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Many of us are starting to be more aware of how we use resources like water and power. When we travel in our RVs, it can be helpful to invest in products that allow us to be more environmentally conscientious. The Aqua View Showermiser is one of these helpful, resource-conserving products.
If you are looking to add an Aqua View Showermiser to your RV or if your new RV comes with one already installed, you are a step ahead. In this article, we will tell you more about the Aqua View Showermiser and how it works.
What is Aqua View’s Showermiser Water Saver?
The Aqua View Showermiser water saver is a plumbing fixture that allows you to return water back to your clean water tank. We have all let water run down the drain waiting for it to warm up in the shower. With a limited water supply in your RV, this can be wasteful. The Showermiser allows you to divert the cold water back to the freshwater tank to be used again.
The great thing about the Showermiser is that the water that is returned to the freshwater tank never leaves the clean water plumbing of your RV. The Showermiser valve returns cold water back to the fresh water tank, bypassing your showerhead.
You will know it is time to use your shower when the blue Showermiser tube turns white. This color change tells you that the water passing through the heat-sensitive color-changing tube is now hot.
There are some added benefits to installing a Showermiser in your RV. A big money-saving benefit is that it can extend the life of your hot water heater. The Showermiser will tell you when the hot water is ready in your shower, reducing the demand on the hot water heater.
How Do You Use A Showermiser In An RV?
If you have never used a Showermiser or similar product, you may wonder how they work. The Aqua View Showermiser is a simple piece of equipment to operate. Here are the basic steps for using the Showermiser:
Aqua View Showermiser Basic Steps
- Make sure your hot water heater is on and working correctly.
- Turn on your water pump if you are not connected to city water.
- Set the Showermiser valve to the position that sends the water back to the freshwater tank.
- Fully turn on the hot water for your shower. You will hear water running, but nothing should come out of the showerhead.
- Keep your eye on the blue Showermiser tube. When hot water reaches the tube, it will start to turn white.
- Turn the Showermiser valve to the position that sends water to the shower head and hop into the shower.
- At this point, you can turn down the hot water and start adding cold water.
- Use an RV showerhead that cuts off the water while you scrub up.
- To rinse, use the showerhead cut-off switch to turn the water back on.
- Continue to use the RV showerhead’s cut-off switch as you continue your shower.
- Return the Showermiser valve to the by-pass position to return any water left in the shower line back to the freshwater tank.
Don’t Use The Showermiser Valve While Showering
Your RV freshwater tank is made of thick plastic that can handle the hot temperature, but you want to keep as much hot water for your shower as possible. Using the Showermiser bypass valve to stop the flow of water will continue the hot water flow directly to the freshwater tank.
Therefore, by the time you are finishing up, you could run out of hot water. That is why you want to use the shower head cut-off valve between rinses instead of the Showermiser cut-off valve when you are showering.
If you are new to using an Aqua View Showermiser, you will want to check out Winnebago’s instructional video for the Showermiser. This video gives you a more detailed description of how to operate the Showermiser.
Is The Showermiser Installation Easy?
If you are comfortable doing plumbing work on your own RV, installing the Showermiser should be easy. There are some challenges to installing the Aqua View Showermiser. If you are not completely comfortable with DIY projects on your RV, your local RV dealer can do the work for you.
For those of us that are comfortable with DIY projects on our RV, Aqua View does have an easy-to-follow installation guide. This guide gives you step-by-step instructions, with pictures, so you don’t have to do a lot of guesswork.
Make sure that you read the installation guide before starting the work. It gives you a list of the tools that you will need to have available. It also lists the parts that are not included with the Showermiser, like a section of PEX pipe, PEX pipe fittings, and Teflon plumber’s tape.
Having these items ahead of time will allow you to work through the installation with minimal interruptions.
Do RVs Need Special Shower Heads To Use the Showermiser?
The Showermiser does not require a special shower head for proper operations. The purpose of the Showermiser is to divert water back to the freshwater tank. The shower head is not part of this diversion.
If you are really enthusiastic about reducing your water use in your RV, you can install a low-flow or water-conserving showerhead. There are a number of these fixtures on the market that are specifically made for RVs.
What RV Brands Use The Aqua View Showermiser Water Saver?
As more and more RV owners consider conservation features on their rigs, products like the Showermiser are becoming more common as standard features. If you are shopping for a new RV, you may want to know which RV brands come with the Showermiser.
The Showermiser website has a great listing of the brands that feature the Showermiser. Keep in mind that even though a brand is listed, not all models have the Showermiser included. For your quick reference, here is a list of the RV brands that have the Showermiser equipped in their product lines:
- Airstream
- Coachmen
- Ember Recreational Vehicles
- Flagstaff
- Forest River
- Foretravel Motorcoach
- Jayco
- Lance
- New Horizons
- Newmar
- Palomino
- Rockwood
- Thor
- Tiffin
- Winnebago
What Are The Showermiser Reviews Saying?
The Showermiser comes with some pretty mixed reviews. However, most people are generally happy with the Showermiser.
People that have installed the Showermiser on an older RV are satisfied with how it works. This is likely because they have done their research and are prepared for how to use the system properly.
Reviewers that installed their own Showermiser frequently noted that it can be difficult to reach some of the locations for tie-ins. If you find that this is the case with your RV, many other owners recommend using a professional to do the work.
For owners that bought a new RV with the Showermiser, the product seemed to have more negative reviews. We found that many of them were disappointed with the product. They were unaware that the Showermiser returns water to the freshwater tank.
This happens even when connected to city water. This can cause the freshwater tank to overflow if you are not paying attention.
Most of the issues noted in the negative reviews of the Showermiser can easily be resolved with just a bit of reading. Make sure that you familiarize yourself with the features of your RV before you start traveling.
Final Words On The Aqua View Showermiser Water Saver
The Aqua View Showermiser is a great feature for your RV if you want to reduce your water and propane use. The Showermiser is a simple device but can make a world of difference for boondocking or more remote campgrounds.
Most RV owners will need to take some time to practice using the Showermiser. Once you get it figured out, you will love knowing you can hit the road and have plenty of water for your trip.
Related Reading:
1. RV Water Heater Not Getting Hot Enough!
2. Do Tankless RV Water Heaters Provide Endless Hot Water?
3. How to Sanitize Your RV Fresh Water Tank
4. How to Flush and Clean RV Holding Tanks
5. Why Your RV Water Pump Pulsates and How to Fix It
Jason Gass – Author and Part Time RVer
Jason Gass is a full-time freelance writer and part-time RVer whose goal is to share great stories around a campfire with good friends.
When he’s not working, he spends most of his time camping, searching for the best breweries, and road-tripping in his teardrop trailer with his wife, daughter, and two dogs.
