up and drops right back into place behind the panel, no fussing and stuffing like the stiff plastic hose. Even in cold weather.

Try to get it routed back there so it has a clear path without interference from the water lines and such and it will fall right back inside EZPZ.

Shane826 · 07-16-2017, 12:11 PM

I found a brass 3/4" FH x 1/2" MIP garden hose adapter at Home Depot that worked perfectly. It ties the super flexible shower hose you mentioned directly to the mixing valve outlet; eliminates the vacuum breaker, collar, and nipple. Tightened all the connections and checked for leaks connected to city water with a Camco pressure regulator. No leaks and no weird "pump" sound! Secured the shower box to the camper wall with 1" #12 screws, lubed the lock cylinder, and she's ready for use!

oldstick · 07-17-2017, 04:33 PM

Excellent, glad you got it fixed. All I can guess is the sound you heard was related to water leaking through the parts somehow.

The only thing I figure we are sacrificing without the back-flow valve is say, we let the shower head drop into a bucket of something toxic and it somehow gets siphoned back into the drinking water lines.

I plan to use my camper maybe 25 days per year maximum. Then the outside shower gets used only a few short times out of that.