I never timed how long the water pump runs.It has started to run differently (longer).I timed it yesterday and here are the results.The volume of water coming out of the faucet appeared normal.There is no bladder tank.Water storage tank is 3/4 full.Water pump is just below the sink.When I turned on the faucet, it took 9 seconds before the pump came on.When I turned off the faucet, it, it took 11 seconds before the pump stopped.This is a lot longer that what I'm used to.This morning.When I turned on the faucet, it took 6 seconds before the pump came on.When I turned off the faucet, it took 6 seconds before the pump turned off.Any thoughts?Pat

Air pocket somewhere? Excess air amounts to an expansion tank.

I would guess the water heater was not quite entirely full or at least had a larger air pocket than typical, making it act as an accumulator. If you have the bypass valves set up in a partially bypassed, partially not bypassed state (which may or may not be possible depending on how the valves are arranged), you can get a far more extreme version of this...which I will say did confound me once for awhile until I saw what I had done.

Sounds like you do have a small expansion tank. Otherwise normal.

I will add thisThe pump has a pressure switchTime delay going off, is directly related to pump performanceAn aging pump may run a little slowerLow voltage from the batteries will cause the pump to run slowerTry this close all faucets turn on pumpLeave pump on say 20 minutes, if it cycles, you have a leak or a pressure bleed down in the pumpNo cycling equal no problems with piping

Are you certain there isn't an accumulator somewhere? Sure sounds like it.Voltage variation has a marked affect on how fast the pump runs, so I'm not surprised that it varies. I'm more surprised about how long the delays are, both on and off, unless you actually do have an accumulator.

Water Pump- Amount of time it runs... | Good Sam Community

11 Replies

All_I_could_aff
Explorer
Nov 29, 2018
May all of our “fixes” be so simple
Jay_Pat
Explorer
Nov 29, 2018
I opened one of the hot water faucets and found air/sputtering in the line.

Opened the other faucet and let them both run until the air cleared out.

The pump is working as I remember it should.

Thanks for everyone's suggestions and thoughts!!!!

Pat
Almot
Explorer III
Nov 29, 2018
turbojimmy wrote:

Find a hobby?

You're onto something :)

Seriously though, this doesn't sound normal.... unless there is an accumulator somewhere. My pump with pressure switch shuts down the moment I turn the faucet off.
old_guy
Explorer
Nov 29, 2018
your pump sounds like mine and I know for a fact I have an accumulator tank because I installed it
turbojimmy
Explorer
Nov 28, 2018
Jay Pat wrote:

Any thoughts?
Pat

Find a hobby?

Kidding...

I find it takes a long time after winterizing for all of the air to get out of the system. My hot water in particular will froth for a really long time (while the pump runs intermittently) until all of the air is out of the tank and lines.

Like someone else said, once it's purged of air leave the pump on to see if it cycles. If it does within about 15 minutes then it's leaking down somewhere. I've accidentally left mine on for days and it won't run until I open a faucet.
Jay_Pat
Explorer
Nov 28, 2018
DrewE wrote:
I would guess the water heater was not quite entirely full or at least had a larger air pocket than typical, making it act as an accumulator. If you have the bypass valves set up in a partially bypassed, partially not bypassed state (which may or may not be possible depending on how the valves are arranged), you can get a far more extreme version of this...which I will say did confound me once for awhile until I saw what I had done.

Last winter, I blew out the water lines to winterize.
This summer, I used only water hook ups.
I never used hot water when traveling/using the pump.

Just went out to the rv and turned on the hot water using the pump only.
Got a lot of air. Turned on other faucet and got more air.
When the air stopped, I tested the pump cycle and the cycle time is back to normal.

So, somewhere in the hot water lines was the "air accumulator".
I'm sure (I think), I opened the hot water faucets to fill the hot water heater last spring.

Thanks for all the responses!!!!!
Pat
bpounds
Nomad
Nov 28, 2018
Are you certain there isn't an accumulator somewhere? Sure sounds like it.

Voltage variation has a marked affect on how fast the pump runs, so I'm not surprised that it varies. I'm more surprised about how long the delays are, both on and off, unless you actually do have an accumulator.
MrWizard
Moderator
Nov 28, 2018
I will add this
The pump has a pressure switch
Time delay going off, is directly related to pump performance
An aging pump may run a little slower
Low voltage from the batteries will cause the pump to run slower

Try this close all faucets turn on pump
Leave pump on say 20 minutes, if it cycles, you have a leak or a pressure bleed down in the pump
No cycling equal no problems with piping
time2roll
Nomad
Nov 28, 2018
Sounds like you do have a small expansion tank. Otherwise normal.
DrewE
Explorer II
Nov 28, 2018
I would guess the water heater was not quite entirely full or at least had a larger air pocket than typical, making it act as an accumulator. If you have the bypass valves set up in a partially bypassed, partially not bypassed state (which may or may not be possible depending on how the valves are arranged), you can get a far more extreme version of this...which I will say did confound me once for awhile until I saw what I had done.