Skip to main content ↑ ↓
Topic: Did I do something wrong? (no water from pump) (Read 661 times) previous topic - next topic

Did I do something wrong? (no water from pump)

This morning I turned off the water pump and hot water heater burner, opened the taps in the coach until the water was only a trickle, then went out and took out the nylon plug that was leaking. I replaced the plug (threads wrapped in Teflon tape) and turned on the pump to fill the hot water tank. I opened the relief valve until water started coming out. I've opened taps in the coach to let the air out.

After five minutes I still have the pump running and no water coming out of the taps. What am I doing wrong? We didn't touch the valve under the bathroom sink that we turn when filling the main water tank. I have about a half tank of water in the fresh water tank.

Re: Did I do something wrong? (no water from pump)

Reply #1 –
Dave,
If the pump has run for 5 minutes and nothing coming out it sounds like the pump lost its prime.  I have never known of one not picking it up again unless maybe there is alot of wear in the pump. 
Jerry & Nanci
1999 U270 34'WTFI
2011 Malibu
A smart man knows what to say, a wise man knows when to say it.

Re: Did I do something wrong? (no water from pump)

Reply #2 –
I have had it happen on occasions when I run out of water. I loosed the water line on discharge side of the pump and then re tightened and it took care of it. But it was a pain the first time it happen. And I will be anxious to read what others have to say.
John
1998 U270 34'

Re: Did I do something wrong? (no water from pump)

Reply #3 –
Thanks. Supposedly the pump is fairly new, but then the tires were supposed to be fairly new, too, and they weren't.

I think I read somewhere that if we leave open the valve under the sink we can run on city water. Would that force the air out of the lines, and maybe help the pump?

John: I'll try that now.

I just took off the inlet side of the pump and got nothing. Shouldn't I have gotten some water coming out of the pipe?

Re: Did I do something wrong? (no water from pump)

Reply #4 –
It'll pump the water back into the tank until you close the valve under the bathroom lavatory. Close the valve and turn the pump back on and it should work.
Scott Cook
1991 U300 36' 6V92TA
Old Town Penobscot 16
1984 Honda VF1100C (V65 Magna)

Re: Did I do something wrong? (no water from pump)

Reply #5 –
Thanks, Scott. The valve under the sink has been closed this entire time. Everything was working just fine (other than the leak) before I changed the plug. The hot water heater tank is full and hot - just no water coming out of the faucets.

Re: Did I do something wrong? (no water from pump)

Reply #6 –
Dave contact the line, turn on pump, loose line till you get water and retighten. John
John
1998 U270 34'

Re: Did I do something wrong? (no water from pump)

Reply #7 –
It's a diaphragm pump isn't it? A diaphragm pump should prime itself. You can purchase a pump rebuild kit if needed.
Scott Cook
1991 U300 36' 6V92TA
Old Town Penobscot 16
1984 Honda VF1100C (V65 Magna)

Re: Did I do something wrong? (no water from pump)

Reply #8 –
Dave, are you sure you have water in the tank? There should be water in the tube at the inlet side of the pump.
Your idea of hooking up the city water should do the trick but I would go ahead and fill your tank just the same. If you are relying on your dash gauge for the water level, they are fairly unreliable.
The selected media item is not currently available.Kent Speers
Locust Grove, OK
1993 U300 SSE 40' (Restored at FOT 2009) Build 4323
720 watts Solar
6V92TA DDEC Silver Engine
2014 Subaru Outback

Re: Did I do something wrong? (no water from pump)

Reply #9 –
Start over again, drain all the lines.  Close all valves, faucets. spigots etc.  Now the system is closed.  With the pump off and the city water on, turn the hot water faucet furthest from the pump on.  This will fill your water heater without introducing air into the system.  When you start to get water from the hot water heater, switch to cold water on this one faucet.  Proceed to perform the same on the remaining faucets (don't forget the utility bay faucet.)  Now shut off all faucets, disconnect the shore water from the system.  Turn the water pump on.  Pressurization should only take a little while until the pump shuts off.  Proceed to bleed the water lines from the pump one faucet at a time.
Peter & Beth Martin
No Forrest? What have you done?
MC# 15890 until Dec 2016; FMCA #F329677
Cincinnati, OH

Re: Did I do something wrong? (no water from pump)

Reply #10 –
I looked at the tank when I started filling it, and it looks like it is pretty empty. Earlier I thought it looked about half full, but that may have been an illusion. Anyway, I'm filling the tank now, so we'll see what happens. I wanted to fill today anyway just because another cold wave is coming in later. If all of this was because I was out of water I'm going to feel pretty foolish.

Re: Did I do something wrong? (no water from pump)

Reply #12 –
Well, I feel foolish. I filled the water tank almost to the brim, closed the valve under the sink, and turned on the pump. After a few seconds I got a nice stream of water - both hot and cold. Just finished washing the dishes and the pump didn't run once during that time. Normally it would kick on for a few seconds, so maybe all is working properly again.

For quite a while I've had a small leak that I couldn't find. I'm wondering now if the leak was actually at that plug. We'll see what happens over the next few days.

Re: Did I do something wrong? (no water from pump)

Reply #13 –
From the looks of the plug, it was leaking for a long time. It was probably a very small leak to accumulate that much corrosion. You've probably solved your problem and the heater may last a good long time.

As I said I was ready to replace very old water heater when I bought it in 2010 but it just keeps on working. I have also found that it uses very little propane when the tank is kept clean. It doesn't use enough gas to warrant adding and electric element.  If it ain't broke don't fix it.
The selected media item is not currently available.Kent Speers
Locust Grove, OK
1993 U300 SSE 40' (Restored at FOT 2009) Build 4323
720 watts Solar
6V92TA DDEC Silver Engine
2014 Subaru Outback
 

Re: Did I do something wrong? (no water from pump)

Reply #14 –
We're wanting to spend some winter time in Texas, so as soon as we have some idea of our schedule for after the New Year we'll see about making an appointment at MOT for a few things. A new hot water heater will probably be on that list.