Water pump question

phillipank · 01-11-2023, 12:17 PM

I have about 20 gal in 60 gal fresh tank. With water pump on, I get barely a trickle from the bathroom sink, shower seems fine with the spray head, but very little in the kitchen. At times it stops. Should I not get a decent flow with only 20 gallons or is my water pump not working correctly?

**chuckster57** · 01-11-2023, 12:23 PM

If you have good flow at the shower head, I would take the aerator off the faucets with poor flow first. Not uncommon for debris to plug them.

phillipank · 01-11-2023, 12:43 PM

Removed the aerators and they seemed to have a bit of sand or debris, but even with them off, now I get nothing. Not a drop.

**chuckster57** · 01-11-2023, 12:47 PM

You may have to disconnect the supply line from the faucet and test for pressure. I’m still thinking you have crud/debris. If the pump was bad you would have low/no pressure everywhere. Have you tried both the cold and hot knobs?

phillipank · 01-11-2023, 12:50 PM

Ok, so just under the sinks? I haven't tinkered with it much, but I have a feeling I'm gonna

**chuckster57** · 01-11-2023, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phillipank

Ok, so just under the sinks? I haven't tinkered with it much, but I have a feeling I'm gonna

That’s where I would start. Be careful when the line is disconnected and you turn on the pump. I would have a helper turn on the pump and back off quickly.

phillipank · 01-11-2023, 01:00 PM

Yeah, I'm thinking a bucket and some towels...but good idea. I may not get to it until the weekend but I'll report back.

Thanks again.

phillipank · 01-11-2023, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phillipank

Yeah, I'm thinking a bucket and some towels...but good idea. I may not get to it until the weekend but I'll report back.

Thanks again.

I went out and checked again - nothing anywhere, not the shower either. No air in the lines. I connected city water and I have flow everywhere (although not great at kitchen sink) after the air was cleared.

NH_Bulldog · 01-11-2023, 02:42 PM

If you haven’t installed a screen filter before the pump, I would suggest you do that. The purpose is twofold, first; if you have debris in the tank while trying to fix your issue, it will catch it. Second, once you get everything working right, it will prevent debris from getting to the pump again.

After 4 camping seasons, I am still catching tank debris in the filter. If this stuff gets in your pump, it could ruin the pump diaphragm and will not give any pressure

**chuckster57** · 01-11-2023, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NH_Bulldog

If you haven’t installed a screen filter before the pump, I would suggest you do that. The purpose is twofold, first; if you have debris in the tank while trying to fix your issue, it will catch it. Second, once you get everything working right, it will prevent debris from getting to the pump again.

After 4 camping seasons, I am still catching tank debris in the filter. If this stuff gets in your pump, it could ruin the pump diaphragm and will not give any pressure

Good idea. If you lost pressure everywhere, I would be looking for a filter and if it doesn’t have one install one.

bobbecky · 01-11-2023, 05:37 PM

It's possible that you have a loose connection on the tank side of the pump which would allow air into the pump instead of a solid stream of water, especially with the restrictors that are built into many of the faucets. The shower may be the only faucet that does not have a restrictor.

phillipank · 01-12-2023, 05:45 AM

Any idea how I can locate the pump in this unit?
If debris is causing the restriction, how do I get it out/flush it?

None of the outlets have water flowing, not even the shower (later post).

Thanks,
Phillip

**chuckster57** · 01-12-2023, 05:51 AM

I would look behind the rear wall of the front storage compartment first.

travelin texans · 01-12-2023, 08:50 AM

If you're going by the sensors on the panel indicating you have water in the tank, just know those are notorious for being terribly inaccurate. Usually the fresh water sensor works OK & is somewhat accurate, but there's no guarantee.
First thing I'd try is putting more water in the tank then try it again before tearing stuff apart. You stated you had water at one faucet then at none of them, sounds like no water to pump.

NH_Bulldog · 01-12-2023, 08:56 AM

I agree on this too. Fresh water tanks are long, wide and shallow. A 60 gallon tank (which is not actually close to 60 gallons) can take 20 gallons and still only have water to a depth of 1/2” or less, especially if you are not 100% level or tilted towards or away the pump suction line.

For reference, the fresh water capacity listed on a spec sheet is system capacity, not tank capacity. The figure includes the holding tank, the water heater and all the supply lines when full.

phillipank · 01-12-2023, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NH_Bulldog

I agree on this too. Fresh water tanks are long, wide and shallow. A 60 gallon tank (which is not actually close to 60 gallons) can take 20 gallons and still only have water to a depth of 1/2” or less, especially if you are not 100% level or tilted towards or away the pump suction line.

For reference, the fresh water capacity listed on a spec sheet is system capacity, not tank capacity. The figure includes the holding tank, the water heater and all the supply lines when full.

Yeah, I put 20 gallons in using a flow meter. So I'm pretty confident I have water in the tank. I was wondering about sensor at first when I was unable to fill the tank past 11 or 12 gallons, but I got that resolved (the air vent hole was blocked). The sensor reads about 1/3 full which would be correct. But I'll try adding more water anyway just to be safe.
Thanks, P

**JRTJH** · 01-12-2023, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phillipank

Yeah, I put 20 gallons in using a flow meter. So I'm pretty confident I have water in the tank. I was wondering about sensor at first when I was unable to fill the tank past 11 or 12 gallons, but I got that resolved (the air vent hole was blocked). The sensor reads about 1/3 full which would be correct. But I'll try adding more water anyway just to be safe.
Thanks, P

Depending on the configuration of your fresh water tank and the water pump, the "sensor" may well be on the opposite end of the tank from the water pickup tube. So, depending on how accurate the level of the trailer, the sensor system may read over half full and the pickup hose may be "above the water level, sucking air on the other end of the tank"....

phillipank · 01-12-2023, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JRTJH

Depending on the configuration of your fresh water tank and the water pump, the "sensor" may well be on the opposite end of the tank from the water pickup tube. So, depending on how accurate the level of the trailer, the sensor system may read over half full and the pickup hose may be "above the water level, sucking air on the other end of the tank"....

Good points all around, I'll fill the tank and try it again.

**flybouy** · 01-12-2023, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phillipank

I have about 20 gal in 60 gal fresh tank. With water pump on, I get barely a trickle from the bathroom sink, shower seems fine with the spray head, but very little in the kitchen. At times it stops. Should I not get a decent flow with only 20 gallons or is my water pump not working correctly?

Question, can you hear the pump running? If the issue is in the suction side then the pump should be running continuously even if water isn't flowing as the pressure switch wouldn't be satisfied. If the pump isn't running then there's an issue with the pump or the circuit feeding 12vdc to the pump.

phillipank · 01-13-2023, 05:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flybouy

Question, can you hear the pump running? If the issue is in the suction side then the pump should be running continuously even if water isn't flowing as the pressure switch wouldn't be satisfied. If the pump isn't running then there's an issue with the pump or the circuit feeding 12vdc to the pump.

Yes, I can hear the pump running.

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