water pump bay

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water pump bay

August 28, 2018, 02:50:28 pm

I am in the process of trying to run vinegar through my plumbing system. I was told, by Roger E., that I could disconnect the input line that goes to the pump, and rig up a tube like Camco sells to winterize you coach. It seems that water would run out of the tank?? I would like to leave the installation in place, but that is not critical. Looking at the layout in my pump bay, I am trying to familiarize myself with all the parts of the system. I have taken pictures of the items that I am not sure of:

Looking at where the pex goes into the tank, the left hand pipe is for draining and the right hand pipe is the supply. There is a solenoid looking thing near the end of the tank drain. What is it's function???

What is the mechanism that is behind the pump....the black thing with a cross valve control ??

As much as I like pex, I wouldn't mind making the connections more flexible, if I ever have to replace the pump.

I have a Flo Jet. I wonder how it stacks up to a Shur Flo. Also, sould I have to modify connections??

I want to reconfigure the partition that FT installed. I want the added storage in that bay. In the back corner, there is piping ( from the AH ? ) with a fan. A thermostat with copper coil sensor controls that area. Is that to keep the water tank warm in winter ?? I will protect that stuff with the new partition, but we don't do a lot of cold camping/storage.

Thanks for helping understand what's going on here.

Re: water pump bay

Reply #1 – August 28, 2018, 02:54:43 pm

I can't seem to add the pictures. When I click on "add files...." nothing happens ??

Re: water pump bay

Reply #2 – August 28, 2018, 03:23:04 pm

Quote

I can't seem to add the pictures. When I click on "add files...." nothing happens ??

The easiest way to add files is to click, drag and drop the photo file into that "add files" box. You can do one at a time or multiple files together. You can also click on the last two words (selecting them) and then select the photo(s) from wherever they are on your drive.
jor

Re: water pump bay

Reply #3 – August 28, 2018, 04:38:57 pm

click drag and drop are not part of my vocabulary
I have no idea of how to do this
It should be much easier to attach photos
Never had this problem on other forums
frustrating

Re: water pump bay

Reply #4 – August 28, 2018, 05:08:42 pm

Glenn,

Try these steps to post a photo.

Photo below of my water pump bay. I moved the blue accumulator tank inside to the cabinet under our bathroom sink. Frees up some extra working room in the water pump area. The flex hoses on both sides of water pump help reduce pump noise. You can buy them as a kit from Amazon. To add the photo below, here is what I did:

1. In the box below where I am typing this post, there is a gray box that says: "Add files by dragging & dropping or selecting them"

2. If I click on the words SELECTING THEM, another window opens that shows the photos stored on my computer. I navigate within that window to the location of the photo I wish to post.

3. I highlight the photo I want to post, then down in the bottom right corner I click CHOOSE.

4. The window disappears, and a bar opens that shows the upload progress, until it is finished. Then it shows 100% in a green box.

5. Your photo is now uploaded, and attached to your post. When you click POST the new post will appear along with a thumbnail of your photo. If you click PREVIEW you will see a preview of your post, but you will not see the photo. The photo does not show up until you actually "publish" your final version of the post in the thread.

Hope that helps!

Re: water pump bay

Reply #5 – August 28, 2018, 05:43:12 pm

Chuck,

I can buy what flex hoses as a kit...

I would like to do that. I haven't gotten any responses to my questions above, so...I would have to have drained the tank before any of that work...right? Any ideas for " winterizing " setup. I don't need it for antifreeze, but would like it for vinegar. A temporary setup would work, too. I think Roger gave me some tips for that.
I have uploaded photos to this forum, before, as you describe. The problem isn't with the forum setup. I have google photos on my iPhone and can't seem to get them on my Mac. Been Googling it all afternoon. The wife tried. I have a migraine. Tried to write a post on the iPhone, thinking it would be easier to attach photos I just took, Couldn't figure out how to start a new topic. Still working on it ....

