RV Water Pump Upgrade: Anderson Valve System Replacement

Recently, we were provided the opportunity to work with Anderson Brass Company. The existing plastic Anderson Valve System in our fifth wheel's utility distribution center (UDC) needed replacing. So we decided to test a better-engineered brass valve. Originally, our 2016 Heartland Landmark 365 came equipped with a plastic Anderson valve, which was prone to leaking.

How the Anderson Valve System Operates

The Anderson Valve System has a knob in the UDC that rotates to allow us to select how to provide water to our coach. For example, we turn it to City when we're in a campground with a water hookup. We turn it to Fill when we are adding freshwater to our RV’s on-board water tank. We turn it to Winterize when we pump anti-freeze into our RV’s water system at the end of the season. There is also a Normal option for when we need to use the RV’s on-board water pump.

Anderson Brass Company Valve #200RV

The Anderson valve we replaced was the #200RV, which had a plastic body with a rotating knob. It clicked and locked into each position as we rotated the knob. The valve had a plastic core that relied on several rubber O-rings to maintain pressure and function properly. It also had four positions for different uses. However, it was difficult to read which position the knob was actually in.

The plastic valve was prone to failure, especially if the knob rotated while under pressure. In the past, many RV owners have called Anderson Brass Company to seek guidance and instruction to fix a leaky valve. Anderson provided a replacement core if the valve failed. Fortunately, they built a much better solution!

A detail shot of the plastic valve system.

The Wave of the Future

Anderson Brass Company has developed a new valve, MANRV101RF, that reduces future valve failures.  The valve's construction is all brass on the back of the housing panel. It also features Teflon seals to prevent leaks while ensuring a lifetime of reliable service.

In addition, the new valve system provides swiveling attachment points to prevent strain at the water line connections. This aids in attaching the water lines to the valve’s main body with less resistance. A well-constructed brass check valve has been added to maintain water pressure, which helps eliminate the unnecessary cycling of your water pump when you're dry camping.

A detail shot of the all-brass valve.

Anderson Valve Company's product developers designed the new valve with three knob positions instead of four. And they're now marked with easy-to-read lettering. In addition, the new valve knob rotates more smoothly than the old one. One of the most important details to mention is that this new valve has been certified to be compliant with NSF/ANSI 61, the lead-free brass listing required for drinking water.

A side by side comparison of the two valves.

Anderson Valve Replacement How-To Guide

We replaced the Anderson valve in our fifth wheel ourselves. Firstly, we removed the contents of our under-storage. This was a great opportunity to sort through unwanted gear and parts we'd collected as full-time RVers.

After the space was clear, we removed a piece of the under-storage wall to allow access to the waterline attachment points and the back of the old valve. This was also a good time to inspect all the water lines and fittings for any damage.

We only needed two tools for the installation: a Robertson head (square head) screw driver and a pair pliers. We also had some extra shop towels on hand, and a small lantern to provide better lighting.

Once we were satisfied with our inspection, we shut off the water in our coach. We also opened the kitchen faucet to make sure we relieved all of the water pressure from the lines. The last thing we wanted was water spraying all over us when we disconnected the lines.

The new valve installed and in place in the RV.

Next, we placed some shop towels under the water lines to catch any residual water when we disconnected the lines from the valve fittings.

Installation Tip for the RV Valve Replacement:

We took a photo of the connection points so we had a reference of how the water lines looked before we detached them from the valve.

Removing the old valve box is as easy as unscrewing the eight screws that hold the valve box to the wall. We replaced the old valve box with the new housing and fit it into the wall. However, we recommend not screwing it into place right away. Leaving it loose helped to reattach the water lines, allowing more wiggle-room for tightening up the connections. We utilized the newly-designed swivel points for easy attachment of the water lines.

Once all the lines were reattached and tightened, we tightened the screws affixing the new housing to the UDC wall. After we turned the water back on and inspected for leaks, we made sure we cycled the valve through all of the positions while inspecting our work. From start to finish, the installation only took about an hour. It was a simple upgrade to our RV’s water system that will ensure leak-free camping for years to come.

Important Notes:

Anderson Brass Company is not responsible for substandard piping or poorly installed fittings. These are a couple of issues you may encounter when doing the installation. We highly recommend that you be prepared for those discrepancies by having the necessary replacement parts and tools on hand prior to installing a new valve. If your RV’s water system has a preexisting external check valve on the outside of the water pump, you will have to remove it when you install the MANRV101RF valve.

Ordering a Anderson Valve Replacement:

The MANRV101RF can be ordered through the OEM or directly on Anderson Brass Company's website at www.abcorv.com.

About Anderson Brass Company:

Anderson Brass Company is a family-owned business based in Hartsville, SC and has been in business since 1931. Their modern manufacturing facility was built in 1982 and features state of the art technology. They have been a primary provider of water selection valves for multiple RV manufacturers for many years.

 

This article was written by Dan & Lisa Brown of Always On Liberty.