Accumulator tank/Water pump issue -- looking for pros and cons

Topic: Accumulator tank/Water pump issue -- looking for pros and cons (Read 2264 times) previous topic - next topic

Accumulator tank/Water pump issue -- looking for pros and cons

January 12, 2011, 12:42:56 pm

I've been messing around with our accumulator tank for about 9 months now and I think it is dying on me. So here is my dilemma. Would you replace the tank? Or would you just use it as is until the original water pump dies? I am leaning toward the latter. I was also contemplating ordering a replacement pump so that I have it when the original dies. At that time I would then bypass and remove the accumulator tank as others have done.

What would you do?

An IH-45 is not in the cards

Re: Accumulator tank/Water pump issue -- looking for pros and cons

Reply #1 – January 12, 2011, 12:57:43 pm

Geez, George...you don't have a spare Million bucks laying around? Well, in that case, I would replace the current set up without the accummulator tank when practicable so as not to have the breakdown while I'm showering...

Re: Accumulator tank/Water pump issue -- looking for pros and cons

Reply #2 – January 12, 2011, 02:22:12 pm

Quote from: George Stoltz – January 12, 2011, 12:42:56 pm

I've been messing around with our accumulator tank for about 9 months now and I think it is dying on me. So here is my dilemma. Would you replace the tank? Or would you just use it as is until the original water pump dies? I am leaning toward the latter. I was also contemplating ordering a replacement pump so that I have it when the original dies. At that time I would then bypass and remove the accumulator tank as others have done.

What would you do?

An IH-45 is not in the cards

George,
Not sure how your plan will work and how your water system differs from mine but the previous owner of my coach had put a new SurFlow 5.7 in (no accumulator now and not sure it ever had one doesn't look like there was any room for one on my coach anyway) and it has worked fine for the couple of years that I have had the coach.
Good luck

Re: Accumulator tank/Water pump issue -- looking for pros and cons

Reply #3 – January 12, 2011, 03:17:37 pm

George, if you are having a problem with the tank, pull the cover of the end of the tank and push in the shrader valve, if you get water out the tank is bad, you can replace it with a water worker HT-2B, you can find them on the net form $41.00 to $57.00, I replaced mine and use a variable speed pump, I left that setup, so if you use a small amount of water the pump will not run.

Re: Accumulator tank/Water pump issue -- looking for pros and cons

Reply #4 – January 12, 2011, 04:29:52 pm

Quote from: George Stoltz – January 12, 2011, 12:42:56 pm

I've been messing around with our accumulator tank for about 9 months now and I think it is dying on me. So here is my dilemma. Would you replace the tank? Or would you just use it as is until the original water pump dies? I am leaning toward the latter. I was also contemplating ordering a replacement pump so that I have it when the original dies. At that time I would then bypass and remove the accumulator tank as others have done.

What would you do?

An IH-45 is not in the cards

George, I am facing the same dilemma. My pump sounds like a Jack Hammer and my tank leaks down over several weeks. I suppose it could be as simple as the schraeder valve in the tank but I'm pretty sure the pump is on its last legs. I replaced the pump on my U225 with a Shure Flo Whisper King silent pump just because the original was noisy. Replacing the pump was a piece of cake. So, my thoughts are like yours, buy a replacement pump and keep it on hand when the old one goes out. But, the cost of a tank and old style pump is less than one of the new variable speed pumps. From what I have read the VSP's have had some problems in less than 5 years and they tend to make you use more water (higher pressure and flow rate).The old style pumps and accumulator tanks typically last for 15 years or better. So I still can't decide which way to go so I am not doing anything right now.

Let us know what you decide. It might motivate me to make a move.

Re: Accumulator tank/Water pump issue -- looking for pros and cons

Reply #5 – January 12, 2011, 04:55:04 pm

Buy a new accumulator down at Lowe's or Home Depot andinstall it.
Then buy an exact replacement water pump. You can useit with a water bag to make sure you always have a tank of water, regardless of conditions and if the main pump fails you have redundancy. If your water system develops major problems you can live off of the water bag and the spare pump til you fix it. Course you'd have to buy a water bag. Nothing works as well as redundancy.