Re: water pump bay

Reply #6 – August 28, 2018, 05:57:15 pm

The white "in and out" hoses come in a "Silencing Kit" from SHURFLO:

Amazon.com: SHURFLO 94-591-01 Pump Silencing Kit: Automotive

The particulate strainer is another good idea - it will filter out any little fish or frogs that might be living in your water tank:

Amazon.com: SHURFLO (255-313 1/2" Twist-On Pipe Strainer: Automotive

You may have a valve on the pipe from the water tank to your water pump. In that case, would not have to drain the tank. If you don't have a valve, you can add one while the tank is empty so it will be there next time.

I don't winterize, so can't help you there. Anything Roger tells you is good info - they have SERIOUS winter where he lives!

Can't help with iPhone to Mac photo transfer. I use a "real" camera, and just pop the memory chip out and stick it in the computer.

As an Amazon Associate Foretravel Owners' Forum earns from qualifying purchases.

Re: water pump bay

Reply #7 – August 28, 2018, 06:04:38 pm

Glen. The best winterizing for YOUR coach is Mazatlan.

Re: water pump bay

Reply #8 – August 28, 2018, 07:39:54 pm

On your 320 you have a water fill valve that is controlled by 12 volts to fill the tank. If you do not empty the tank then yes you will have water come out of the pex when you disconnect from the pump. Drain the tank and then install a shut off valve so in the future you do not have to drain the tank if you need to remove the pump. You can install a t in the line between the shut off valve and the pump and add another shutoff valve in the line coming from the tee and then a piece of hose to this shut off that you can put in the jug of vinegar. Close the valve from the tank to the pump open the valve to the line to the vinegar and turn on the pump and it will draw the vinegar from the jug into the pump and pump it throughout your system.

Re: water pump bay

Reply #9 – August 28, 2018, 07:51:13 pm

Quote from: GleamB – August 28, 2018, 02:54:43 pm

I can't seem to add the pictures. When I click on "add files...." nothing happens ??

Click on "preview" when posting, and the add photo section will come up.

Re: water pump bay

Reply #10 – August 29, 2018, 01:52:27 am

There is a manual valve on the water line from the tank to the pump. Shut it off.

Sucking in water/vinegar through the pump as it you were winterizing will posh vinegar/water through all the water lines but not into the tank. If you want to do the tank it is going to take 10 gallons of vinegar for a full tank of water. Hard part is getting it into the fresh tank. A small electric pump from a bucket would work.

Re: water pump bay

Reply #11 – August 29, 2018, 06:23:50 am

Quote from: Roger & Susan in Home2 – August 29, 2018, 01:52:27 am

Hard part is getting it into the fresh tank

If I recall correctly, once you are set up to pump vinegar using the winterizing method, turn on the pump and the water fill switch at the same time to get it into the fresh tank.

Re: water pump bay

Reply #12 – August 29, 2018, 07:20:23 am

Rick
I am unclear of what you are talking about. " Turn on the Pump and fill switch???" What is the " set up " . Where is the vinegar?? I don't understand.

Also.....since I can't seem to get the pictures to upload, can someone please tell me what the part near my pump does ? It has a valve control that vertically comes out of the unit with a cross shaped knob.

Again, why is there a solenoid on the drain line just before the stop valve

Does the aqua hot/ fan/ thermostat setup need to be configured to keep the tank heated

We will be with Twig, sipping margaritas in Mexico this winter......anyone need two gallons of the pink stuff ??!!!!

Re: water pump bay

Reply #13 – August 29, 2018, 07:30:28 am

I don't believe my pump bay looked that good when the coach was new. It certainly doesn't now. Are you sure that isn't photoshopped???

Re: water pump bay

Reply #14 – August 29, 2018, 08:08:47 am

Quote from: GleamB – August 29, 2018, 07:20:23 am

Rick
What is the " set up " . Where is the vinegar??

The "set up" describes a system with a "T" in place between the water tank and the pump. I used the Camco Winterizing Kit which has a shut off valve as part of the T. Turn the shut off valve to allow suction from the drop tube that connects to that "T". This drop hose goes into the vinegar bottle.

[/quote]

There is a video on this link showing the basics.

Amazon.com: Camco Permanent Pump Converter Winterizing Kit- Allows You to...

Hope this helps.

