Forum Discussion

priestlake's avatar
priestlake
Explorer
Oct 02, 2016

water line noise

2013 sightseer, when we are hooked up to city water and turn the water on get a noise that sounds like the water pump. Is there a check valve in the pump? Does the city water line go through the pump? Is there another pump in the city water line? Thanks
  • Your Shurflo pump which pumps water thru your water lines and helps maintain water pressure thru your water lines should shut off when you switch over to City water. It does in my Winnebago. There is no pump check valve in my Winnebago to my knowledge. I can turn on my Shurflo pump while on city water. I've done this in the past with low water pressure at a hook up site. In my Winnebago there is no other water pump in my City water system just the Shurflo pump.
  • There is a check valve in our pump, if there wasn't city water would flow back through the pump and into the fresh water tank. We turn our pump off when on city water. You can leave it on but if pressure drops enough when using water the pump will kick on to bring pressure up.
  • Hank MI wrote:
    There is a check valve in our pump, if there wasn't city water would flow back through the pump and into the fresh water tank. We turn our pump off when on city water. You can leave it on but if pressure drops enough when using water the pump will kick on to bring pressure up.
    Thanks for the info Hank, I wasn't aware of that.
  • 2 check valves in supply side of RV plumbing system
    City water inlet has a check valve (plastic plunger/spring/o-ring assembly)to prevent water from back-flowing out thru connection when using on-board pump

    On-board pump has an internal check valve (diaphragm) to prevent back-flowing thru pump when using city water connection


    IF you are 'hearing' noises when pn city water and water is flowing it most likely is the cheap plastic junk check valve in city water connection


    OR it could be one of the cheap plastic junk check valves used in Water Heater.

    Many RV Mfgs use a check valve in WH Tank HOT out
    Winnebago likes to use one in HOT out AND one in COLD IN

    So you would need to listen carefully at city water in and at backside of water heater with water flowing to ID which cheap plastic junk check valve is causing noise...........noise means on its way to failure
  • Old-Biscuit wrote:
    2 check valves in supply side of RV plumbing system
    City water inlet has a check valve (plastic plunger/spring/o-ring assembly)to prevent water from back-flowing out thru connection when using on-board pump

    On-board pump has an internal check valve (diaphragm) to prevent back-flowing thru pump when using city water connection


    IF you are 'hearing' noises when pn city water and water is flowing it most likely is the cheap plastic junk check valve in city water connection


    OR it could be one of the cheap plastic junk check valves used in Water Heater.

    Many RV Mfgs use a check valve in WH Tank HOT out
    Winnebago likes to use one in HOT out AND one in COLD IN

    So you would need to listen carefully at city water in and at backside of water heater with water flowing to ID which cheap plastic junk check valve is causing noise...........noise means on its way to failure


    That assumes the problem is a check valve. He already said it sounds like the water pump running so I'm going with that. Low water pressure at the park, pump on while on park water, the pump is going to kick on from time to time.
  • Are you using a pressure regulator and do you have your inlet valve turned to city water and your pump shut off?
  • Hank MI wrote:
    Old-Biscuit wrote:
    2 check valves in supply side of RV plumbing system
    City water inlet has a check valve (plastic plunger/spring/o-ring assembly)to prevent water from back-flowing out thru connection when using on-board pump

    On-board pump has an internal check valve (diaphragm) to prevent back-flowing thru pump when using city water connection


    IF you are 'hearing' noises when pn city water and water is flowing it most likely is the cheap plastic junk check valve in city water connection


    OR it could be one of the cheap plastic junk check valves used in Water Heater.

    Many RV Mfgs use a check valve in WH Tank HOT out
    Winnebago likes to use one in HOT out AND one in COLD IN

    So you would need to listen carefully at city water in and at backside of water heater with water flowing to ID which cheap plastic junk check valve is causing noise...........noise means on its way to failure


    That assumes the problem is a check valve. He already said it sounds like the water pump running so I'm going with that. Low water pressure at the park, pump on while on park water, the pump is going to kick on from time to time.


    IF on city water and pump control is ON then city water pressure has to drop low enough for pump start set point to make up.
    That would be 35# if standard on demand pump or 45# if upgraded on demand pump.

    Failing check valves 'chatter', 'hummmmmmmm', 'pulsate', vibrate' and make all kinds of other noises.
    On demand pump noises are ;whirrrrrrrrrrr' or 'buurrrrup'

    So OP just needs to check that pump control is OFF and then if noises continue...it's a check valve

    If noises do stop then turn pump controls back on. And investigate why city water pressure is so low that pump runs......probably city water inlet check valve failing :B
  • If the OP is using a pressure regulator and the pressure output from that regulaor is lower than the pump pressure switch than the pump may cycle.