Community Forums

Shoemaker · 05-09-2018, 06:27 PM

Well having a problem getting my water pump to work. It won't pick up a prime. 2005 Holiday Ramble. Any tricks?

BFlinn181 · 05-09-2018, 07:19 PM

Most all water pumps are self-priming. Are you sure water in the tank is flowing to the pump? There's often a screen in the line from the tank to the pump. You could also take the connection off at the input side of the pump and see if water is present. There is also a check valve that might be closed off with deposits. Vinegar will help dissolve those deposits. If the input hose has water present, then you could see if the output side is allowing water to flow into the RV.

Topman · 05-09-2018, 07:50 PM

Sometimes a faucet needs to be open before it picks up a prime.
Not sure if that is your case.

wa8yxm · 05-10-2018, 07:32 AM

I second that "Sometimes a faucet"

Things that help
FULL WATER TANK, in my case that puts the level of water in teh tank ABOVE the pump so no problem
Make sure all valves are set properly.. I have two valves before the pump. One needs to be open one closed. to start with close the supply valve.
Open the INLET STRAINER on the pump (you may need to be a controtionist to do that) and make sure it's not clogged. Now put it back together and make sure you get it together.. This is one piece that is often missed in winterizing and may have frozen and cracked, Mine did not.
(and yes I missed it)

Now restore valves to supply water to the pump.

Open a faucet

If the pump is running freely.. It may be the water heater is empty.. Make sure the valves for the water heater are set either in Bypass (This will avoid that) or USE (will allow it) and the drain plug is in place and the TPR valve closed. (The last two are OUTSIDE the RV)(

IF the heater is in the "USE" position then it may take as much as 10 minutes before you get water out the faucets. It is all going to the heater.

Shoemaker · 05-10-2018, 06:25 PM

Thanks for all the response. Got to thinking the pump had some water in it over the winter and may have froze and cracked the housing. Had a extra pump and was going to install it but tried it one more time and it took off like a champ. Don't know why other than maybe the impeller in the pump was dried out and some water helped it.. Thanks again