Water pump question

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Water pump question

April 07, 2014, 10:07:31 pm

With no water being used, how often should the pump come on? Ours is coming on about every half hour, even if no water has been used during that time. It only runs for a few seconds and then shuts off. Should we just leave it off unless we need water? We've been turning it off at night, and I don't think it takes even a minute in the morning before it shuts off.

Re: Water pump question

Reply #1 – April 07, 2014, 10:12:41 pm

Sorry to say it shouldn't come on at all. If the water pressure is dropping enough to make the pump come on...well, that pressure is being dissipated somewhere.

Re: Water pump question

Reply #2 – April 07, 2014, 10:16:37 pm

Looks like I still have a water problem.

Re: Water pump question

Reply #3 – April 07, 2014, 10:18:39 pm

Thinking harder, it could be the pump itself internally leaking, or a fitting, or a toilet... They ran the water supply hose for my icemaker and water dispenser under the floor in the cabinet under the sink...and slight movement while travelling rubbed enough to result in a very tiny leak in that hose. Took me a while to find it and fix it, but that would cause that type of behavior at the pump.

If I recall correctly, my old 1990 internally wouldn't hold pressure and I had to replace the pump.

Both of those things would cause what you describe.

Re: Water pump question

Reply #4 – April 07, 2014, 10:23:22 pm

One way to test the pump...If you can find a spot to plug the output of the pump, then turn the pump on, if it cycles again like that, then the pump is your issue. If it doesn't, tthen you can eliminate the pump as your culprit.

Re: Water pump question

Reply #5 – April 07, 2014, 10:31:42 pm

Untill you find that leak I would turn it off after every usage (which we do all the time without thinking). Not worth chancing a major problem.
I would put a temporary hose on the output but blank it off so no water is being asked for and see if the pump still does that. If it does not come on then you do have a leak someplace.
JohnH

Re: Water pump question

Reply #6 – April 07, 2014, 10:44:41 pm

I would start by making sure that all faucets and drain valves are shut and not leaking. Next I would check all fittings on the discharge of the pump for leakage. Probably have to visually check from the discharge of the pump to all end points. Check the relief valve on the hot water heater to make sure it is not leaking. Have fun ---- Fritz

Re: Water pump question

Reply #7 – April 07, 2014, 10:47:12 pm

Quote from: John Haygarth – April 07, 2014, 10:31:42 pm

Untill you find that leak I would turn it off after every usage (which we do all the time without thinking). Not worth chancing a major problem.

Re: Water pump question

Reply #8 – April 07, 2014, 11:02:55 pm

should never run unless you are using water, indicates a leak somewhere.

Shut it off except when using water till you find the issue

Re: Water pump question

Reply #9 – April 07, 2014, 11:48:49 pm

May have a leak, but even a coach without any leaks, the water pump will cycle for a moment. Most do cycle, but it cannot be heard inside, so no one knows for sure. Cycling is normal, in my opinion and while a new pump may not cycle at first, it usually will in time.

Look for a leak, keeping in mind toilet leaks are hard to spot. If no leaks, it is not necessary to change pump. No reason to turn off pump while in coach, but always a good idea to turn off pump while gone to prevent flooding.

Some have put an inside sounder that beeps when pump cycles, if they cannot hear the pump run from inside the coach. Sure will let you know right away about plumbing problems.

Staying connected to city water hose puts plumbing at risk, with no easy quick way to turn off water if there is a problem or when leaving coach.

Re: Water pump question

Reply #10 – April 08, 2014, 12:27:47 am

Another place to look for a leak is the tank fill valve. You'll never see this leak, as the leakage goes right back into the fresh water tank.

The sneaky leaky

Re: Water pump question

Reply #11 – April 08, 2014, 03:41:53 am

If no visible leaks, Tom's idea amount the fill valve is good. Could be leaking or not fully closed and just recirculating a tiny bit. Same with the check valve at the pump.

Pierce

Re: Water pump question

Reply #12 – April 08, 2014, 06:18:35 am

Mine used to do that, turned out to be a leak in the pump body. Replaced the pump and accumulator assy no more problem. Any small leak, faucet drip will cause the pump to cycle. However as others have said we turn it on when needed then off, we also turn off the outside water supply if we are going to be away from the M/H. It's a real ugly sight to come back and find water running out of the MH, been there done that, not to good.

Re: Water pump question

Reply #13 – April 08, 2014, 09:01:07 am

We have had our coach four years and been "some timers" that put about 12,000 miles/year on the coach. We replaced a water pump in order to get a quieter one. The only time old or new pump runs without an obvious reason was when there is a leak somewhere. If your pump is cycling without an obvious reason, keep searching.

