Help with water supply issue from fresh water tank

[ricatic]

I posted this on the Heartland Forum but thought i would also pick the brains of the members here:

Well...after 5 years and hundreds of nights spent in our 3055RL, my first real issue. I am working in Iowa and staying in a RV Park(loose definition at best) behind the Casino. No city water hookup but I run 200 feet of hose to a fresh water fill hydrant. I have been here for three months. The last two times my tank has ran dry while using the shower, I have refilled the fresh water tank and then experienced difficulties drawing water from the tank. I have bypassed the winterizing valve(whole other story that ends in "dumb owner mistake) so I can easily separate the suctuion line from the pump to the tank in an area where I can either put pressure into the tank or siphon water up to the pump.

Now, the first time this happened, I hooked up the city water hose to a Rube Goldberg connection that allowed me to back flush the line into the tank. Even after this attempt, flow only increased a small amount but was enought o operate the system at full water pump pressure...all was well... this time, using compressed air, I pressurized the suction line until it began bubbling out the air vent. Success I think..wrong again...I still can not siphon any real quantity of water to the pump...

So...I fill my 5 gallon water jug, run the suction line into the container, turn on the pump and voila...normal water volume and pressure at all faucets...

So...how is the suction line plumbed into the fresh water tank? Is there a weight or check valve at the end that might be mostly plugged? Should I be able siphon water up to the pump easily? Any suggestions on how to fix this before my head collapses from trying to siphon water up from the tank...

Regards

Rick

[newman_fulltime]

heres a rv center 641 752 7195

[ricatic]

pump is behind the false wall...I made the panel in front of that area a hinged door...easy to get to the fill area and the pump...water tank i about5 feet to the rear...looks like the coreplast will need to be dropped...I wonder if there is a local to Marshalltown Iowa mobile repair tech????

Regards

[newman_fulltime]

depends on how far it runs i have seen some 2' and some over 10 the best way to see is drop the corraplast.
is your pump behind the false wall in the belly

[ricatic]

newman fulltimer wrote:
then it can only be two other things eaither your suction line is collapsing or your pump is weak and wont pull the distance needed

I am afraid you are right about the suction line collapsing...the pump pulls water from my 7 gallon water jug just fine...but I am puzzled as to why I can't blow back through the line easily either...

Wonder how big a job it is to replace the suction line????

Regards

[newman_fulltime]

then it can only be two other things eaither your suction line is collapsing or your pump is weak and wont pull the distance needed

[ricatic]

newman fulltimer wrote:
if pressure is building up in the tank your vent line is plugged or pinched take your fill cap off see if it works then.You have to have air behind water

Thanks...but BTDT as well...cap to fresh water tank is off and the vent also work...you can hear the air, not a lot but it vets...when filling the tank from "city water" the fill hose I use mostly fills the inlet opening and the vent works perfectly...

Regards

[newman_fulltime]

if pressure is building up in the tank your vent line is plugged or pinched take your fill cap off see if it works then.You have to have air behind water

[ricatic]

newman fulltimer wrote:
take air and back blow into the tank through the suction line see if it blows freely into the tank

Thanks...but BTDT...see paragraph 3 of my post...it does put some pressure into the tank but it is still very hard to siphon any water up the suction line...

Regards

[denverhank]

newman fulltimer wrote:
take air and back blow into the tank through the suction line see if it blows freely into the tank

That was my thought too but was beat to it by a few minutes.

[newman_fulltime]

take air and back blow into the tank through the suction line see if it blows freely into the tank