Page Contents
April 25, 2019
Welcome to another fabulous edition of RV Travel’s Daily Tips newsletter. Here you’ll find helpful RV-related, and small-space living, tips from the pros, travel advice, a handy website of the day, our favorite RVing-related products and, of course, a good laugh. Thanks for joining us. We appreciate your readership.
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FEATURED TIP
Relieve that dripping water heater valve
If your RV’s water heater pressure relief valve is dripping, it may not necessarily need a replacement. Since water expands dramatically when heated, if your tank is full of water, then the “temperature and pressure relief valve” (T&P) may sense the need to let a little pressure off when your water temp rises. Restoring a head of air at the top of the tank may be all that’s required to stop that weeping. Here’s how to do it:
1. Turn off the heat: Shut off the LP burner or electric heater to the tank. ALLOW THE WATER HEATER TO COOL DOWN BEFORE PROCEEDING.
2. Turn off the water: Shut down the city water line to your rig, or turn off the water pump that supplies water – whichever applies in your situation.
3. Relieve the pressure: Open a faucet in your rig – both the hot and cold side – and leave it open. The idea is to relieve the pressure from the lines.
4. Open the T&P valve by flipping the lever up. Water will likely be released, hence the importance of allowing the heater to cool down before getting to this step. When the water stops coming out of the T&P, close the lever.
5. Restore power and water. Check to ensure the dripping has stopped at your T&P.
It’s not unusual to have to repeat this occasionally, as the air pocket may need to be restored now and again. However, if the valve should start to drip again soon, it may be you’ll need a new T&P valve.
This week’s J.A.M. (Just Ask Mike) Session:
How much does it cost to run an electric heater?
Take those roasted marshmallows to a new level. The kids can’t have them, but us adults will surely enjoy them. Get the recipe for Bailey’s dipped marshmallows here and have an even better time around the campfire!
Cheap tire tool will save you tons of trouble
What gives when you think your tires are “good to go” but down on air again the next day? Your valve stem valve probably isn’t tight enough. A loose, leaking valve stem can cause a tire failure due to low pressure under load at highway speeds. So do yourself and your vehicles a favor – pick up one of these very inexpensive tools and make sure your valve cores are snugly seated in the valve stem. Click here to order.
MORE QUICK TIPS
Work and draw Social Security?
If you’re drawing Social Security and still working, your Social Security benefits may be reduced – depending on how much you’re making.
There are two trigger points to be aware of. If your full retirement age (FRA) is 66 and you are between 62 and 66 and earn more than $17,640 (this is for 2019), your Social Security payment will be reduced by $1 for every $2 you make over the $17,640 amount. Note that investment income and your pension income don’t count. It’s only your earned income amount that you have to worry about.
During the year you turn 66, your benefits would be reduced by $1 for every $3 you earn over $46,920 (for 2019) and only the months before you turned 66 would be counted. This sounds complicated, but, basically, it means you get to earn more without losing benefits during the year you turn 66.
After you reach your full retirement age (66 plus a few months in most cases), there is no penalty for earning money. You can make as much as you want to and still draw your full Social Security payments.
—From Secrets of RVing on Social Security: How to Enjoy the Motorhome and RV Lifestyle While Living on Your Social Security Income. For more info on this direct from Uncle Sam, visit this Social Security web page.
Do you have a tip? Send it to Russ (at) rvtravel.com
WEBSITE OF THE DAY
Unique National Park Service sites you haven’t visited yet
You’ve visited all the big ones, but what about the lesser-known parks and sites? Check out this list from Budget Travel and see which ones you’ve been to, and which ones you need to plan a trip to!
Check out the long list of great RVing-related websites from RVtravel.com.
Maintain those slide seals!
If you’ve heard a cracking or popping sound when extending your slide outs, it means your seals are sticking and/or drying out! Using a seal conditioner about every 8-12 weeks is recommended to avoid drying and cracking. Once they begin to wear and show damage, they are no longer working to their fullest capacity. We recommend using Thetford Premium RV Slide Out Rubber Seal Conditioner – it works like a charm.
LEAVE HERE WITH A LAUGH
I used to be addicted to soap, but now I’m clean.