We had a subtle leak at the back of the water heater. Tightening would help for a few days. The cone shaped washer was dried out. I replaced the water line with a bit of Pex and a couple of Watts fittings.

Re: Water pump question

Reply #14 – April 08, 2014, 09:25:18 am

Fill valve in my coach failed in the open position (grit caught in it, would not close.) was not a good failure, basically had to fix immediately, pump could not build pressure, shore water just wanted to fill and overflow tank, pump ran continuously

Re: Water pump question

Reply #15 – April 08, 2014, 02:16:45 pm

When we first got the coach six years ago, the pump would one quick pump every half hour or so. Turns out it was a leak in the icemaker water line. When it started doing that again six months ago, it turns out a connector on the icemaker water line was leaking.

Last week I replaced the water pump. The pressure switch was acting up, and having a tech replace the switch would have cost almost as much as a new pump. I really like the new variable speed pump, the flow is steady at any rate.

Re: Water pump question

Reply #16 – April 08, 2014, 04:32:30 pm

Our pump is new. We can hear it inside IF everything is quiet. I'm keeping it off until I want water, since it only takes a few seconds to build pressure. The toilet did have a leak last year, and that has been fixed. I understand that any pressurized system will eventually leak down if the pump doesn't add more pressure every so often. I wonder if this pump has the on and off points closer together than normal, since it only runs a few seconds every half hour or so when not otherwise needed.

We're getting quite a list of things that need doing when we next head down to Nac.

Re: Water pump question

Reply #17 – April 08, 2014, 04:48:13 pm

I would consider a leak down in 30 minutes to be a problem. Any time our pump has run for no apparent reason, it has indicated that something is wrong somewhere.

Re: Water pump question

Reply #18 – April 08, 2014, 04:51:04 pm

Try isolating one circuit at the monoblock each night to see if you can identify the circuit that is leaking then work from there .
Good luck

Re: Water pump question

Reply #19 – April 08, 2014, 05:11:02 pm

No monoblock.

Don't know if this is related, but the last two mornings we didn't have hot water. The water heater is gas-only, as far as I know. During the day, when we're using hot water once in a while, we're fine. During the night, though, the thermostat either doesn't ever call for heat or the call is ignored. This morning I checked for hot water as soon as I got up, and there wasn't any, so I turned the switch off for a few seconds and then back on again. By the time I wanted to wash dishes I had hot water, and when I stepped out of the coach after washing the dishes I could hear the hot water heater working.

Re: Water pump question

Reply #20 – April 08, 2014, 06:01:45 pm

David,

If your water heater is orig, it will run on gas plus it has a heat exchanger that heats the water from the Detroit while driving. You can add a "hot rod", an electric heater element where the drain plug is. Ours works great. A switch and wiring has to be added but easy.

Do a google search for troubleshooting and your model Attwood. Not heating could be a lot of things but the factory has all the possibilities on one page so five minutes should find the problem.

Pierce

Re: Water pump question

Reply #21 – April 08, 2014, 06:26:05 pm

Didn't you just have a wet bay issue?

Re: Water pump question

Reply #22 – April 08, 2014, 07:11:23 pm

Yes, I did. I'm wondering if all of this is somehow related, more than just all being water. I'm not losing a whole hot water heater worth of water, so I don't think the hot water heater is leaking and therefore not causing the gas to fire. Also, the gas fires just find during the day. Hmmm, do hot water heaters sleep at night, too? <grin> When I go to wash the dishes in a few minutes, I'll have plenty of hot water, and when I step out of the coach afterward I'll hear the hot water heater's burner going.

Re: Water pump question

Reply #23 – April 08, 2014, 08:36:07 pm

Doesn't the 1993 U300 have a pressure tank in the same compartment with the water pump? My 1991 has one. Your pump should always run more than just a few seconds unless your pressure tank is bad.

Whenever my system has a leak it's almost always a faucet that isn't off all the way or the short hose I leave connected to my water fill inlet all the time with a cap screwed on the end of it. If I ever hear the pump start for no reason and the faucets are off I just automatically go out to the utility bay and sure enough the cap isn't on the end of the filler hose tight enough.

Re: Water pump question

Reply #24 – April 08, 2014, 08:39:54 pm

Yes, I do have a pressure tank right above the pump. Could it be going bad? When I'm using water the pump runs constantly, and for a short time (<1 minute) after I turn the faucet off. Even if I don't use any water, it will come on again about 30 minutes later, run for maybe five seconds or so, and then shut off.

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