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dufferdj's avatar
dufferdj
Explorer
May 28, 2018

Noisy water pump

Our water pump starts out quiet but then starts to chatter --- almost as if there is air in the line. The first couple of days out this season the pump ran quietly. The water flows smoothly the entire time and I have checked to make sure that the pump is attached securely on the rubber mounting brackets and that the hoses are not hitting the walls nearby. It is a Shur-flo model 4008. Any suggestions as to how to rectify this problem?
  • For starters you could search this Forum for `noisy water pump' and get some ideas or search for `water pump' then search the results for noise or noisy or quiet, etc.
  • Are you sure it's the pump and not one of the water lines coming in or out. I wrapped the lines close to pump with pipe insulation and killed the line vibrating against the wall.
  • dufferdj wrote:
    Any suggestions as to how to rectify this problem?


    You have to identify the actual source of the noise first.

    The pump itself will always vibrate but if it is properly mounted with some "flex" it won't make much noise.

    As the pump pulses ALL of the pipes will have pressure pulses and any of them can be hitting on a floor or wall or cabinet side.

    My pump is fairly quiet but there is a TERRIBLE growl from the pipes under the bathroom sink/floor......that I haven't had time to really track down yet.
  • Did you switch the water selection lever from city water to tank water setting. Ours does the chattering if we don't have the lever in the correct setting.
  • dufferdj wrote:
    Our water pump starts out quiet but then starts to chatter --- almost as if there is air in the line. The first couple of days out this season the pump ran quietly. The water flows smoothly the entire time and I have checked to make sure that the pump is attached securely on the rubber mounting brackets and that the hoses are not hitting the walls nearby. It is a Shur-flo model 4008. Any suggestions as to how to rectify this problem?

    Firstly, I'd tear it down, for a good cleaning and lubing before putting it back together and evenly tightening all the bolts. Doesn't take much work and haven't done one yet, without some significant improvement in it's operation. Even brought one or two, back to life.
    These things are seemingly bullet proof and more good ones have been thrown out, than bad ones, is my guess.
  • I know whenever that happens to our 4008 I run the outside shower hose until any air in the lines is gone and the chattering stops.
  • Clean the intake screen. Mine needed cleaning and was causing the pump to be noisy.