I used to be addicted to the Hokey Pokey, but I turned myself around.
People say I’m addicted to brake fluid but I can stop any time I want.
I’m so addicted to prescription glasses that I got 20/20 to share my story.
People say it’s dangerous to hang out on a bridge when I’m so depressed, but it helps me get over things.
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RV Daily Tips Staff
Editor and Publisher: Chuck Woodbury. Managing editor: Diane McGovern. Contributing writers: Russ De Maris, Bob Difley, Gary Bunzer, Roger Marble, Mike Sokol, Greg Illes, J.M. Montigel and Andrew Robinson. Advertising director: Emily Woodbury. Marketing director: Jessica Sarvis. Financial affairs director: Gail Meyring. IT wrangler: Kim Christiansen.
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Everything in this newsletter is true to the best of our knowledge. But we occasionally get something wrong. We’re just human! So don’t go spending $10,000 on something we said was good simply because we said so, or fixing something according to what we suggested (check with your own technician first). Maybe we made a mistake. Tips and/or comments in this newsletter are those of the authors and may not reflect the views of RVtravel.com or this newsletter.
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To add further on my comments;
As Brian (below) said, install a small 2 gal. bladder expansion tank in your cold water line. It will absorb what little expansion happens plus a side benefit is that your water pump cycles on & off less often.
There should not be an air bubble in the top of the hot water tank. The temperature probe must be immersed in the water to function correctly in a overheat situation. Gas/propane safety valves are dual purpose, pressure and temperature; most electric only heater safeties are pressure only.
If you have a dripping valve then try exercising it several times to blow out any crud on it’s seating surface or remove and clean it as Doug says below. If it continues then go to HD and buy a replacement
Sometimes I just don’t believe the comments I see. The question was asking coffee drinkers how much would they pay for a single cup of coffee, it is understood thatt non coffeee drinkers wouldn’t pay anything, since they don’t like it. Are you feeling left out?
Wouldn’t pay a buck for coffee – only because I don’t like the stuff. never acquired a taste for it.
Not a penny as I don’t like coffee.
Comment on the leaking pressure relief valve.
I have a hot water baseboard heating system in my house. Some years ago I had an issue with the pressure relief valve slowly dripping.
My heating guy who originally installed my heating system many years ago came to look at it.
He took out his small hammer and gently ‘tapped’ the piston head of the valve.
The drip stopped! He smiled and said that all he needed to do was to ‘seat’ the piston on the housing seat. This seems to be a commen fail mode for pressure relief valves.
The sensitivity for pressure in not compromised. The valve will continue to work as designed.
So, give this a try …better than replacing a functional valve.
How about those of us who do not drink coffee?
yes, there should have been the option ‘I don’t drink coffee’
Replacing TP Valve: Is the TP valve any different than one that can be purchased at Home Depot or Lowes?
No. I replaced mine once and bought it at Home Depot.
How about I don’t drink coffee but TEA?? Up to 1.25 for me is a splurge!!! 🙂
People always told me I had to learn to like coffee. Why would I drink something I don’t like so I might learn to like it? I prefer iced tea.
Your “cup of coffee” poll needs one more option: “I never drink coffee.”
If you don’t drink it, you would not be paying for it so you do not qualify for the survey.
To eliminate dripping tp valve, instead of trying to get air in your water heater to take care of expansion of heating water I would suggest adding an expansion tank, easy to install for anyone handy and can be purchased for RV’s under $50.00
I put a little coffee in my creamer.
I flip open my pressure relief valve when I’m draining my hot water tank. I’ve been told I shouldn’t do that as it might not seal again. My response is, if it won’t seal again then it needs to be replaced. Duh!
Try soaking it in white vinegar for about an hour. Rinse clean and reinstall. Maybe get another year or two out of it! I do and did.
Well, I’m a tea drinker, so don’t qualify..but, i’d pay at least $2,00 for a good cup of darjeeling tea! Obviously, i don’t get that often!
re Poll: there is no choice for no coffee, I don’t drink any caffeinated beverage. I don’t drink carbonated drinks either.
Then you did the right thing, Jon. You didn’t vote in the poll.
oops