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Topic: FIXED - low water flow inside coach - both shore and water pump 2003 U320 (Read 1860 times) previous topic - next topic

FIXED - low water flow inside coach - both shore and water pump 2003 U320

EDIT - fixed. Read last post for details.  Thanks all!!!!

VERY low water pressure and flow at shower head, kitchen sink, bath sink.

We have wintered in Texas in multiple Thousand Trails parks, with what seems to be hard water.

We always filter all incoming water both shore and to tank at 1 micron (oversized filter).  We do always have good flow even with a one micron filter (over sized water filter).  We do not have and have not used a water softener - but previous owner did. We have owned this coach since November 2016.

Troubleshooting so far:
Removed incoming water filter - same
Removed outside water pressure regulator - same
Shut off shore water - ran on pump from tank - same
At water manifold, rotated shut off valves on manifold several times, rotated easily - same flow and pressure inside coach

Pulled filter screens at kitchen sink and bath sink - both screens full of hard water deposits. Cleaned and re-installed - still low flow and pressure.  Soaked shower head in vinegar.  Got some hard water deposits out. 

This is not sediment/sand in the system as incoming water has always been filtered.  It has to be hard water deposits. 

Since it occurs with both shore water and with onboard water pump - it "should" not be the back flow preventer on incoming shore water.

We only use the on board tank and water pump about every 2 weeks to refresh the on board water tank.  Water pump filter screen is clean with no deposits.  (we normally run on shore water)

I was going to start disassembling pieces parts in the water bay by the water manifold to check for blockages - but I currently have a full tank of on board water I will need to use and/or drain first.

Local grocery store was out of vinegar on last shopping trip - will try again tomorrow in case I need it to help remove deposits.  Will buy several gallons if available. (Whitney Texas right now until 2 April).

Suggestions on where to start in the water bay on passenger side?  Any screens between shore water AND water pump before the water manifold? (don't think problem is after the manifold since low flow is at multiple points).

 I am pretty sure I have a significant hard water debris blockage somewhere before the water manifold but after both shore water and water pump.  And I doubt vinegar bath alone (by intaking it via water pump) will be able to dissolve it all.

We are trying very hard to avoid campground restrooms and showers  right now with the virus.


Dan - Full timing since 2009
2003 U320 40' Tag 2 slide

Re: Help - low water flow inside coach - both shore and water pump 2003 U320

Reply #1
Any difference between all hot and all cold water?

There is some info on the forum about the AquaHot coils developing hard water deposits - vinegar being the answer there.
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

Lifetime Escapees' member SKP 82766
Former 1999 30IB Lazy Daze (2000-2004)
Former 2003 U320 (2004-2016)
Former 2017 LTV Unity (2017-2023)
Shopping for our next coach

Re: Help - low water flow inside coach - both shore and water pump 2003 U320

Reply #2
Same flow both hot and cold.
Dan - Full timing since 2009
2003 U320 40' Tag 2 slide

Re: Help - low water flow inside coach - both shore and water pump 2003 U320

Reply #3
Any dollar stores near you?  They usually have vinegar.
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

Lifetime Escapees' member SKP 82766
Former 1999 30IB Lazy Daze (2000-2004)
Former 2003 U320 (2004-2016)
Former 2017 LTV Unity (2017-2023)
Shopping for our next coach

Re: Help - low water flow inside coach - both shore and water pump 2003 U320

Reply #4
Any dollar stores near you?  They usually have vinegar.
I'll check tomorrow.  I'm sure I can find some somewhere.  I still "think" I will have to do some disassembly to attack deposits directly - this is REALLY low flow.
Dan - Full timing since 2009
2003 U320 40' Tag 2 slide

Re: Help - low water flow inside coach - both shore and water pump 2003 U320

Reply #5
Added note: I also made sure water fill switch is off and cycled it a couple of times. 
Dan - Full timing since 2009
2003 U320 40' Tag 2 slide

Re: Help - low water flow inside coach - both shore and water pump 2003 U320

Reply #6
If the problem is post-pump, you can use a winterizing hose set-up to suck vinegar into the water lines for all the taps (run each until you smell vinegar.  Thinking it was about 5 gallons to winterize that coach including the Splendide, so 5 gallons of vinegar - run it through each tap hot and cold (and the TurboTurd).  Let it sit over night.  You can put the toilet into "low refill" mode with the toggle switch on the circuit board if needed.
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

Lifetime Escapees' member SKP 82766
Former 1999 30IB Lazy Daze (2000-2004)
Former 2003 U320 (2004-2016)
Former 2017 LTV Unity (2017-2023)
Shopping for our next coach

Re: Help - low water flow inside coach - both shore and water pump 2003 U320

Reply #7
Another thought, albeit a very remote possibility.  If the fill valve seat is not making good contact or if the solenoid is not working properly and not closing the fill valve it could short circuit the water flow.  There is both a solenoid on that fill valve (the switches operate it) and a manual control (the cross-knobbed handle on the top of the fill valve itself.  Can you tighten it down gently and see if the flow in the coach improves?

