Question Question: water pressure

[Michaelcmi]

Good morning:
I have a 2026 Jayco NorthPoint 5th wheel.
I have on demand hot water system.
I have very little water pressure throughout my unit.
I have tried different size hoses coming into the unit -no change.
I have tried dry camping mode using the water pump -no change.
Have good water pressure coming into the unit (42 PSI)

Looking for suggestions
Your thoughts?

Thanks in advance
Mike

 

[Ted Bullard]

Good morning:
I have a 2026 Jayco NorthPoint 5th wheel.
I have on demand hot water system.
I have very little water pressure throughout my unit.
I have tried different size hoses coming into the unit -no change.
I have tried dry camping mode using the water pump -no change.
Have good water pressure coming into the unit (42 PSI)

Looking for suggestions
Your thoughts?

Thanks in advance
Mike

I have a 2025 Forest River RV that is permanent parked. I had a water filter connected to the water supply hose coming into the unit. I, too, had very little water pressure. Before I started trying so many ways trying to fix the problem, out of a thought, I took the water filter off the incoming water hose and instantly my water pressure doubled. I am now looking for a better quality filter. If you have a water filter, take it off and see if that is your problem also.

 

[allenlook]

Could be more than one reason, sometimes the manufacturer gets a lot of chaff in the lines and it collects in the fixtures. Is this water pressure at every fixture, both hot and cold?

On the city water inlet, there is usually a metal mesh screen. Check that to see if it's clogged.

On the water pump, there is an inlet filter usually screwed onto the intake side of the pump, check that to see if it's clogged.

On each faucet there is an aerator screen, check those to see if they're clogged.

Also, is this an issue with pressure, or with flow? If it's an issue with pressure, the water pressure starts out low and stays low. If it's an issue with flow (from a crushed pipe), the pressure starts out high with a spurt, and then drops to low.

 

[RobertE]

Even with the 12V pump? Very strange. Thinking....that would have to be in the main line, right?

Here's what ChatGPT says:

Based on what you've described, I would be looking for a restriction somewhere in the RV's plumbing system, rather than a problem with your water supply.

There are two things in your description that are particularly important:

1. You have 42 PSI coming into the fifth wheel, which is generally adequate.
2. You get the same poor pressure using the onboard water pump. That makes the city-water inlet and its pressure regulator less likely to be the problem.

Since both water sources produce the same result, I would concentrate on components and plumbing that are common to both systems.

My troubleshooting priorities​

I'd approach this in the following order.

1. Check the whole-house water filter

If your NorthPoint has an inline water filtration system, temporarily remove the filter cartridge or bypass the filter.

A clogged filter can substantially reduce flow. This is one of the first things I'd eliminate.

2. Check the water heater inlet screen

Your on-demand water heater may have an inlet screen or strainer that catches debris.

If debris gets into the plumbing during manufacturing or installation, it can restrict flow.

I'd check this particularly if the problem has existed since the unit was new.

3. Check the water pump strainer

The pump normally has a small clear or translucent strainer attached to its inlet.

Look for:

• Plastic shavings.
• Debris.
• A partially obstructed screen.

Even though the pump runs, a restricted inlet can limit its output.

4. Check the main water distribution manifold

Your NorthPoint may have a centralized plumbing distribution system.

A partially closed valve, kinked PEX line, or obstruction near the manifold could restrict water throughout the unit.

5. Check the on-demand water heater

This is an important possibility, particularly if you have poor pressure on both hot and cold water.

The water heater itself should not normally restrict cold-water flow to the rest of the RV, but an incorrectly installed valve or plumbing arrangement could cause problems.

One test I'd really like you to perform​

Before taking anything apart, I'd like to narrow down whether this is a hot-water problem or a general plumbing problem.

Try these three things:

1. Open a cold-water faucet fully. See how much water comes out.
2. Open a hot-water faucet fully. Compare the flow.
3. Try the outside shower, both hot and cold.

Also, remove the aerator from a kitchen or bathroom faucet and test it again. A clogged aerator can make a pressure problem look worse than it is.

An important distinction: Your 42 PSI reading may be static pressure (with no water flowing). What matters is the pressure while a faucet is open. A restriction can allow pressure to build to 42 PSI but still severely limit the amount of water flowing.

Jayco's plumbing documentation identifies the water filter and pump strainer as maintenance items worth checking.


Jayco+1

A few questions that will help pinpoint it​

I'd like to know four things:

1. Cold water: Is the pressure equally poor on cold water throughout the unit?
2. Hot water: Is hot water equally poor, or is it noticeably worse than cold?
3. All fixtures: Is the kitchen sink just as bad as the bathroom faucets and shower?
4. Since new: Has this problem existed since you purchased the 2026 NorthPoint, or did it develop recently?

One other thing: Does your NorthPoint have the whole-house canister water filter in the utility compartment?

My suspicion is that we're dealing with a restriction at a common point in the plumbing, possibly the water filtration system, a valve in the utility center, or a plumbing obstruction.

Since it's a 2026 model, I would also be inclined to have Jayco address it under warranty rather than start dismantling plumbing.