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House water pump replacement

Storing my shore power cord and noticed a film of water in the floor of the bay. Not good. Checked the hot water heater and water pump and water was leaking around diaphragm.

Removing water pump was a total PIA. Had just filled fresh water tank. Learned you must completely drain fresh water tank for this job. Bolts holding water pump down were driven into the rubber mounts so that two of three could not be removed. Finally got a big screw driver and ripped it up.

Camping world was around the corner but water pump selection was mostly sold out. Bought a SeaFlo DFDP1-040-045-33 that was close in size and rated performance. Only $49.00. But it was not an exact fit, so in plumbing close is not good enough apparently. Had to cut pex, install a fitting and connect with braided water line. Made a run to Lowes for fittings and their selection was not good. Lots of empty pegs.

Naturally the new Pex fitting crimp ring was just .2 mm too close so it interfered with tightening the adapter.

Finally got it together 11 hours after discovery. It is so quiet I can't hear it running inside or outside coach. Spending a bonus night in Albuquerque and hopefully headed out in the morning. Two Ibuprofen and two glasses of wine. 
1998 36 foot U270 Build No. 5328 WTFE, 900 watts solar, Victron controller, B2B, bat monitor, 600 AMPH lithium with 2018 Chevy Colorado toad, SKP #110239, Motorcade #17781, 2021 Escape 17B for when Coach is broken down and campsites are too small, retired and full-timer since Dec. 2020. Part of RV family since 1963.

Re: House water pump replacement

Reply #1
The camping world west of town at the top of the hill ?
88 Grand Villa 36' ORED 3208 (throwaway)Cat.
 Build # 3150
Happiness is the maximum agreement of reality and desire.

Re: House water pump replacement

Reply #2
Yes
1998 36 foot U270 Build No. 5328 WTFE, 900 watts solar, Victron controller, B2B, bat monitor, 600 AMPH lithium with 2018 Chevy Colorado toad, SKP #110239, Motorcade #17781, 2021 Escape 17B for when Coach is broken down and campsites are too small, retired and full-timer since Dec. 2020. Part of RV family since 1963.

Re: House water pump replacement

Reply #3
Idea for everyone,CARRY A SPARE,they all will fail sooner or later.
96 U270 BUILD 4810
85 380SL
Drummonds TN.

Re: House water pump replacement

Reply #4
Our coach came with a spare and it was installed when our 7 year old pump gave out.
Bought a new spare.
Don't want to be without water.
Frank & Daisy
NO LONGER  "looking for the perfect Foretravel
36' or less non slide preferred."  She has been found and is ours.
2003 U320 36' non slide  Unit 6103
Cummins ISM 450
Allison 4000MH

Re: House water pump replacement

Reply #5
Question related to this topic
I am planning to replace the shurflo 4008 to the 4048 model. As seen in the attached pics I have an accumulator which I intend to keep. I will be adding extended hoses to reduce vibration as well as a filter which this unit did not have added by the PO. Is there adjustments I have to make to match the accumulator which is pre set at 20lbs. ??  Also looking at the pic the exchanger and fan for the bay heating is located right in front of the water pump. Is this really the right position for this unit?  It seems strange that the fan will blow out towards the door instead of at the water pump. I have not checked but should there be another one on the manibloc side as well??
Peter    Alberta Canada
'98 U320 40'  Build 5359 M11 450 HP, Aqua hot, Blu Ox

Re: House water pump replacement

Reply #6
Accumulator PSI is CUT-IN PSI minus 2 PSI, so it depends on your pump.

To check the accumulator, briefly press in the schrader valve (just like a car tirevalve).  If water comes out, the diaphragm is bad and the accumulator needs to be replaced.

To set PSI, I just use a bicycle pump.  Depressurize the system (open a faucet with pump off and shore water off).  Set PSI.
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: House water pump replacement

Reply #7
1.  Also looking at the pic the exchanger and fan for the bay heating is located right in front of the water pump. Is this really the right position for this unit? 
2. It seems strange that the fan will blow out towards the door instead of at the water pump.
3. I have not checked but should there be another one on the manibloc side as well??

