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01-05-2025, 08:20 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 214
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Shurflo pump won't stop - plastic stuff in filter screen
See attached photo - my pump just started acting up - it won't stop running but won't pump any water. I took off the filter screen and found this plastic stuff in it (???) and noticed 2 of the housing screws loose. Tightened them down and it runs (sounds) better, much quieter and smoother - but still doesn't shut off or pump water. Sounds like it's pumping air - I don't know.
Any idea what this plastic is from?
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Ryan & Tammy
2015 Fleetwood Storm 32H
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01-05-2025, 08:31 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2021
Location: Annapolis
Posts: 706
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That plastic stuff is the debris left when the manufacturer drilled holes in the freshwater tank for the water lines. My unit had significantly more than your photo.
On my unit Thor had drilled the pick-up pipe hole about 1/3rd up the side of the tank. Meaning I could only use 2/3rds of my freshwater before the pump sucked air. So my 30 gallon tank only provided 20 gallons. I replaced the entire tank.
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2018 Thor Freedom Elite 24
on 2016 Sprinter Chassis
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01-05-2025, 09:05 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 1,419
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What happened leading up to this issue? Did it just stop working after one day? Or was it sitting for months?
Did you run the pump dry prior to the problem showing up? This happened to me once with a Shurflo water pump. If they run dry sometimes they need to be primed (with water) to get them to start working again. On some of my RVs, there is a ~12" water line that T's off the line coming into the water pump from the fresh water tank. It is vertical with a screw-cap plug on the top. This cap can be removed and then I can pour water into this as the pump is trying to pull water from the main fresh water tank. After a 1/2 liter or so of me pouring water while the pump is pumping (and of course water in the fresh water tank) it starts pumping/behaving properly.
Hope that helps!
Chris
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2 x 2015 Thor Majestic 28a 30' Class C. Ford e450 v10. 500w solar. 2000w inverter. 200AH
2013 Coachmen Leprechaun 210QB 23' Class C. Ford e350 v10. 300w solar. 1100w inv. 220AH
*** Addicted to mods and tinkering ***
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01-05-2025, 09:16 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2024
Location: WI Driftlesser
Posts: 2,583
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You could remove all the screws and take the cover off and check the rubber flapper valves for more of that plastic debris. Or see if you can prime the pump with a full tank, or even force water through it with a garden hose to see if it will work the debris through the valves without taking it apart.
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01-05-2025, 09:59 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 214
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Thanks for the replies.
We've had this coach for about 18 months and the pump has worked fine although a little 'under pressured'. Before this current trip from Oklahoma to Ohio I sanitized the freshwater tank and I also added a dedicated water filter faucet under my kitchen sink. It was working fine until yesterday - no water coming out and pump won't shut off. It's been awfully cold here - 12F last night - but I've been careful to keep my basement well above freezing.
I just hooked up a hose from my parent's house to the city water connection and everything worked fine. Turned on the water pump and it didn't run continuously - shut off and disconnected the city water and the pumped seemed to be working well - decent pressure at the faucets, but then it wouldn't shut off again! As of right now - about 2 hours after hooking up city water - I'm back to no water pressure and pump continuously running.
I'm not sure about how to go about priming the pump??
__________________
Ryan & Tammy
2015 Fleetwood Storm 32H
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01-06-2025, 10:52 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2024
Location: WI Driftlesser
Posts: 2,583
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If it pumped, then it's primed. If you let it run several minutes full blast, with all the cold water faucets open, then it would have flushed itself out if it was going to. If the pump won't shut off, then either the pressure switch is bad, or it's not producing or holding enough pressure. You could test by capping the outlet and see if it shuts off that way. If it shuts off with the outlet plugged, then there's a leak somewhere. If it doesn't shut off, then it's time to replace it or see if you can repair/clean it by taking the cover off.
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01-06-2025, 01:45 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 1,419
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I had a continually running water pump once. There was a leak in the line somewhere. If you leave it on long enough, do you notice any water spots underneath your RV? Can you look underneath any of your water features (ie. shower, kitchen, etc) to see if there are any leaks?
These pumps aren't too hard to replace, and they aren't too expensive. If you buy one on Amazon, you can carefully try it out to see if it fixes your problem. If not, you could always return the pump (...I've never had Amazon NOT accept a return). Hopefully it just fixes your problem and then you can go have fun with something else!