 The selected media item is not currently available.
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

Lifetime Escapees' member SKP 82766
Former 1999 30IB Lazy Daze (2000-2004)
Former 2003 U320 (2004-2016)
Former 2017 LTV Unity (2017-2023)
Shopping for our next coach

Re: Help - low water flow inside coach - both shore and water pump 2003 U320

Reply #8
Since the low flow is at every tap, hot and cold, on-board water or city, the restriction should most likely be from the Tee where the pump discharge and tank fill valve meet, and the Tee where that supply line splits to the Cold side of the distribution manifold and the Aqua Hot. If the pump doesn't cycle with no water demand, you can rule-out a leaking tank fill valve. I recently went through our pump/tank fill plumbing and discovered a slight leak in the fill valve, and leaky inlet valves on the pump.

Edit: Possible places to look for blockage might be at the PEX fittings where the transition in plumbing ID might be a place for loosened pieces of deposits, or an old valve, pump, or washer part, might get hung-up.

Greg
Greg & Cathy
2000 U320 4010 DGFE Build #5650
Had: 1999 Tradewinds 7370

Re: Help - low water flow inside coach - both shore and water pump 2003 U320

Reply #9
I've been outside until I just lost light (and it just started raining). I was tracing water lines and checking what is what.  And I also "suspect" the same valve Michelle pictured.  (I even just took photos a few minutes ago to ask about when I came in).

I did screw down the manual part, then back up, but I did not try flow with it screwed down.  And now it is raining pretty good.

The pump does not cycle with no water demand.  Back at it tomorrow in daylight if no rain.  And vinegar treatment at some point even if I resolve it directly.

Dan - Full timing since 2009
2003 U320 40' Tag 2 slide

Re: Help - low water flow inside coach - both shore and water pump 2003 U320

Reply #10
Just a thought, possibly the fill valve has a little bit if trash in it causing it not to close completely when off.

Jim

2002 U320
Jim Frerichs
2002 U320 42'

Re: Help - low water flow inside coach - both shore and water pump 2003 U320

Reply #11
Pics of where I was checking.  I did unscrew 2 connections on the water manifold - no buildup at all.  And I have cycled the water fill switch inside the coach a couple of times.


Now raining hard and some hail so no go tonight (at least right away)
Dan - Full timing since 2009
2003 U320 40' Tag 2 slide

Re: Help - low water flow inside coach - both shore and water pump 2003 U320

Reply #12
Just a thought, possibly the fill valve has a little bit if trash in it causing it not to close completely when off.

Jim

2002 U320

That's what I thought as well - and why I screwed it down and back up. Unfortunately I did not think to try it while I had it screwed down.
Dan - Full timing since 2009
2003 U320 40' Tag 2 slide

Re: Help - low water flow inside coach - both shore and water pump 2003 U320

Reply #13

I did screw down the manual part, then back up, but I did not try flow with it screwed down. 

Looking at the disassembly, I'm thinking the solenoid operates a piston to shut the fill flow similar to how an HWH plunger works.  The cross-handle closes off the flow completely.  They appear to operate separately.

The selected media item is not currently available.
The fill valve is actually a sprinkler system control valve.  It's not a unique RV part.  The tough thing is it's a 12Vdc solenoid-operated one and most now are 24Vdc so there isn't a drop-in replacement should you need it.  You'd need to do a solenoid transplant.
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

Lifetime Escapees' member SKP 82766
Former 1999 30IB Lazy Daze (2000-2004)
Former 2003 U320 (2004-2016)
Former 2017 LTV Unity (2017-2023)
Shopping for our next coach

Re: Help - low water flow inside coach - both shore and water pump 2003 U320

Reply #14
Looking at the disassembly, I'm thinking the solenoid operates a piston to shut the fill flow similar to how an HWH plunger works.  The cross-handle closes off the flow completely.  They appear to operate separately.

The selected media item is not currently available.
The fill valve is actually a sprinkler system control valve.  It's not a unique RV part.  The tough thing is it's a 12Vdc solenoid-operated one and most now are 24Vdc so there isn't a drop-in replacement should you need it.