Regards,
JON TWORK KB8RSA

Re: Accumulator tank/Water pump issue -- looking for pros and cons

Reply #6 – January 12, 2011, 06:54:06 pm

Quote

I've been messing around with our accumulator tank for about 9 months now and I think it is dying on me. So here is my dilemma. Would you replace the tank? Or would you just use it as is until the original water pump dies? I am leaning toward the latter. I was also contemplating ordering a replacement pump so that I have it when the original dies. At that time I would then bypass and remove the accumulator tank as others have done.

What would you do?

An IH-45 is not in the cards]

George, I threw out my accumulator when it would not fit in the space with anew Shurflo 5.7, been three years now and no problems. ( the first Shurflo did die quickly but was replaced by thyem ).
It did take some tinkering with the set screw in the ned of the pump but I now have better pressure than before.

Re: Accumulator tank/Water pump issue -- looking for pros and cons

Reply #7 – January 12, 2011, 08:06:14 pm

I replaced our stalled water pump with a Flojet 4406-143, and the instructions recommended against using an accumulator tank. I took out the tank (which was leaking anyway), and it works fine without it. As others have commented, the accumulator tank is one place that never gets properly sanitized, so better off without it.

Re: Accumulator tank/Water pump issue -- looking for pros and cons

Reply #8 – February 02, 2011, 08:12:42 pm

Update: the bladder has broken. But there are no leaks in the tank. Am I risking anything by using the system for the foreseeable future?

Re: Accumulator tank/Water pump issue -- looking for pros and cons

Reply #9 – February 03, 2011, 01:59:58 pm

My opinion only, but I would say that if there is a risk, half of us would be dead now. Having said that, I will back track a bit. Two things bother me about accumulator's. How do they get sanitized, and how do they get winterized? Maybe there's enough exchange of fresh water, but I can't imagine that there is. Anyway, mine was dead when I got the coach. I took it out and capped the line into it. Works fine that way.

Re: Accumulator tank/Water pump issue -- looking for pros and cons

Reply #10 – February 03, 2011, 02:27:37 pm

Gayland,
I been sanitizing my water system each year when I take the coach out of storage. First, the antifreeze is drained by opening all three valves in the water pump/heater compartment (on the U270 model). Close valves & fill water tank with an appropriate saniting solution (1/4 cup bleach per gallon water; 1 gal solution per 15 gal tank capacity; 1.8 cups Bleach per 110 gals Water). Run all water faucets to fill with solution...inclusing water heater and the expansion tank. Let stand for 3 to six hours. Drain system and fill with fresh potable water with about one tbsp baking soda (removes any bleach odors & taste which may remain in the system).

I suggest that with or without an expansion tank, this sanitation procedure be performed every six months, specially if you fulltime and use a lot of shoreline water as your usual source.

Re: Accumulator tank/Water pump issue -- looking for pros and cons

Reply #11 – February 03, 2011, 02:30:53 pm

Quote from: Peter & Beth – February 03, 2011, 02:27:37 pm

Gayland,
I been sanitizing my water system each year when I take the coach out of storage. First, the antifreeze is drained by opening all three valves in the water pump/heater compartment (on the U270 model). Close valves & fill water tank with an appropriate saniting solution (1/4 cup bleach per gallon water; 1 gal solution per 15 gal tank capacity; 1.8 cups Bleach per 110 gals Water). Run all water faucets to fill with solution...inclusing water heater and the expansion tank. Let stand for 3 to six hours. Drain system and fill with fresh potable water with about one tbsp baking soda (removes any bleach odors & taste which may remain in the system).

I suggest that with or without an expansion tank, this sanitation procedure be performed every six months, specially if you fulltime and use a lot of shoreline water as your usual source.

