Working on the upstream side of water pump plumbing

[Damdifino]

I've discovered a pretty severe kink in the hose leading into my Shurflo Revolution 4008. It's near the pump, between it and the water storage tank, and I suspect it's restricting my water flow because the hose is quite flattened out. So I plan to install an elbow at that point. Question is, if I cut the hose to effect the repair, will water drain out, and keep draining under my kitchen cabinets, until the fresh water tank is empty? Do I need to empty out the entire system before I begin work?

[DrewE]

gijoecam wrote:
Agreed... I guess I hadn't considered the tank being above the floor... Is that a common occurrence in modern rvs and travel trailers?

In the RVs I've owned, fully 100% have had the fresh water tank mounted on/above the floor. I'm not sure a sample size of one RV is statistically significant, though.

I think it's reasonably common in general, perhaps more so in winterized/semi-winterized RVs as having the tank and plumbing "inside" is an easy and cost-effective way to keep it from freezing. (The grey and black water tanks are trickier, as they don't work above the floor level for rather obvious drainage reasons and so need to be in some sort of a heated bay.)

[Bumpyroad]

gijoecam wrote:
Agreed... I guess I hadn't considered the tank being above the floor... Is that a common occurrence in modern rvs and travel trailers?

in my Flair, the tank was above the floor under a bed.
bumpy

[gijoecam]

Agreed... I guess I hadn't considered the tank being above the floor... Is that a common occurrence in modern rvs and travel trailers?

[DrewE]

gijoecam wrote:
If the kink is above the floor, you'll get a little dribble in whatever back-flows from the hose to the pump, but everything downstream of the pump should stay there and any water on the tank side should drain back to tank.

That depends on whether the tank is also above the floor or not. If the water level in the tank is above the work site, you create a siphon and get a tankful of water on the floor. If it's below the work site, the water stays in the tank. On my RV, the tank is above the floor (under the bed) and next to the pump, so I would want to drain the tank if I had to do work such as is described.

[gijoecam]

If the kink is above the floor, you'll get a little dribble in whatever back-flows from the hose to the pump, but everything downstream of the pump should stay there and any water on the tank side should drain back to tank.

[westend]

Yes and yes.

[ScottG]

WyoTraveler wrote:

ScottG wrote:
The pump has a check valve so water cannot flow backwards through it and fill the tank when your connected to city water. So I don't think that will be a problem.
That is if I understand your question, which I'm not sure I do. 🙂

I think he is saying the kink is between the pump and water tank.

That's what I thought and then I wasn't sure.
If that is indeed the case only the water in that immediate line will want to come out.
Just grab a thick towel and sop up any water that comes out.

[Bobbo]

Drain the tank, repair the problem, refill the tank.

The only place that water will drain is where you cut the line. If the tank is empty, you will get very little water out of the cut line.

[Bumpyroad]

WyoTraveler wrote:
Unless the opening is above the water level seems to me water will flow. Ever see how a water level works Vs a bubble level? Water will seek its level point.

x2
bumpy

[midnightsadie]

my tank has a drain valve,, most should have one. look at the bottom of the tank .for a drain.

[WyoTraveler]

I don't know how bad that kink is. We drain our tank by shutting off the spiqot and running off the pump for a few days. May not work for you if the kink is bad.

[WyoTraveler]

ScottG wrote:
The pump has a check valve so water cannot flow backwards through it and fill the tank when your connected to city water. So I don't think that will be a problem.
That is if I understand your question, which I'm not sure I do. 🙂

I think he is saying the kink is between the pump and water tank.

[schlep1967]

Is your water tank below the floor? If the tank is below the floor you should be fine. If the tank is up above the floor, drain everything before taking it apart.

[ScottG]

The pump has a check valve so water cannot flow backwards through it and fill the tank when your connected to city water. So I don't think that will be a problem.
That is if I understand your question, which I'm not sure I do. 🙂