Great photos. I assume I will need to empty fresh water tank, water pump off, city water off to remove and disassemble?  Edit: and does Foretravel no longer have stock?
Dan - Full timing since 2009
2003 U320 40' Tag 2 slide

Re: Help - low water flow inside coach - both shore and water pump 2003 U320

Reply #15
Great photos. I assume I will need to empty fresh water tank, water pump off, city water off to remove and disassemble?  Edit: and does Foretravel no longer have stock?

Oy - I can't remember...  Let me see if I can find the old post from when we replaced that valve.  FOT might have stock, but you'd have to ask them.  Of course, if you can get the valve out you might be able to R&R it just with a little cleaning.
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

Lifetime Escapees' member SKP 82766
Former 1999 30IB Lazy Daze (2000-2004)
Former 2003 U320 (2004-2016)
Former 2017 LTV Unity (2017-2023)
Shopping for our next coach

Re: Help - low water flow inside coach - both shore and water pump 2003 U320

Reply #16
In some models there is a shut-off valve ahead of the solenoid/fill valve.
Jim

2002 U320
Jim Frerichs
2002 U320 42'

Re: Help - low water flow inside coach - both shore and water pump 2003 U320

Reply #17
BTW, here are the specs on that valve

Spartan Scientific

PN 4600-01-8212
3/4" NPT / 2-2NC
25MM / 150PSI
12VDC / 10Watts
NITRILE
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

Lifetime Escapees' member SKP 82766
Former 1999 30IB Lazy Daze (2000-2004)
Former 2003 U320 (2004-2016)
Former 2017 LTV Unity (2017-2023)
Shopping for our next coach

Re: Help - low water flow inside coach - both shore and water pump 2003 U320

Reply #18
Went out in the rain and manually screwed down the valve.

No improvement. Still worth dis assembling to look for debris?  (There could be hard water deposits in it).
Dan - Full timing since 2009
2003 U320 40' Tag 2 slide

Re: Help - low water flow inside coach - both shore and water pump 2003 U320

Reply #19
Went out in the rain and manually screwed down the valve.

No improvement. Still worth dis assembling to look for debris?  (There could be hard water deposits in it).

Highly doubtful that it's the problem then  :( 

Was it a fairly sudden change in flow or a gradual one? 

Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

Lifetime Escapees' member SKP 82766
Former 1999 30IB Lazy Daze (2000-2004)
Former 2003 U320 (2004-2016)
Former 2017 LTV Unity (2017-2023)
Shopping for our next coach

Re: Help - low water flow inside coach - both shore and water pump 2003 U320

Reply #20
Highly doubtful that it's the problem then  :( 

Was it a fairly sudden change in flow or a gradual one? 


It's been getting slower flow over the past week.  Pretty good mineral deposits on the faucet screens when I cleaned them today - so probably a buildup somewhere between shore water/water pump and water manifold (with lesser chance in the water manifold).
Dan - Full timing since 2009
2003 U320 40' Tag 2 slide

Re: Help - low water flow inside coach - both shore and water pump 2003 U320

Reply #21
If it is a manual valve, depending on its internal design, it could be coming apart (older screw and washer style design). So when you tightened it down did if have a regular sill-cock "harder" stop when it seated/off or a somewhat softer feel? If it is coming apart inside it might feel different than usual and not be sealing as it should - hence leaking water pump pressure.
Jim
Jim Frerichs
2002 U320 42'

Re: Help - low water flow inside coach - both shore and water pump 2003 U320

Reply #22
Moved to Tech Talk for better technical assistance visibility
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

Lifetime Escapees' member SKP 82766
Former 1999 30IB Lazy Daze (2000-2004)
Former 2003 U320 (2004-2016)
Former 2017 LTV Unity (2017-2023)
Shopping for our next coach

Re: Help - low water flow inside coach - both shore and water pump 2003 U320

Reply #23
The PEX should not have any build up in those lines, but every place that has a copper fitting, I would check those for sure for calcium build up.  Over time, that can completely close off an opening to reduce the flow.
Joe & Dottie Allen
Sold!  December 2023.      2000 U320; build # 5645
Our coach " Maxine"
Motorcade #  15922;  Escapee 150950; FMCA F330833; Boondockers Welcome;  Harvest Hosts;  Thousand Trails
'98 U320 from 2000-'06
USAF '62-'66

"Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for." ―Epicurus

Re: Help - low water flow inside coach - both shore and water pump 2003 U320

Reply #24
Tomorrow depending on rain I'll get back to it.  If it is raining I will go on vinegar search.
Dan - Full timing since 2009
2003 U320 40' Tag 2 slide