Community Forums

Ron Dittmer · 02-11-2022, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stopango

Is this a check valve on the upstream side of pump?

https://photos.app.goo.gl/t23aAXSveyXPzLqu7

Personally I never seen so much hanging off downstream of the pump. Maybe the check valve is one of those things. Disconnect and extend the pipe out from the motorhome, right at the 90 degree elbow for the reverse flow pressure test.

When running your test, also make sure your hot and cold water drain tubes are closed. Your final test should have them open to discharge any potential blockage out through them. But you first want to clean out through the pump input.

Bill 3rd · 02-11-2022, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stopango

Is this a check valve on the upstream side of pump?

https://photos.app.goo.gl/t23aAXSveyXPzLqu7

That looks to be an adapter, which is put on the suction side, to draw in antifreeze for winterizing. My SIL added one to his.

OldWEB · 02-11-2022, 08:31 PM

I agree that looks like the inlet side of the pump with a 3-way valve to add a antifreeze suction line to it for winterizing and the black square item is the inlet filter for the pump. That all works as you have water leaving the pump from the FW tank, right?

Looking closer, that black connector betwixt the valve and filter could be a check valve, to prevent city water entering the FW tank. There should be an arrow on it indicating flow direction if so.

stopango · 02-11-2022, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill 3rd

That looks to be an adapter, which is put on the suction side, to draw in antifreeze for winterizing. My SIL added one to his.

Yes I think you are right

stopango · 02-11-2022, 10:53 PM

Thanks all for your inputs.I am working on it with your suggestions and will keep you posted

Ron Dittmer · 02-12-2022, 08:13 AM

I look forward to reading your results.

Someone mentioned over-pressuring the system with house water pressure, but I feel that is a mute concern. The system operates under normal house pressure when hooked up to it so I would not worry about it.

Another person mentioned it being a bad idea to back-pressure through a single handle faucet. I don't agree with that concern either. Just pressurize the hot and cold water lines independently to maximize "thrust" one line at a time.

Good Luck!

stopango · 02-12-2022, 03:07 PM

OK Let's try another angle.

All faucets closed...........pump keeps running for ever and ever.

If the above problem is due to a leak then it has to be a substantial leak which should show up somewhere and there is no sign of water anywhere.

In the event it is a small leak the pump should at least stop occasionally and just cycle on and off but it should not run steady.

Barring leaks somewhere in the system it HAS GOT TO BE THE PUMP .What say y 'ahhhl?

MrMark52 · 02-12-2022, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stopango

OK Let's try another angle.

All faucets closed...........pump keeps running for ever and ever.

If the above problem is due to a leak then it has to be a substantial leak which should show up somewhere and there is no sign of water anywhere.
Correct

In the event it is a small leak the pump should at least stop occasionally and just cycle on and off but it should not run steady.
[/B]Correct[/B]

Barring leaks somewhere in the system it HAS GOT TO BE THE PUMP .What say y 'ahhhl?

[/B] But you said early on that the pump develops pressure, or at least discharges, when the discharge line was disconnected from the pump. ? [/B]

Rebuild kits for these pumps are available and easy to install once you gain access.
A failing pump can pump, but it might not be able to develop any head pressure., or at least enough to satisfy the pressure switch on a water tight system.

stopango · 02-12-2022, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrMark52

[/B] But you said early on that the pump develops pressure, or at least discharges, when the discharge line was disconnected from the pump. ? [/B]

Rebuild kits for these pumps are available and easy to install once you gain access.
A failing pump can pump, but it might not be able to develop any head pressure., or at least enough to satisfy the pressure switch on a water tight system.

Indeed I did say earlier that the pump does discharge and and creates pressure but how much pressure is another question.

I noticed that the nineties the little plastic fittings that they use are very restrictive but it seems that it takes a lot of pressure to get through them when blowing by mouth.

MrMark52 · 02-12-2022, 04:09 PM

Keep in mind - dead heading the pump discharge will give you the peak pressure the pump is capable of, and is typically designated as “static head”.

Which is totally different from “flow head” - which is the pressure a pump can develop at a given thruput rate - and is demonstrated in curvature form in the pumps datasheet.

The only way to know for sure what the pump is doing is to put a regular old every day water gauge on the system. The pressure switch gives you some clue because if the pump builds the system pressure and then cuts off - the pressure switch c/o point will clue you in.

But, if you reach that c/o point and then crack a faucet and after 45-5 drips the pump comes back on and won’t stop until the faucet is closed, it is either a restriction or a pump failure.

FWIW - you should be able to download a datasheet for you pump to get an idea of what it’s pressure and flow rate characteristics are.

stopango · 02-12-2022, 06:58 PM

I have ruled out the restriction possibility although at first I thought there was but it was the water in the lines that made it feel like a brick wall at first but having said that .......it is the same lines that carry the city water so I have ruled out blockage in the lines.

If the pump never stops and nowhere evidence of a leak I placed my bet on the pump itself and I have one on order. The worst case scenario if not the culprit I'll have a spare pump

Thanks all.......The verdict will be Wednesday and will keep you posted

Ron Dittmer · 02-12-2022, 08:37 PM

If your on-board water pump recently froze from cold temperatures with water inside it, that might cause it to perform weakly.

sam-3 · 02-12-2022, 08:59 PM

If the BR and kitchen faucet have an aerator remove them and clean out. They are meant to catch little pebbles or inpurities in the water. Easy enough to clean out.

stopango · 02-12-2022, 09:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron Dittmer

If your on-board water pump recently froze from cold temperatures with water inside it, that might cause it to perform weakly.

The story behind this trailer is I have only owned it for about a week and the previous owner had never used the pump. He said he had always used hookups.