Should I remove the accumulator?

[TurnThePage]

So it's time to replace my 13 year old water pump. I have a small accumulator in the system. The new pump, a Shurflo 4008 by-pass pump states,"no need for an accumulator." Does this mean an accumulator is now a bad thing, and I should remove it? Does it mean it will be worthless, and I'll get no value from it? Should I remove it?

[TurnThePage]

To quiet a pump, install flexible line (hose) between it and the rest of the plumbing, put foam or some other damper between vibrating plumbing and walls, put "boots" or some other dampener between the pump and the deck it's attached to. My boots are simply lopped off ends of a thick walled rubber hose installed between the pump and the floor. There's many ways to accomplish it. Forum member SoundGuy has some good pics of how he accomplished it.

[DReisinger]

Wish I could see the boots, my pump is very noisy. We don't even like to use it

[Chum_lee]

I like being able to hear the water pump run while inside my RV. The noise is very subtle and not bothersome to me at all. Several times it's reminded me that there was a faucet that wasn't shut off or dripping slightly. How much water would have been wasted and gone down the drain (into the holding tank) before I noticed? Who knows. Some noises are a good thing.

RV manufacturers have good reasons for installing accumulators in their RV's at additional cost to them and ultimately you. If none of those reasons apply to you, then, remove it. If they do, leave it alone. (you decide what those reasons are)

Chum lee

[RJsfishin]

Steve 83406 wrote:
I replaced an old Shurflo 3-chamber pump in my '91 Prowler 24C TT with a 4-chamber 4008 pump. I have to agree with Shurflo, the new pump does not need an accumulator. I have instant water pressure whenever I turn on a faucet. The pump is nearly silent, too, when running.
Steve

No pump needs one, but every pump should have one, and will be a lot better w/ one.

And if your new 4008 doesn't turn off, no need to look for a leak. All these cheap junk 4008 pumps need to be adjusted or they won't turn off.

[Steve_83406]

I replaced an old Shurflo 3-chamber pump in my '91 Prowler 24C TT with a 4-chamber 4008 pump. I have to agree with Shurflo, the new pump does not need an accumulator. I have instant water pressure whenever I turn on a faucet. The pump is nearly silent, too, when running.
Steve

[TurnThePage]

That is exactly what they are. Similar to many shock mount systems in the navy.

[profdant139]

TurnthePage, those boots look like diagonal slices of heavy rubber hose -- is that right?

(Please forgive me if I am coming in late on a discussion of the boots, but I did not see a post on that topic.)

[Bobbo]

Accumulator today. Accumulator tomorrow. Accumulator forever!

The advertising blurb is saying that you can set the pump to let enough water leak back into the feed line so it won't stutter off and on while running. I would rather not have the pump pumping water back to the feed line.

[TurnThePage]

Good news: I've installed the new pump and with the home made rubber boots, it runs absolutely silently. You have to have the cabinet open and your head down near it to hear it. Awesome! The old one was pretty quiet with the same boots, but not in the same league.


Bad news: The pump continues to run when it should have shut off. I'm still going through the system to ensure there are no leaks or air pockets. It's also leaking water out the front, which is dripping down from the power wire. If you look close at the image, you can see the water. 😞

[Dick_B]

I have had an accumulator downstream of my Shurflow pump for several years despite what they say. The one advantage of it is one can flush the toilet or turn on a faucet for a few seconds without the pump turning on since the accumulator furnishes the water. The bigger the accumulator the more water you can use without the pump.

[Searching_Ut]

My 5er came with a 4008 water pump, and I ended up adding an accumulator tank, pipe insulation and flexible hoses to the system to help with the noise. The pump doesn't run anywhere near as smooth as the marketing would have you think. I'd definitely keep the tank.

[TurnThePage]

Well, I'll leave it in place and report back. 🙂

[MEXICOWANDERER]

Is not that blurb to hype the fact that a buyer need not spend extra money on an accumulator if they do not have one? Myself, I cannot imagine removing a pulse "shock absorber" to be of any benefit.

[Home_Skillet]

The accumulator reduces the pump cycling on and off.
Leaving it in won't hurt anything.