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Re: Water pump question

Reply #25 –
David,

You can tell if the pressure tank is good by turning on a faucet after the pump has built pressure. The water should run for a few seconds before the pump comes back on. If it comes on immediately, the tank is bad.

Our pump comes on occasionally during the day but I don't worry about it. Not losing water anywhere. We turn if off when we won't be using water. The few times we are in a campground with a water connection, we just use it to fill the tank and then turn it off. With overpressure or internal fitting failure, the is the chance of flooding the interior.

Make sure you don't have a leak in the wet compartment. It should be dry or water may migrate to the steel tubing and cause a rust problem.

Pierce
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)

Re: Water pump question

Reply #26 –
a quick tap on the schrader valve will also tell you quickly if the tank is bad.  If water appears, the internal bladder is gone.  I had my 1990's tank go bad many years ago, so I bought one of the variable speed pumps.  I just had to replace my home RO pressure tank.  Wasn't all tht expensive via Amazon...if you want to keep the tank in the system.
The selected media item is not currently available.Brad & Christine Slaughter
Was:  1990 U280 36'
Was:  2002 U270 36' (With a bathroom door) Build #5981
Is:  2021 Leisure Travel Van Wonder 24RL
2015 Jeep JKU, 2003 S10 QC 4x4 or 2017 C-Max
Lake Havasu City, AZ (or Gillette, WY)

Re: Water pump question

Reply #27 –
Because the hot water  tank is so small and heats water so quickly we always turn the hot water heater off when we are finished using hot water, A bit off topic but just wondering if everyone keeps their hot water heater on all the time....waste of propane.

Roland
1993 U280 4341
2010 Jeep Liberty
The Pied Pipers

Re: Water pump question

Reply #28 –
One disadvantage of turning hot water tank propane or electric off is that the water expands more going from cool to hot, causing extra pressure on all plumbing. If connected to electric, why not add an electric hot rod kit which installs in the drain plug threaded hole. We had a hot rod for many years until we replaced our propane hot water heater for a new unit, ordering one with an electric heating element.

http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/item/hott-rod-water-heater-conversion-k it-6-gallon/47672

We used a 6 gallon size because it pull lower amps, which allowed us to use it when on minimal 20-amp shore power. Just takes a little longer to heat than the 10 gallon hot rod.

Re: Water pump question

Reply #29 –
Quote from: Roland Begin –
Because the hot water  tank is so small and heats water so quickly we always turn the hot water heater off when we are finished using hot water, A bit off topic but just wondering if everyone keeps their hot water heater on all the time....waste of propane.

Roland

Not only a waste of propane but it makes a lot of noise too.

Pierce
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)

Re: Water pump question

Reply #30 –
The only time I leave the hot water on is if I am at a park and plugged in to 110 volts.  Not sure what year FTs have 3-way (Motor heat, propane, 110 volt), but I am glad to report my 2002 has them standard in my 10 gallon tank.
The selected media item is not currently available.Brad & Christine Slaughter
Was:  1990 U280 36'
Was:  2002 U270 36' (With a bathroom door) Build #5981
Is:  2021 Leisure Travel Van Wonder 24RL
2015 Jeep JKU, 2003 S10 QC 4x4 or 2017 C-Max
Lake Havasu City, AZ (or Gillette, WY)

Re: Water pump question

Reply #31 –
Quote from: Brad & Christine Slaughter –
The only time I leave the hot water on is if I am at a park and plugged in to 110 volts.  Not sure what year FTs have 3-way (Motor heat, propane, 110 volt), but I am glad to report my 2002 has them standard in my 10 gallon tank.

Same here.
Tom Lang K6PG (originally  KC6UEC)
and Diane Lang
2003 38 U295 build 6209
2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit Ecodiesel
still have tow-ready 2006 Acura MDX 
Temple City, California
Motorcade 16681 California Chapter President
SKP 16663 member of SKP Park of the Sierra, Coarsegold California
FMCA F071251
Retired electrical and electronic engineer

Re: Water pump question

Reply #32 –
If you find that your pressure tank is bad I suggest you replace it with a new pressure tank from the big blue or big orange home improvement store. It's an easy and inexpensive replacement you should be able to do right in their parking lot in a few minutes. Don't remove the tank from the system or install one of the new pumps designed to eliminate the tank. The new coaches don't have the tank just to save money on manufacturing cost. The older coaches with pressure tanks are way better. You can get up in the middle of the night and flush the toilet, wash your hands, and never have the pump come on to wake anyone up. The new coaches start the pump even for the slightest bit of water use. The new pumps don't last as long, probably as a result of running so much. If you have a bad pressure tank or a bad pump replace it with the same one your coach came with and you'll be much happier. Newer coaches are just like everything else, built cheaper but yet much more expensive. This is just one more example from the long list I've compiled.
Scott Cook
1991 U300 36' 6V92TA
Old Town Penobscot 16
1984 Honda VF1100C (V65 Magna)

Re: Water pump question

Reply #33 –
I replaced our water pump with a newer, quieter model. It is variable speed. I left the accumulator tank in the system. The variable speed pump and the accumulator work well together. The accumulator tank reduces cycling of the pump, and mitigates pressure problems that can result from heating water in a closed system that has no air cushion.
J D Stevens
1997 U295 CAI 36' Build #5085
2002 Subaru Outback
Motorcade 16869
Bellville, TX

Re: Water pump question

Reply #34 –
Quote from: J. D. Stevens –
I replaced our water pump with a newer, quieter model. It is variable speed. I left the accumulator tank in the system. The variable speed pump and the accumulator work well together. The accumulator tank reduces cycling of the pump, and mitigates pressure problems that can result from heating water in a closed system that has no air cushion.

Mine never had an accumulator tank, and pulsations in water pressure at less than wide opoen were always noticeable. Never any issues with over pressure. I just replaced the pump with a variable speed unit, and it is much quieter with no pulsations. The faucets in my coach now work just like the ones in my house.
Tom Lang K6PG (originally  KC6UEC)
and Diane Lang
2003 38 U295 build 6209
2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit Ecodiesel
still have tow-ready 2006 Acura MDX 
Temple City, California
Motorcade 16681 California Chapter President
SKP 16663 member of SKP Park of the Sierra, Coarsegold California
FMCA F071251
Retired electrical and electronic engineer