Do ALL Rv's do this? If I leave the water pump on..

It is cycling. If not caused by a visible slow leak somewhere water is going backward very slowly through the pump. Bad diaphram maybe. Ours does it. Never gotten better or worse. We have gotten used to it as one of those known regular noises that is not worth doing anything about.

Glad you found it!
Was it an easy fix?

SuzzeeeQ2012 wrote:
I think I found it already :) we filled the water today when we dumped.

Under the bathroom sink a small amount of water coming down one of the plastic tubes (pipes)

There ya have it. Glad you found it.

I think I found it already :) we filled the water today when we dumped.

Under the bathroom sink a small amount of water coming down one of the plastic tubes (pipes)

Mine did the same thing last year, burped once every hour or so. Couldn't find a leak,so I thought I was good to go as it likely was a leak-back through the pump. Well, while winterizing this fall, I noticed the floor was all wet between the wall and the water heater. The only way I found it was, the water had compromised the floor under the water heater. I'm ripping out the water heater, flooring, and OSB sheeting and maybe replacing the floor joices this spring.

Check every inch of water piping to be absolutely sure there are no leaks. I did, with the exception of the 2 ft that runs behind the H2O Heater and thats where the leak is.

enblethen wrote:
That is not normal.
You could have a small leak somewhere.
It could be leaking back through the pump.
To start isolating problem, I would get a cap for the output of the pump. Disconnect outlet line, install cap. Listen for pump to cycle. If it does cycle, but not as often, pressure is leaking back through the pump. You can dis assemble the pump and look for something as small as a hair allowing this to happen.
If it does not cycle, the problem is in the rig's system. It could be water heater pressure relief valve, city water check valve, toilet ball valve.
Make and model of your rig would help.
What part of WA?

right down the road fromm you...Ephrata :B

1998 Holiday Rambler Endeavor....

sorry I haven't been back, internet is very spotty in Glamis.


will pass along the info to my husband. He just wants to not keep the switch on all the time, I don't want to run to the bathroom and switch it on every time I want water lol

4x4van wrote:

fj12ryder wrote:
Maybe it shouldn't have, but the pump would cycle periodically when no water was in use, and it didn't do it after I capped the tank.

I agree that it shouldn't have made any difference, but it sure was a coincidence. :) I didn't do anything else, just the cap. Go figure.

If yours is like mine,the low point drain that is located under the MH floor IS on the pressure side, so that would explain why capping it solved your problem.

That would explain it.......low point drain VS fresh water tank drain.

fj12ryder wrote:
Maybe it shouldn't have, but the pump would cycle periodically when no water was in use, and it didn't do it after I capped the tank.

I agree that it shouldn't have made any difference, but it sure was a coincidence. :) I didn't do anything else, just the cap. Go figure.

If yours is like mine,the low point drain that is located under the MH floor IS on the pressure side, so that would explain why capping it solved your problem.

Bottom line is that the water system is SUPPOSED to be a sealed system, and it SHOULDN'T leak down and cause the occasional "bump". However, the system ages, valves age or get worn, fitting loosen...eventually, most will give an occasional burp now and then, and as long as it's not an actual external leak, then there is no problem and it can be ignored.

But the important thing is to check your plumbing for leaks BEFORE deciding to ignore it. Check lines, under cabinets, at joints, at fittings, at the toilet, etc. If there is no external leak, then go ahead and ignore it or turn the pump off when not using it. But water leaks, even small ones inside cabinets or under drawers, can cause alot of damage if left unchecked. Better safe than sorry.

Mine burps perhaps once every several hours, and I've determined that it is the pump leaking back into the tank slowly. But occasionally, I will notice an increased frequency; that's when I start looking, and invariably find a fitting somewhere has loosened up.