Uploaded September 2020 | Updated September 2026, 56 minutes ago
My water pump, like many other RV water pumps, has a built in pressure switch. Unfortunately, this pressure switch is often built cheap and has a tendency to fail.
Mine lasted a few years with minimal use, before it started failing to cut the pump after it hit the maximum pressure. This causes water pressure to build up in the line far beyond what the appliances and plumbing is meant to handle, which can cause damage. In my case, the pressure valve on my water heater, which is a safety mechanism to prevent damage to the plumbing of the water heater, tripped and started pumping water out the side of the bus. After it started happening frequently, I knew it was time to make a change.
Many people will replace the pump at this point, which can be an expensive and time-consuming prospect. Instead, I bypassed the pump's built-in pressure switch with a more robust pressure switch that is built for well water pumps. The cost was surprisingly cheap, but the component was built far better than the built-in pressure switch.
Best of all, doing the repair in this way saves me from having to deal with replacing the entire pump, which would have been a more daunting plumbing job.
Here's how it went down.
Tools and Equipment In This Video:
Square D Schneider Water Pressure Switch 40-60PSI: amzn.to/2H1gTcV
Well Water Pressure Gauge: amzn.to/33wn0NI
Seaflo 12v DC Water Pump 5 Gpm, 60PSI: amzn.to/3iB4Ros
Pex Barb to Hose Fitting: amzn.to/2RnG4IC
Hose to 3/8 inch FNPT Bushing (MUST USE LEAD FREE): homedepot.sjv.io/jo030
3/8 inch FNPT T (MUST USE LEAD FREE): homedepot.sjv.io/d1g0k
3/8 inch NPT Brass Nipple (MUST USE LEAD FREE): homedepot.sjv.io/d1g0k
Pipe Thread Seal Teflon Tape: amzn.to/3bWTlRT
1/2 inch PEX: amzn.to/3hpExfG
1/2 inch Copper PEX Crimp Rings: amzn.to/35z988g
1/2 inch PEX Tee: amzn.to/2RtbI7m
PEX Crimping Tool: amzn.to/3izwJt5
Wire: amzn.to/2ZTS2yr
Mounting Clips: amzn.to/2FzNMN2
Electrical Terminals: amzn.to/2ZCWcKW
Better Butt Connectors: amzn.to/32vewrd
Tank Monitor and Water System Switches: garnetinstruments.com/product/709-hp3w-seelevel-tank-monitor
My water pump, like many other RV water pumps, has a built in pressure switch. Unfortunately, this pressure switch is often built cheap and has a tendency to fail.
Mine lasted a few years with minimal use, before it started failing to cut the pump after it hit the maximum pressure. This causes water pressure to build up in the line far beyond what the appliances and plumbing is meant to handle, which can cause damage. In my case, the pressure valve on my water heater, which is a safety mechanism to prevent damage to the plumbing of the water heater, tripped and started pumping water out the side of the bus. After it started happening frequently, I knew it was time to make a change.
Many people will replace the pump at this point, which can be an expensive and time-consuming prospect. Instead, I bypassed the pump's built-in pressure switch with a more robust pressure switch that is built for well water pumps. The cost was surprisingly cheap, but the component was built far better than the built-in pressure switch.
Best of all, doing the repair in this way saves me from having to deal with replacing the entire pump, which would have been a more daunting plumbing job.
Here's how it went down.
Tools and Equipment In This Video:
Square D Schneider Water Pressure Switch 40-60PSI: amzn.to/2H1gTcV
Well Water Pressure Gauge: amzn.to/33wn0NI
Seaflo 12v DC Water Pump 5 Gpm, 60PSI: amzn.to/3iB4Ros
Pex Barb to Hose Fitting: amzn.to/2RnG4IC
Hose to 3/8 inch FNPT Bushing (MUST USE LEAD FREE): homedepot.sjv.io/jo030
3/8 inch FNPT T (MUST USE LEAD FREE): homedepot.sjv.io/d1g0k
3/8 inch NPT Brass Nipple (MUST USE LEAD FREE): homedepot.sjv.io/d1g0k
Pipe Thread Seal Teflon Tape: amzn.to/3bWTlRT
1/2 inch PEX: amzn.to/3hpExfG
1/2 inch Copper PEX Crimp Rings: amzn.to/35z988g
1/2 inch PEX Tee: amzn.to/2RtbI7m
PEX Crimping Tool: amzn.to/3izwJt5
Wire: amzn.to/2ZTS2yr
Mounting Clips: amzn.to/2FzNMN2
Electrical Terminals: amzn.to/2ZCWcKW
Better Butt Connectors: amzn.to/32vewrd
Tank Monitor and Water System Switches: garnetinstruments.com/product/709-hp3w-seelevel-tank-monitor
