As part of the renovation of the '72 Duke, I pulled the old Bowen water heater which was leaking, and replaced it with an Atwood, which was fairly easy, as it is identical in size. I suspect that it is the same heater, except with a different name. I went with the electronic ignition this time, so as to avoid having to light the heater from outside the trailer.
I checked the propane connections to the heater, and they are solid, and not leaking.
However, before I hooked up the water, I decided to go ahead and replace all of the water pipes in the trailer. There were four breaks in the system, which had been patched (rather unsuccesfuly) when I bought the trailer. I had fixed them, but felt that while I was at it, I might as well replace all of the copper tubing with pex, and install a cut-off on the line leading to the water tank.
I have started taking out all of the copper tubing, and have encountered one item, of which I am unsure. Just after the weter enters the trailer from the outside hose connection, there is some device in the line. I am guessing that it is some sort of water pressure protection. Does anyone know ?

By James on Sunday, November 19, 2000 - 08:31 am:

Tom,
Through my reading on Streamline, I am aware that they were originally equipped with a built in in-line water pressure regulator such as the "watts" brand. Through the years, many of these have been removed with plumbing repairs. I do not have the original water regulator so use the regulator that goes on the end of the hose where it connects to city water. My friends however do still have the original regulator on their 71 Countess. It is installed just inside the back access compartment and to the left in the water line. I do not see any problem with removing this if you are replacing the line and using the small portable type.

By Tom Patterson on Sunday, November 19, 2000 - 09:34 am:

Hi James,
I think that I will leave the original water regulater. It doesn't seem to be giving any trouble, so my thought is to keep it in the system. If I later need to remove it, the pex piping that I am using makes it real easy to change out just a section of the line.
I also think that I will probably install a water filter while I am working on the water lines. There was one (or part of one) under the kitchen sink, but it had been disconnected. Looks to me like it might have been added on at some point.
My thought is to put one near the water intake, and filter all water coming into the trailer, rather than just the cold water under the kitchen sink.

By James on Monday, November 20, 2000 - 03:55 pm:

Tom,

The Streamline manual also said that standard equipment had filters for the kitchen sink. Mine had been removed but I agree with you, filter all water whether by portable means outside or built in. In traveling, we encounter so many different kinds of water around the country that a filter could only benefit us and our pipes. The hot water heaters are especially prone to early breakdown unless there is an anode rod in the heater or by using filtered water. By the way, are you doing your own plumbing throughout? That has to be a challenge, especially around those bathroom fixtures in the trunk. I dread the day when I have to do that but ususally realize how easy things are once I get into them. It always seems to involve too many $$$$...!

By Tom Patterson on Thursday, November 23, 2000 - 09:05 am:

An interesting thought about the hot water heater is using a Hot Rodd electric element in the heater. While hooked up, this gives you the option of using 120V. Also, this element apparently acts as an anode rod.
Yes, I am doing my own plumbing. I am using pex, which is pretty user friendly, using no glue or solder and easy to fix mistakes. A little pricey maybe though. I looked at the plumbing in the rear compartment, and figured that I could get to everything before I decided to proceed. I am not to that point yet however. Besides the holiday, my holdup was having to make up transition connectors from the water tank, and the built in pressure regulator. Not time in making them up, but rather, in figuring out what I needed to do.
I did put a new faucet in the kitchen sink, and that part went well.