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Re: water pump bay

Reply #15 – August 29, 2018, 08:50:46 am

Just got to ask, because our '89 is configured this way. If winterizing doesn't the pump, or even the shore water hookup, fill the water heater also, so one needs enough RV antifreeze to fill that so the system will get its lines filled?
Or do your coaches have a water heater bypass?

Re: water pump bay

Reply #16 – August 29, 2018, 09:03:13 am

Glenn, there is a manual valve between the tank and the pump. The soleniod valve for filling is just behind your pump. Imhave to think about it a bit but I think if you are pumping in vinegar/water in through youe water pump using a winterizing setup and open the fill valve it will just come out the coaches water fill hose.

If the goal is to treat the entire water system with vinegar and water then you need to start at the external fill hose just as you would for sanitizing the system. Pump the vinegar and water through the hose and fill the tank. Use the water pump to fill all the lines opening each hold and cold faucet one at a time and each of the hot and cold drain lines and the tank drains one at a time, flush the toilet too until vinegar water comes out of all of them. Close all valves, shut the pump off. Wait a day, drain, flush, fill, flush, fill.

If you have an ice maker you might want to shut the water off to that under the sink. Remove the under sink filter and put the bypass plug in so vinegar and water comes out the drinking water spout too.

Re: water pump bay

Reply #17 – August 29, 2018, 11:22:36 am

Quote from: lgshoup – August 29, 2018, 07:30:28 am

I don't believe my pump bay looked that good when the coach was new. It certainly doesn't now. Are you sure that isn't photoshopped???

It doesn't look quite as good now - been down a few dusty, dirty, wet roads since I took that photo.

I took the opportunity to tidy up that bay when I installed a new water pump. I moved the pressure tank out of the bay to interior of the coach. I installed new SharkBite valves (orange handles) on pump inlet and outlet lines. I combined up 3 drain lines (hot water, cold water, and fresh water tank) into one simple manifold with a single down pipe through the bay floor. Filled in the other two floor penetrations with the gray metal plate you can see in right lower corner of photo.

As my grade school teachers used to say, "Neatness counts!"

Re: water pump bay

Reply #18 – August 30, 2018, 06:30:30 am

I wouldn't mess with the cold water lines at all. All deposits I have found have been in the hot lines.

Re: water pump bay

Reply #19 – August 30, 2018, 08:33:24 am

Just a thought here Glynn, are you having any issues with the water system? Keep in mind when the vinegar breaks all that stuff loose it's going to all your fixtures. What does aqua hot say about flushing the hot water system?

Re: water pump bay

Reply #20 – August 30, 2018, 10:37:41 am

After I "treated" our system with vinegar I removed the screens from the faucets, opened the black & grey tank valves (tanks were clean & empty) and then turned on shore water and all faucets. I reached in wherever I could and "percussion" tapped the water lines wherever I could with the handle of a table knife. I turned on the Shurflo pump long enough to get vinegar thru that supply line.
After letting the shore water run thru everything for an hour I shut the water off and reinstalled the screens.
Oh, while doing the vinegar treatment I did turn on the water heater and got it up to temp then let it sit overnight.
NO mineral deposits and no vinegar taste or smell in the water now.
Don't let the vinegar solution run onto your lawn. It will kill the grass & vegetation.
Also, open your system drains and tank drain to eliminate all vinegar solution.

Re: water pump bay

Reply #21 – September 07, 2018, 03:56:32 pm

OK
trying to attach a picture. It is the unit above the pump that I would like to identify. Roger says it is the Tank fill relay. Just want to be sure of how things " work". The solenoid is on the drain line. What does it do ?? Thanks

Re: water pump bay

Reply #22 – September 07, 2018, 04:12:53 pm

The first picture is the tank fill solenoid valve. It is controlled by a latching relay for the fill solenoid valve. The second picture is a pressure transducer for your fresh warer tank. It sends a signal to the Javelina system to show tank level.

Re: water pump bay

Reply #23 – September 07, 2018, 05:58:17 pm

The first pic. should be on the water line that comes from the other side of the coach. That is the water fill valve that opens when you push the fill switch.

Mike

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