Noisy Shore Water Pressure Reducing Valve

[dave1985]

The brass pressure reducing valve on the shore water line on my 85 36c is making a loud virbrating/buzzing noise whenever a faucet is operated while connected to the shore water. There is no noise when the shore water is off and I draw from the tank.

Is this common...something that can be adjusted...or a good hint that it's time to replace it?

If it needs replacement, does anyone know the manufacturer?

Thanks in advance.

 

[MikeP]

Mine does this also. We almost never attach shore water but when we did last week, the regulator made that noise. I've been meaning to open up the regulator and check it out but I haven't yet...

The oem regulator can be disassembled. I found new ones at home depot - they cannot be disassembled. I suspect that the oem can be repaired though I haven't yet looked at it. It has several access ports which the new ones do not.

Since we almost never use shore water it's not a big issue to us but I think that everything should work as it's supposed to...

 

[Beckytek]

there is a screen filter in it that requires cleaning. Maybe yours needs cleaning. My regulator makes no noise at all and I use shore water all the time I'm at the slip. You can also regulate the water pressure by adjusting the lead screw. Ron

 

[Angela]

Mine sounds like buzzing bees, but I haven't found it yet. The noise is loudest from behind the headliner in the second stateroom. The more water I use, the louder it gets. Not so bad with a faucet or shower, but turn on the washer, and it's pretty loud. Post a photo if you can. I'd like to know what I'm looking for looks like.

 

[SKYCHENEY]

Ang,
They are located in the upper aft outboard corner of each engine room. They are bronze with a screw coming out the bottom to adjust the pressure. Follow the copper water line up to that corner and you will see it.

 

[Top Shelf]

I actually like mine singing like that. It means I connected the fitting correctly in the cockpit. Mine is always a struggle to get all the way on and there's been a few times where I thought I was connected and then we sucked the potable tank dry.

So now when I hear that I know I'm good to go....thx.

 

[dave1985]

Ron,

Can you tell me the location of the screen filter? Would it be inside the brass fitting on the incoming side? Thanks.

Dave

 

[questover]

I have an 1987 the regulars were never cleaned. In fact shore water would create 120 lbs . I took them apart and clean them - they were full of crud. After cleaning everything worked fine. Russ

 

[fissioneng]

Here's a picture of my regulator that points downward. The screen compartment is to the right of the main body and to the left of the union.

They are Watts (www.watts.com) and you can buy rebuild kits. Mine chatters too, but is pretty low on the priority list right now.

Unfortunately mine got installed practically on top of my Hynautic reservoir. Makes it very difficult to access the reservoir.

 

[Maynard Rupp]

Ours humms a tune antime the water is running. I have had several occasions when It really got loud and sounded bad enough to worry me. I would sure like to know more about the filters and cleaning etc. Does the noise go away when the thing is clean?? It is kinda entertaining though.

 

[Americana]

I have the same tune in my 43' MY. The previous owner said that sound "came with the boat, no charge" . I'm going to take the strainer out this weekend. My local plumbing supply shop has the complete assembly in stock for $ 66.00. I expect to find the strainer clogged, as I doubt it has ever been cleaned ( since '86). Mine is installed "upside down" exactly like the photo posted, according to the tech sheet in my files. The plumbing supply shop said not to worry about the replacing the gasket shown on the drawing, just teflon tape the threads. I'll let you know how it goes. I'm also having my AC units cleaned out ( acid solution ) and the "refrigerant" topped off this Friday. I'm anxious to see if it affects the flow from the swa water pump.

All the best,
Americana
86 43" MY

 

[dave1985]

As an addition to my original thread, to see what's going on beyond the valve, I've added a pressure guage "downline" and found that I'm pushing 75 lbs. through the system. Regardless of how I try to adjust the valve, it continues letting 75 pounds through which is the valve's max. I'm not comfortable with that. Thanks to the forum, I was able to identify the valve and got a matching replacement at the local plumbing supply place for $75.

The valve comes from the factory set to 50 lbs. Does anyone know what Hatteras recommends for system pressure?

Thanks for the help.

Dave

 

[SKYCHENEY]

If you have the OEM all copper lines, 50psi should be no problem at all. In fact, probably 100psi would still be okay. But, if you don't mind the lower pressure, you could drop it down some. I would think that 40psi would be adequate.

 

[MikeP]

I have mine set for the same pressure as my GM pump cut-out pressure - about 35psi. Though, as I mentioned, I seldom hook up shore water, I set it the same so there is not much difference in how the system acts/feels regardless of whether its shore or pump-supplied.

 

[dwaynec]

I have the valve set at 50 on our boat, even though the boat has been Bubba-ized so there is quite a bit of hose in the water system now. The few times I have had the boat setup on shore water I have had no problems. However, I am like Mike and very rarely use the shore water connection.

 

[fissioneng]

I sent an email to Watts Technical Support. Here is the response I received:

"Thank you for the inquiry. Chatter and vibration in a pressure regulator are usually caused by high pressure/low flow or a small amount of excessively high pressure water trying to squeeze through a small orifice. Try increasing the pressure setting of the 25AUB-Z3 5-10-psi, thereby opening the passageway a little more."

So, a clogged filter could cause the low flow condition.

My Hatteras Owners Manual says 40 psi is the factory setting. That is about what my gauge shows.