Water Storage Problem

[SailHo]

This is my first post, and I need some expert advice on finding a solution to a water storage problem. The tank continues to fill even though the valve is positioned to bypass the holding tank.. It fills at roughly 15 gallons a day. I just replaced the valve with a new Monaco part. I was wondering if anyone else ever had the same problem?

Thanks,

Chuck

2007 H/R 42 ft Scepter

[Mike Canter]

So you are on city water and the pump is off and the tank still fills. If so the one way valve in the water pump is leaking. Do you have a shutoff valve between the tank and the pump? If do turn it off and see if it stops the problem

[SailHo]

I don't know if I have a shut off valve to the WATER PUMP. It's not visible at the water bay. That would be a very good test. It might be hiding behind the water bay panel. I hadn't considered that the pump might be the problem. I hope it will be easy to access. You have no idea how much I appreciate your reply. I'll check it today when the sun rises, and let you know.

Many Thanks,

Chuck

[H. Miller]

We had the same problem with an '04 Monaco product. Water began to exit the water tank overflow even though the valve was on "city water".
It was excessive water pressure at this particular location. Get a water pressure restrictor..........

[SailHo]

We do have excessive water pressure here , and I do have a water restrictor device on the hose. I think I'll have our park maintenance test the pressure just to see how high it is. Yesterday I contacted Monaco and they sent me a plumbing schematic.. No one way valves shown below in the basement or in the water pump.. not sure if there are any in line water flow valves above the basement and by the toilet or sinks.. Today I'm also going to test the old valve to see if it was failing with this water pressure.. Many thanks for your post. This problem is making me scratch my head. Last night we marked the tank before retiring, and this AM the tank filled just over on inch.

Chuck

[Mike Canter]

I don't think the diagram would show a waterpump built in one way valve. It would just be a waterpump.

[ArmyEOD]

SailHo, you might just try removing the in and out lines from the pump and capping them off. You can get the caps at the big box stores for a couple of buck. At least you can confirm or discount the pump. Hope this helps you out.

[sdennislee]

My Monaco has an inline valve on the out let side of the pump. It sits behind the pump.

Seems like the only way this could be a pump problem would be back flow as the pump draws from the tank rather than supplying the tank. As far as I know the pump is set for one way flow (away from the tank). I don't know how they achieve this, could be a back flow preventer or check valve I assume. That said I guess the back flow prevention could have gone bad and isolating the pump would be worth a shot.

I would be more inclined to think your city/tank valve is leaking by. Since you have a pressure regulator in line before the valve (on your hose) I would think that would be sufficient to to reduce the parks pressure to eliminate park pressure as a cause, unless your regulator has gone bad.

[ahicks]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sdennislee My Monaco has an inline valve on the out let side of the pump. It sits behind the pump. Seems like the only way this could be a pump problem would be back flow as the pump draws from the tank rather than supplying the tank. As far as I know the pump is set for one way flow (away from the tank). I don't know how they achieve this, could be a back flow preventer or check valve I assume. That said I guess the back flow prevention could have gone bad and isolating the pump would be worth a shot. I would be more inclined to think your city/tank valve is leaking by. Since you have a pressure regulator in line before the valve (on your hose) I would think that would be sufficient to to reduce the parks pressure to eliminate park pressure as a cause, unless your regulator has gone bad.

On the bold -

The water pumps use a diaphram, or maybe several depending on design, to pull water from the storage tank on the "up" stroke. On the "down" stroke, the diaphram depends on a check, or "one way" valve to prevent the water just pulled from the tank to return to it.

Bottom line, most water pumps used to supply water in motor homes have at least one check valve built into them. If that valve, or one of those valves, is leaking, it would be allowing water from the pressure side through the valve into the storage tank.

It's the reason you often see "sand" filters installed between the tank and the pump. If any debris from the tank enters the pump it's a sure bet that the debris will be engaged in making life miserable by becoming entangled in one of these check valves.

If you're handy, most pumps are easily disassembled. You can generally inspect for debris, or replace check valves, without replacing the entire pump. OR, you could use the chance as an excuse to buy a nicer pump? Mine is older, doesn't have the variable speed/volume option. Won't take much of an excuse for my pump to be updated to one of those...

[sdennislee]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ahicks On the bold - The water pumps use a diaphram, or maybe several depending on design, to pull water from the storage tank on the "up" stroke. On the "down" stroke, the diaphram depends on a check, or "one way" valve to prevent the water just pulled from the tank to return to it. Bottom line, most water pumps used to supply water in motor homes have at least one check valve built into them. If that valve, or one of those valves, is leaking, it would be allowing water from the pressure side through the valve into the storage tank. It's the reason you often see "sand" filters installed between the tank and the pump. If any debris from the tank enters the pump it's a sure bet that the debris will be engaged in making life miserable by becoming entangled in one of these check valves. If you're handy, most pumps are easily disassembled. You can generally inspect for debris, or replace check valves, without replacing the entire pump. OR, you could use the chance as an excuse to buy a nicer pump? Mine is older, doesn't have the variable speed/volume option. Won't take much of an excuse for my pump to be updated to one of those...

Thanks for that explanation.

[SailHo]

I can hardly believe this, but it looks like it's now fixed. YEAH!!!! Yesterday I went to Ace Hardware and bought a larger (residential?) pressure regulator. Factory set at 45 psi and it has an adjustment screw on top. Also bought a couple of brass fittings and attached it to the water hose. I wasn't going to bet on the results, as I had used two other regulators before. Apparently they were both bad. In all fairness, I've had them for years. We marked the water level on the holding tank around 4PM and this AM the water level had not risen.

I just wanted to report the results, and honestly thank everyone who posted their comments.

Chuck

[sdennislee]

Glad you have resolved the issue.