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Water Pump Lesson

Last week we were at a RV site with electric only.  Needed to fill the water tank, so, hooked up the fresh water hose, turned on the hose bib, flipped the Water Fill Switch and all was good.  Tank filled up, disconnected the hose, all was good..........

Step back inside and I hear the water pump running constantly.  Asked the DW how long and got the "I don't know, I thought you were doing something" answer.  Hmmm........check all the faucets, all off, step outside, look underneath, no water anywhere.  Darn it, pump went bad !
No problem, I have a brand new Flo-Jet ready to install.  Pulled out the old pump, put in the new one, all set.  Step inside, turn on the pump, wait, what ?  Still running non-stop.
Go back outside and start turning off cold water manifold valves, get to the one labeled Bathroom Vanity, turn it off, pump stops! Wow must have a leak, Go through everything, everything dry. Decide to leave it off to deal with later. Just no cold water at the bathroom sink. Not terrible, we will get by.

Any ideas yet ?

So, get home and need to dump the tanks, I open the wet bay, hook up to dump, and.........discover I had forgot to shut off the Water Fill Switch after filling !!!!!!!

Flipped off the switch, turned the manifold valve back on, everything fine, no issues.  My old pump is now my spare.

Learn someting every day !!!
I guess when the Water Fill Switch is on and not hooked up to water, when the pump is on it must back flow pressure back into the tank, therefore making the pump run.

Mark & Bev
2001 U295 36' Slide
Cummins ISC 8.3 350HP
Build #5802
Jeep Wrangler Toad

Re: Water Pump Lesson

Reply #1 –
I'll have to check that tomorrow to see if the 320 does the same. Would make sense. Nice being prepared thou with spare parts.
Scott

Re: Water Pump Lesson

Reply #2 –
Scott,

Yes yours will do the same thing If the water fill valve is left open then the water will recirculate. What has me puzzled is why the turning off the water to the vanity caused the pump to stop. On most coaches the line that causes the recirculation is piped back into the fill line and not the manifold. Now this could have been changed by a PO in the past for some reason.

Mike
Pamela & Mike 97 U 320

"It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters."

Re: Water Pump Lesson

Reply #3 –
FYI, the same in my coach, if the fill valve is open, the pump will run.
As a suggested upgrade in the pump area:
Install some Sharkbite valves on each side of the pump supply and discharge lines.  Then you don't need to drain anything or loose any water the next time to change out a pump.
Dave Cobb
Buckhorn Lake Resort The Club, #6202, Kerrville TX
check the map.  I do rent it out when I am traveling!
2001, U320, 36' #5887, in Kerrville, FT Club #17006, (7/23 to present)
2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee L, Summit, white
EX: 98 U295, 36' #5219, (mid door), (4/13-10/23)
EX: 93 U225, 36' (4/11 to 4/13)

Re: Water Pump Lesson

Reply #4 –
Dave,
Correct on the valves. I had already installed Pex valves on both sides of the pump previously, as well as quick connects for the electrical.  Made for a very easy "dry" swap.
Mark & Bev
2001 U295 36' Slide
Cummins ISC 8.3 350HP
Build #5802
Jeep Wrangler Toad

Re: Water Pump Lesson

Reply #5 –
I didn't like the fill switch in the bathroom as I turned it on accidentally so I disconnected that switch so it wouldn't happen again.
I now use that switch for the bathroom hot water recirculation pump. I kept the light so it I forget to turn off the fill switch in the
dump station I can tell in the bathroom.
Peter and Frieda Morin
1999 36ft. U320 Foretravel
Build # 5436
1998 Suzuki Sidekick Sport

Re: Water Pump Lesson

Reply #6 –
Quote from: Pamela & Mike –
Scott,

Yes yours will do the same thing If the water fill valve is left open then the water will recirculate.  On most coaches the line that causes the recirculation is piped back into the fill line and not the manifold.

Mike
So I've been thinking about this, could this be used as a hot water recirculation loop? Would be nice if you could open/close a couple of valves after water fill to use this for a recirculation loop. Pre wired, solenoid water valve available, so while out you could activate fill and pump to recirculate hot water?
Scott

Re: Water Pump Lesson

Reply #7 –
Scott,

On all 3 of our coaches we have installed a warm up/ recirculation  line to save on water while dry camping.  I always had a dedicated valve and wiring for that line.  Could you double up the fill valve for a recirculation line, yes but it takes some doing.

I ran piping to the shower valve (longest run) so the most water was warmed before shower.  If you want to just tie in at the manifold then there is very little piping that needs doing.

Mike
Pamela & Mike 97 U 320

"It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters."

Re: Water Pump Lesson

Reply #8 –
The end of the shower line would work well. That would at least saturate the manifold with hot water for everything else. Thanks
Scott

Re: Water Pump Lesson

Reply #9 –
Quote from: dsd –
That would at least saturate the manifold with hot water for everything else.

Yep. 

We use it for washing dishes.  Hit the warm up valve, when pump cycles on we  know that we have hot water close. At the kitchen sink we have less than 1/2 cup of cold water before we get hot water.

Mike
Pamela & Mike 97 U 320

"It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters."

Re: Water Pump Lesson

Reply #10 –
I put in two recirculation systems. One for the kitchen sink and the other one goes to the shower. It was easier to do it that way and
it really works well. So I used two pumps and when I want hot water I push the switch wait a minute and I have hot water and
the timer shuts off the pump after I have pushed the switch in about two minutes. 
Peter and Frieda Morin
1999 36ft. U320 Foretravel
Build # 5436
1998 Suzuki Sidekick Sport