-Chris
__________________
2 x 2015 Thor Majestic 28a 30' Class C. Ford e450 v10. 500w solar. 2000w inverter. 200AH
2013 Coachmen Leprechaun 210QB 23' Class C. Ford e350 v10. 300w solar. 1100w inv. 220AH
*** Addicted to mods and tinkering ***
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01-06-2025, 01:56 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 214
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Just installed a new water pump - exact Shurflo 4008 replacement and the problem persists. I have no water coming from the outlet of the pump - when I disconnect the line while pump is running.
I don't even have any water running from the tank to the pump - should have some at least - right - being gravity fed? I'm beginning to think something - a line - might be frozen somewhere?? It got down to 12F a couple of nights ago - even though I "thought" I had the basement warm enough, now I'm not sure!
I don't mind having a back-up pump, so that's not a big deal - I just need my pump working.
__________________
Ryan & Tammy
2015 Fleetwood Storm 32H
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01-06-2025, 02:47 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 214
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Just tried running water directly from a bucket through the pump - I can see water flowing thru the clear plastic filter - bubbling a bit - and SOME water through faucets but nothing significant. Tried all faucets...Pump won't prime and shut off.
I disconnected the pex connection to the input on my water filter and noticed that the water was hot - I've noticed this before - getting hot water through the cold water faucets. When I went to install the water filter under the sink - when disconnecting to install a new Pex clamp, the water that came out was really hot.
Getting more confused...
ryan
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Ryan & Tammy
2015 Fleetwood Storm 32H
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01-06-2025, 04:42 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 1,419
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In my RVs, there are some on/off valves that require 1/4 turn to make them on or off. They are located in various spots along the water lines for various reasons. One of those is a valve between the fresh water tank and the water pump. I'm guessing you have one of those too. I don't know how it would accidentally get turned off, but thought I'd mention it just so you can check.
Is there any way you can make certain your water lines are not frozen, so that you can at least rule that out? What are your daytime highs and nighttime lows?
-Chris
__________________
2 x 2015 Thor Majestic 28a 30' Class C. Ford e450 v10. 500w solar. 2000w inverter. 200AH
2013 Coachmen Leprechaun 210QB 23' Class C. Ford e350 v10. 300w solar. 1100w inv. 220AH
*** Addicted to mods and tinkering ***
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01-06-2025, 06:18 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 214
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The only valve I've been able to find is the hot water tank bypass valve - which I have checked. It is where it's supposed to be...
Highs have been in the mid 20s, lows in the mid-low teens! Been cold!
I have upped the heat underneath (space heater) to see if that helps.
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Ryan & Tammy
2015 Fleetwood Storm 32H
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01-06-2025, 08:03 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club Fleetwood Owners Club Holiday Rambler Owners Club
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: North East Florida
Posts: 2,155
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If you have a outside shower, make sure that both the hot and cold water valves are closed so that no hot water will bypass into the cold water side.
If your water lines froze in those cold temps, might take awile to thaw out.
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2019 Horizon 42Q
Cummins L-9 450 HP
Maxum Chassis / IFS with Tag
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01-06-2025, 09:14 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2024
Location: WI Driftlesser
Posts: 2,583
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Yes, it will take a while to thaw if you froze up something. The tank outlet will be low in the compartment and the first to freeze and the last to thaw. I sure missed that, even had snow in the pic.
You have the pump loose, put your finger over the inlet and feel for suction. If there's suction, but it won't pull water, then it's either leaking air, possibly from a cracked fitting. Or the line is plugged with ice. The bucket should get you water pressure and shut the pump off, as long as it's not leaking on the outlet side. If it is leaking, the water level will keep going down in the bucket. Not rocket science, just a simple plumbing system, with some of it hidden, and a few more valves for city water, tank fill, water heater, etc.
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01-07-2025, 08:06 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 214
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After heating the holding tank area overnight, I have water.
BUT - still have new pump installed and while I have good water pressure at faucets, the pump still will not turn off (and after noticing this the pump felt a bit warm).
No leaks - that I can see - anywhere!
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Ryan & Tammy
2015 Fleetwood Storm 32H
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