Water Pump Problem
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Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 19,681
Likes: 12,803
From: Wyoming
Water Pump Problem
My water pump keeps running but I get very little pressure. It was working fine last week to pump water out of the hose so I could wash the top of the trailer. I don't see any leaks. I let it run long enough that if there was a leak I would have seen it. There is at least 20 gallons of water in the fresh water tank.
I'm heading out for boondock camping tomorrow. This is going to be interesting.
I'm heading out for boondock camping tomorrow. This is going to be interesting.
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 10,060
Likes: 491
From: Bristol, TN.
Filter on the pump is clogged? Pump is just getting tired and needs to be replaced? If the pump does not cycle with all the fixtures closed, it likely does not have a leak, but I have had more than one service call to clean the filter on the pump. It is an easy thing to forget.
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 10,060
Likes: 491
From: Bristol, TN.
Unless there is a leak on the intake side of the pump, it should not need priming provided it is plumbed correctly. Just a thought.
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Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2015
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Likes: 12,803
From: Wyoming
Priming it was something that occured to me last night. I had drained the fresh water tank completely, but then added more water and only then did I run the pump. So the pump shouldn't have been run when it was dry. It wouldn't need to be reprimed just because the tank was empty, right? I've never had to do that before. How do I prime the pump?
I do have a filter in the system, but the filter was in place when it was working fine last weekend. But I'll remove the filter just in case.
I do have a filter in the system, but the filter was in place when it was working fine last weekend. But I'll remove the filter just in case.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 895
Likes: 325
It shouldn't need to be primed again, even if freshwater tank ran dry and the pump ran briefly. Usually, you prime them with a clear hose that is connected at the pump. You pour water (obviously from another source) into it until the pump and feed line is full. Then, you reconnect hose and start the pump. Once it's primed, you will hear a difference in the pitch of the pump motor.
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Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2015
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Likes: 12,803
From: Wyoming
Ah! So that's what that hose is for that is stuck inside the cabinet where the pump is. I thought it was for draining the water filter and couldn't figure out how the heck that was supposed to work.
I'm definitely hearing a difference in the sound the pump makes. Yesterday when it was running I thought it sounded a little too quiet. I let it run for a good 5 minutes and shut it off with the thought that if it hadn't worked in 5 minutes another 5 minutes wasn't going to help.
I'm definitely hearing a difference in the sound the pump makes. Yesterday when it was running I thought it sounded a little too quiet. I let it run for a good 5 minutes and shut it off with the thought that if it hadn't worked in 5 minutes another 5 minutes wasn't going to help.
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Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 10,060
Likes: 491
From: Bristol, TN.
All pumps are self priming. From the Shurflo manufacturer's manual:
WILL NOT PRIME/SPUTTERS (No discharge/Motor runs)
√ Is the strainer clogged with debris?
√ Is there water in the tank, or has air collected in the hot water heater?
√ Is the inlet tubing/plumbing sucking in air at plumbing connections (vacuum leak)?
√ Is inlet/outlet plumbing severely restricted or kinked? Restrictive valves?
√ Proper voltage with the pump operating (±10%).
√ For debris in pump inlet/outlet valves or swollen/dry valves.
√ Pump housing for cracks
You will note it says nothing about needing to prime the pump because it is not necessary. While I have had to prime a pump on occasion it has only been in cases where the initial installation was done incorrectly, usually the way the intake line is run. I just pulled the water tank and everything leading up to the pump as well as the pump itself in my truck camper a few weeks ago and did absolutely nothing to prime the pump. After put it all back together, I put water in the tank and turned it on, the pump primed itself and began pumping in less than a minute. That is the way it is supposed to work.
WILL NOT PRIME/SPUTTERS (No discharge/Motor runs)
√ Is the strainer clogged with debris?
√ Is there water in the tank, or has air collected in the hot water heater?
√ Is the inlet tubing/plumbing sucking in air at plumbing connections (vacuum leak)?
√ Is inlet/outlet plumbing severely restricted or kinked? Restrictive valves?
√ Proper voltage with the pump operating (±10%).
√ For debris in pump inlet/outlet valves or swollen/dry valves.
√ Pump housing for cracks
You will note it says nothing about needing to prime the pump because it is not necessary. While I have had to prime a pump on occasion it has only been in cases where the initial installation was done incorrectly, usually the way the intake line is run. I just pulled the water tank and everything leading up to the pump as well as the pump itself in my truck camper a few weeks ago and did absolutely nothing to prime the pump. After put it all back together, I put water in the tank and turned it on, the pump primed itself and began pumping in less than a minute. That is the way it is supposed to work.
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Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 19,681
Likes: 12,803
From: Wyoming
I hooked up shore water and that produced pressure at the sink OK. While that was connected I turned on the pump. It recognized that there was already pressure in the system and shut off. Turn off shore water, open a valve at the sink and after a few seconds the pump turns on and won't stop.
I believe that both shore water and on-board water both go through the filter.
Air in the hot water tank: What do I do about that? I thought a little water in the hot water tank was a good thing.
I believe that both shore water and on-board water both go through the filter.
Air in the hot water tank: What do I do about that? I thought a little water in the hot water tank was a good thing.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 1,241
Likes: 272
From: South Central Indiana
Ah! So that's what that hose is for that is stuck inside the cabinet where the pump is. I thought it was for draining the water filter and couldn't figure out how the heck that was supposed to work.
That hose is mostly used for winterizing the camper.
I'm definitely hearing a difference in the sound the pump makes. Yesterday when it was running I thought it sounded a little too quiet. I let it run for a good 5 minutes and shut it off with the thought that if it hadn't worked in 5 minutes another 5 minutes wasn't going to help.
That hose is mostly used for winterizing the camper.
I'm definitely hearing a difference in the sound the pump makes. Yesterday when it was running I thought it sounded a little too quiet. I let it run for a good 5 minutes and shut it off with the thought that if it hadn't worked in 5 minutes another 5 minutes wasn't going to help.
Thread Starter
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Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 19,681
Likes: 12,803
From: Wyoming
If your water heater is empty it takes a while for the pump to fill it and then pressurize the rest of the system. You should have the faucet nearest the hot water heater open on the hot side to purge the air from the heater as it fills. Once there's a steady stream on water coming out of that faucet you know the heater is full.
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