I forgot to add that I use a water heater by-pass valve, so I do not have to drain the WH of antifreeze, but I do have to drain the water heater once the system has been filled with the sanitizing solution. Returning the water heater by-pass valve to the open position is also part of my routine each year when I begin the sanitation process.

Re: Accumulator tank/Water pump issue -- looking for pros and cons

Reply #12 – February 03, 2011, 03:01:38 pm

Quote from: Gayland Baasch – February 03, 2011, 01:59:58 pm

... How do they get sanitized, and how do they get winterized? Maybe there's enough exchange of fresh water, but I can't imagine that there is. ...

If the accumulator is properly pressured, it should purge it contents at the same time your pump turns on. When the water pump turns on, it will recharge the accumulator with the solution it is pumping. The would be antifreeze, sanitizing solution, or fresh water. The input to the pump would depend on your objective.

Re: Accumulator tank/Water pump issue -- looking for pros and cons

Reply #13 – February 05, 2011, 11:43:50 am

Sorry Peter, I didn't make myself clear there, causing you to do a lot of extra typing. But thank you anyway. What I was referring to was getting the old water out to exchange with good stuff. As JD points out (may I call you JD?) a properly pressurized system will probably do that. But what if it's broken, as mine was and George's also. I have a vague recollection of there being rusty looking water coming out of mine when I removed and drained it. Key word, vague, maybe I'm remembering something else. Anyway, the point being, this is a very common occurrence I'm sure. Incidentally, I'd checked into replacing it with one from Lowes, none of them were small enough to fit in the space mine was.

Re: Accumulator tank/Water pump issue -- looking for pros and cons

Reply #14 – February 05, 2011, 12:00:06 pm

Quote from: Gayland Baasch – February 05, 2011, 11:43:50 am

Incidentally, I'd checked into replacing it with one from Lowes, none of them were small enough to fit in the space mine was.

I did an on-line search and everything I found was described as a "vertical tank." But since I am not going to replace my accumulator tank, it is a moot point.

Re: Accumulator tank/Water pump issue -- looking for pros and cons

Reply #15 – February 05, 2011, 12:38:04 pm

Quote from: Gayland Baasch – February 05, 2011, 11:43:50 am

... As JD points out (may I call you JD?) ...

JD works well. It is less common and easier to spell than Dave.

Re: Accumulator tank/Water pump issue -- looking for pros and cons

Reply #16 – February 05, 2011, 12:41:16 pm

Gayland,
Not to worry about the extra typing...I like to be redundant most of the time. It just gives me something to do...

Besides, it never hurts to remind folks of alternatives...

Re: Accumulator tank/Water pump issue -- Revisiting this issue

Reply #17 – March 07, 2011, 09:08:12 pm

I am revisiting the issue of accumulator/water pump issues. Our tank bladder has ruptured so I have three choices:

1. Do nothing. But I do not like the constant surging of water we get without the tank working properly and it could become a place to harbor bacteria.
2. Replace the tank. I've seen prices from $200 down to around $168. And now I just found a Shurflo plastic tank for only $43 at PPL.
3. Remove the tank and replace the pump to get rid of the pulsing. If I go with this option I am considering the Shurflo 5.7 (but it has a history of problems, but for which Barry recently reported has the ability to adjust its flow) or the AquaJet 5.3 (which Steve and Michelle have and like). Steve said the installation instruction on the AquaJet were very cautionary for installations like ours with multiple off/on switches. However, I would think that this has no bearing on a correct installation because at some point only two wires go to the pump and those would be the only two wires I would work with.

I am looking for input from those of you who have had either of these pumps for a while as well as general suggestions from anyone else (need I say that?).

My time line for this repair is before the end of March.

As always, tank you.

Re: Accumulator tank/Water pump issue -- looking for pros and cons

Reply #18 – March 07, 2011, 09:44:47 pm

I went the Shurflo 5.7 route a year ago and have loved it with no problems.

