Community Forums

CountryB · 01-13-2020, 09:36 AM

Why is my Water Pump surging? It does not run/surge when all the faucets are closed (so no external leaks) but if I open a faucet or turn on the shower the water pump surges about every second or two. I am expecting/wanting a steady water stream at a steady pressure when showering. This is when not connected to city water. On City water there is no surging (but water pump is off).

Is the pump bad?

aether_one · 01-13-2020, 09:41 AM

Do you mean it starts and stops? May be a bad pressure switch on the pump.

cavie · 01-13-2020, 09:41 AM

pump can be easily rebuilt on the cheep. Amazon is your friend. Need to know make and model #

Peto · 01-13-2020, 09:55 AM

I agree bad or dirty pressure switch on the pump.....

CountryB · 01-13-2020, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tfryman

Do you mean it starts and stops? May be a bad pressure switch on the pump.

Yes, it starts and stops.
It's a Shurflow 2088.

SteveJ. · 01-13-2020, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CountryB

Why is my Water Pump surging? It does not run/surge when all the faucets are closed (so no external leaks) but if I open a faucet or turn on the shower the water pump surges about every second or two. I am expecting/wanting a steady water stream at a steady pressure when showering. This is when not connected to city water. On City water there is no surging (but water pump is off).

Is the pump bad?

First off, posting up the brand and model number of your currently installed pump would get a more focused response.

May or may not be bad, depending on the pump. The generic run of the mill pump will turn on at about 25-30lbs of pressure and shut off at about 50-60lbs. This is likely what's happening and is normal for this type of pump.

The best way to eliminate this is installing a variable speed pump such as this:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000OEZ354..._t2_B007HRPYLY

Shure Flo and others also make them, key words being variable speed.

If you already have a variable speed pump then there would seem to be an issue with it.

It would be also possible to put a regulator in the water line but it would have to be set lower than the lowest pressure of the pump to maintain flow and even that could be problematic if someone else turns on water elsewhere.

Reacher · 01-13-2020, 11:14 AM

It could also be a leak somewhere that you're not seeing. RV doctor has a nice video on how to make your own leak tester:

https://www.google.com/search?client...uq0PEPqbCsGA32

Ray,IN · 01-13-2020, 11:22 AM

Does the pump have a water screen-type "filter"? If so, unscrew the clear "bowl" and clean the screen. I had a pump do that one time, turned out the screen was clogged with clear plastic shavings from when the tank was installed by the mfgr.

SteveJ. · 01-13-2020, 11:25 AM

Looks like my reply was too lengthy to be the first reply. Apologies for how it doesn't make sense. A longer edit window on this forum would be most helpful.

That said, it is an on demand pump that may or may not be defective. The contacts do fail. A variable speed pump is the only reasonable solution to eliminate the pulsing.

It was mentioned that there was no pulsing when there was no water flow. This would seem to preclude a leak in the plumbing or the pump diaphragm.

aether_one · 01-13-2020, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveJ.

First off, posting up the brand and model number of your currently installed pump would get a more focused response.

May or may not be bad, depending on the pump. The generic run of the mill pump will turn on at about 25-30lbs of pressure and shut off at about 50-60lbs. This is likely what's happening and is normal for this type of pump.

The best way to eliminate this is installing a variable speed pump such as this:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000OEZ354..._t2_B007HRPYLY

Shure Flo and others also make them, key words being variable speed.

If you already have a variable speed pump then there would seem to be an issue with it.

It would be also possible to put a regulator in the water line but it would have to be set lower than the lowest pressure of the pump to maintain flow and even that could be problematic if someone else turns on water elsewhere.

Easier and cheaper to install a surge tank. Of course we are assumming the OP is getting normal flow from the pump to the faucets. If a line is kinked coming from the pump the pump will cycle and you will get reduced flow from the faucets.

House Husband · 01-13-2020, 07:23 PM

Those of us that have had the surging problem like yours, have eliminated it by turning up the pressure. There is a small allen head screw on the end of the pump. While looking at the pressure switch end of the pump, turn the allen head screw clockwise until the pump quits surging. Do small adjustments while testing for surging. No need to spend $$ on various pieces/parts.

Richard

Ray,IN · 01-13-2020, 10:45 PM

I failed to recall the pump pressure vs flow rate from faucet. If the faucet is not fully open it allows pressure to drop slowly, then the pump turn on and builds pressure faster than the faucet relieves pressure. This causes short cycling = off/on repeatedly until faucet is closed or another is also opened.
What happens when a faucet (or 2) is fully open?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ray,IN

Does the pump have a water screen-type "filter"? If so, unscrew the clear "bowl" and clean the screen. I had a pump do that one time, turned out the screen was clogged with clear plastic shavings from when the tank was installed by the mfgr.

azpete · 01-14-2020, 08:38 AM

i agree with tfryman. a surge tank should solve the problem. i got one of those high volume pumps to replace the original pump in my winnie.
it surged like crazy. i installed a surge tank, and that fixed it.

SteveJ. · 01-14-2020, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tfryman

Easier and cheaper to install a surge tank. Of course we are assumming the OP is getting normal flow from the pump to the faucets. If a line is kinked coming from the pump the pump will cycle and you will get reduced flow from the faucets.

Agree on the surge tank for what it does, I have one. However, the OP seemed to express a desire for water flow that was at a steady rate and pressure, IIRC.

Quote:

I am expecting/wanting a steady water stream at a steady pressure when showering.

While the surge tank mellows out the surging it does not flow at a constant rate.

Perhaps a surge tank would satisfy the OP's desires, perhaps not.

I know I like the surge tank I installed, it's a lot easier on my el cheapo ShurFlo pump instead of the rapid start/stop routine and I don't mind the "not steady" rate/pressure. At least not enough to splurge on a variable speed pump. The tank is much more frugal than a variable speed pump, no doubt.