The fresh water pipe that runs to the water pump from the valve to control draw from tanks or antifreeze hose is collapsing - makes water flow on pump poor. Any easy way to stop it from doing this? I'm thinking several gear clamps to keep it round. . .. . . maybe shorten it a bit?

I'm thinking replace the hose, preferably with some with a heavier wall thickness

agesilaus wrote:I'm thinking replace the hose, preferably with some with a heavier wall thicknessI agree. I think it would be easier to replace the hose to avoid potential leaks and put less stress on the pump.

I do not like that hose or the hose clamps. Replace with pex with real fittings.

No need for pex. Just run some new hose and add some additional length to ensure you don't get a crimp in the future. A big loop is also good to reduce pump noise so this is a case where more actually is better!

Braided PVC for water pump collapsing?? | Good Sam Community

MEXICOWANDERER
Explorer
Aug 13, 2017
Matt X 2
Huntindog
Explorer
Aug 14, 2017
joebedford wrote:
Huntindog wrote:
How do you know it is restricting the flow?
Because it's less flow than it used to be and because it's much less on pump compared to city water (I know they're different pressures). It's supposed to flow 2.9gpm but I'll bet it's closer to 1gpm.

I went into the utilities compartment to find out why the pump is slow to prime and slow to build pressure once all the taps are turned off. This seems like a possible culprit to me.
How did you measure the flow?

Every TT I have had flows much better on city water.
No surprise there, as it SHOULD flow better.
joebedford
Nomad II
Aug 14, 2017
Huntindog wrote:
How did you measure the flow?

I looked at it - it's unacceptably slower than it used to be.
Huntindog wrote:
Every TT I have had flows much better on city water.
No surprise there, as it SHOULD flow better.

Maybe your line from the tank to the pump is collapsing/kinked.
Roger10378
Explorer II
Aug 14, 2017
Is it only collapsed like the picture shows when the pump is running or all the time? If only when running you have some kind of restriction up stream. If it stays collapsed when the pump is not running then new hose and better routing should help.
joebedford
Nomad II
Aug 14, 2017
Yes, I'll get a new hose long enough to put in a full loop.

I'll report results when done but it will be a month because we're headed off for a rare summer trip eclipse hunting (and other stuff).
Huntindog
Explorer
Aug 14, 2017
joebedford wrote:
Huntindog wrote:
How did you measure the flow?

I looked at it - it's unacceptably slower than it used to be.
Huntindog wrote:
Every TT I have had flows much better on city water.
No surprise there, as it SHOULD flow better.

Maybe your line from the tank to the pump is collapsing/kinked.
The way to measure WP flow is to measure it directly off of the pump.
Doing it any other way can lead to a false diagnosis as the restriction can be in other places. Like the aerator screen of the fixture, or the the filter on the pump etc. If the new hose does not fix it, then you will need to look at the other possibilities since the diagnosis method is flawed. Your hose has likely been like that since it was installed.
So I doubt that is the cause.
joebedford
Nomad II
Sep 01, 2017
I'm fuinally getting around to addressing the water problem. I've decided with help from adived here that the collapsed pipe is a red herring. I now believe the water pump is sucking air somehwere.

For other reasons I have photos inside the underbelly of the RV. This photo shows the water pickup of the rear fresh tank. Does that black fitting screw into the white plastic of the tank? And what is that yellowish goo they have smeared on the joint?
Chris_Bryant
Explorer II
Sep 01, 2017
Yes, those are threaded fittings, and that is pipe dope (I use Harvey's Rectorseal #5, which is yellow).
joebedford
Nomad II
Sep 02, 2017
Today I disconnected the pump from the RV tank / winterizing valve and stuck the hose into a bucket. It behaves exactly the same as if drawing from the pump or winterizing hose. I couldn't see any nicks or cracks in the o-ring where the hose plugs into the shurflo so I guess it's the pump itself.
Harvey51
Explorer
Sep 09, 2017
I went into the utilities compartment to find out why the pump is slow to prime and slow to build pressure once all the taps are turned off. This seems like a possible culprit to me.

This is the symptom of a pump membrane failure. I took a picture of my pump's model/serial plate and asked for help at an RV store. The clerk knew exactly what I needed. The install was easy. The old membrane looked okay but replacing it solved all those problems.