Re: Accumulator tank/Water pump issue -- looking for pros and cons

Reply #19 – March 07, 2011, 09:51:00 pm

Brett,

Is that without the accumulator tank?

Re: Accumulator tank/Water pump issue -- Revisiting this issue

Reply #20 – March 07, 2011, 09:51:48 pm

Quote from: George Stoltz

I am revisiting the issue of accumulator/water pump issues. Our tank bladder has ruptured

I am considering the Shurflo 5.7 (but it has a history of problems, but for which Barry recently reported has the ability to adjust its flow) or the AquaJet 5.3 (which Steve and Michelle have and like). Steve said the installation instruction on the AquaJet were very cautionary for installations like ours with multiple off/on switches. However, I would think that this has no bearing on a correct installation because at some point only two wires go to the pump and those would be the only two wires I would work with.

I am looking for input from those of you who have had either of these pumps for a while as well as general suggestions from anyone else (need I say that?).

George & Sandy Stoltz with Trixie, the PBGV.

George,
Since I have found out about that adjustment on the 5.7, there has been no more pulsing. I am wondering if that pulsing may have contributed to having to replace it several times. Time will tell. With the replacement I got 3 more years warranty.

Re: Accumulator tank/Water pump issue -- looking for pros and cons

Reply #21 – March 08, 2011, 08:24:34 am

George,

I removed the accumulator tank.

Re: Accumulator tank/Water pump issue -- looking for pros and cons

Reply #22 – March 08, 2011, 08:42:30 am

Wow, I am really behind the curve on this one...............not to derail the thread, however, I didn't even know I have an accumulator tank...........out of curiousity where is it and what is the purpose of having one.

Thanks.

Re: Accumulator tank/Water pump issue -- looking for pros and cons

Reply #23 – March 08, 2011, 08:55:32 am

Quote from: Kevin – March 08, 2011, 08:42:30 am

Wow, I am really behind the curve on this one...............not to derail the thread, however, I didn't even know I have an accumulator tank...........out of curiousity where is it and what is the purpose of having one.

Thanks.

If you have one it should be very close to your water pump. The purpose of this tank is to even out the "pulsing action" created by a standard pump. With an accumulator tank the water you "demand" by opening a faucet is the water in the tank for which it is kept at a fairly constant pressure because of a rubber bladder that forces the water out as it is replaced by the pump. Also, with an accumulator tank you will have times when you use a small amount of water as in rinsing out a glass and at those times the pump might not even come on. But with the new variable speed pumps, one does not really need the accumulator tank. Whew! I hope I got it right.

Now. Back to the question at hand, please.

Re: Accumulator tank/Water pump issue -- looking for pros and cons

Reply #24 – March 08, 2011, 02:37:39 pm

After 5 years without an accumulator tank I just reinstalled a new one. I took it out when I installed a new Flowjet variable speed pump. I got used to the slight delay when I opened the facet but everything worked fine. That same year I installed a new water heater (Atwood - not Aquahot). Occasionally the temperature/pressure relief valve would leak a little. I replaced it twice, I followed directions about creating an air gap at the top of the tank, and resigned to it leaking by adding a drain tube so the front of heater wouldn't be wet all the time. Recently while researching residential water heater installations, I kept coming across discussions on how an accumulator is sometimes necessary (or req'd by code). The reason: thermal expansion (they actually say the water's density changes with temperature). It's most noticeable in colder climates (I'm in Boise, ID) where the incoming water is very cold and you heat it to a high temperature (like I do to give me more "virtual" capacity - by adding an optional adjustable thermostat). Since the original accumulator tank location is rather cramped and the tank can be located anywhere in the cold water circuit, I found a nice, "hard to use for anything else" corner under the kitchen sink. I mounted it on a length of reinforced hose with the water fitting pointing down (for winterizing). This so I can pull it out and check the pressure easily. No more leaking from the relief valve.
I don't know if this information applies to an Aquahot and this is just one guy's guess of a problem and it's fix.

Affiliate Notice