Peter,
1.  Yes
2. Pointed this way it pushes warm air to the door and then over to the manibloc side through the space where the divider don't go all the way to thee door and seal off. The hoses to the heat exchanger should care of the water pump. Generally they are routed right over/under the water pump.
3. No Just the circulation described in #2

Mike
Pamela & Mike 97 U 320

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

Re: House water pump replacement

Reply #8
Like they say,do what makes you happy,but you do not need an accumulator with either of those pumps,they are made to work fine
without one,for some reason many believe/think the pump will somehow run better with one,and yes you can probably get a glass
of water without the pump coming on but less connections make for less leaks.
96 U270 BUILD 4810
85 380SL
Drummonds TN.

Re: House water pump replacement

Reply #9
Glad you resolved your water pump problem

For all, a great simple idea is to add a ball valve any place on in & out water pump hoses to easily change out water pump without making a wet mess.

Separate topic, we find a small plastic Shurflo unmounted accumulator works fine with Shurflo 4008 & 4048 and think that the large accumulator is not needed. Space is limited.

Re: House water pump replacement

Reply #10
So, if you have gas/ elec water heater does the accumulator help take care of the expansion as the water heats up? I've see the pressure relief on the water heater starting leaking after removing the accumulator.when 10 gallons of water heats up the expansion has to go somewhere. Just a thought.
Bruce, Linda, and Macy
Zoey RIP 1/20/19
1999 U295 40' build #5400
2017 silver Jeep Wrangler, 1260 watts of solar on top
Moving around the country

Re: House water pump replacement

Reply #11
Mine has the ball valves. I assumed it came that way
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: House water pump replacement

Reply #12
So, if you have gas/ elec water heater does the accumulator help take care of the expansion as the water heats up? I've see the pressure relief on the water heater starting leaking after removing the accumulator.when 10 gallons of water heats up the expansion has to go somewhere. Just a thought.

It is called ullage and all water heaters have the space for expansion.

Maintaining your water heater | Portland.gov
1999 40 ft. U-320 wtfe build 5563 Chuck & Lynda's "Rollin' Inn"  2030 watts solar
prev. mh's 71 GMC 5 yrs. 73 Pace Setter 1 yr. 78 Vogue 5 yrs 81 FTX 40ft all electric 18 yrs. 1996 Monaco Signature 3 yrs.
2014 Grand Cherokee Overland
Dream as if you will live forever. Live as if you will die today.  James Dean

Re: House water pump replacement

Reply #13
Our coach came with a Flojet pump and accumulator tank.  The accumulator tank bladder failed so I ordered a new one and it was a 2-3 months to a ship.  The entire pump, base, tank and all the connections was only about $80 more and shipped in days So I ordered one from Boatersland.  Easy exchange, I put it in some 1/2" thick foam pieces and didn't screw it down, makes it quieter.

Shop around, there were less than $350 17 months ago.
Flojet 02840100A High Vol Water Sys 4.5GPM/12V - Flojet 02840100A - Water...

I carry a spare water pump.
Roger Engdahl and Susan Green
2001 U320 3610 #5879 (Home2) - 2014 Jeep Cherokee or 2018 F150
Hastings, MN

Re: House water pump replacement

Reply #14
It is called ullage and all water heaters have the space for expansion.


That's true until the water heater becomes water logged, then the ullage is lost
Bruce, Linda, and Macy
Zoey RIP 1/20/19
1999 U295 40' build #5400
2017 silver Jeep Wrangler, 1260 watts of solar on top
Moving around the country

Re: House water pump replacement

Reply #15
We also support Roger with floating Shurflo 4008/4048 water pump sitting in a thick foam block. With long flexible hoses, everything is quiet and can easily be moved out of compartment for maintenance. Small expansion tank is un-mounted, inline, on output hose. Also used spare water pump, and with the ball valves, can be easily swapped.

Water pump is so quiet, to know if it is unexpectedly running, maybe supplying a water leak, wired a switched kitchen piezo sounder to pump motor leads.