Forum Discussion

saguaro's avatar
saguaro
Explorer
May 29, 2018

Water Pump Mystery

First night out on first camping trip of the season as I was setting up camp I turned on the water pump. As usual it responded with a quick burst of pulses until proper pressure was reached. But then I noticed it continued with one quick pulse every 8 to 10 seconds. I was sure there must be a leak someplace in the water lines but at no time during the ensuing two week trip could I find any evidence of a rupture. My camper is a slide in truck camper and it spends the Colorado winters on my driveway. For many years I have always winterized it by merely blowing out the lines with an air compressor and up until now the water pump has always come out apparently unscathed. But at this point I am wondering what else could be the source of this problem but ice damage. This particular pump, by the way, is only 4 years old and hasn't been used that much. Would appreciate any and all opinions. Thanking you ahead of time.
  • RJsfishin's avatar
    RJsfishin
    Explorer
    May 30, 2018
    Its been posted this happening many times, and every time there must be a leak, but there never is. I have had the same several times, but every time the problem went away by itself. Yes, its a tiny little pc a grit in a check valve, but ride it out, most likely it will fix itself.
    And if its a run of the mill shure-flo, checking for loose screws is good advice. But my symptom of loose screws has always been the pump getting very noisy..... rattling sound.
  • DutchmenSport's avatar
    DutchmenSport
    Explorer
    May 30, 2018
    I had a similar problem, but mine did not pulsate on near that often. Still very annoying. I replaced the pump. But after I got the old one out, I discovered 2 screws holding the pump mechanism to the motor had come loose and were missing. I found one on the floor near the pump, the other must have bounced out where the pipes come through the floor. And the other 2 screws were loose.

    I replaced since I bought a new one anyway, and keeping the old one for a spare now. Hopefully will never need to use it. Still, simple check. Make sure all the screws on the actual pump are tight. It could just be sucking air because of a loose screw.
  • garyemunson's avatar
    garyemunson
    Explorer II
    May 30, 2018
    X2 on the valve in the pump. Several times in the past I've had to disassemble one to stop the problem. Got them apart, looked at the valve, washed it out, saw nothing, reassembled and they worked fine. Whatever gets stuck in them is usually too small to see.
  • KD4UPL's avatar
    KD4UPL
    Explorer
    May 30, 2018
    The pump can leak backward thru the check valve and back into the non-pressurized tank. Mine did that. I replaced the check valve and no more problems.
  • BFL13's avatar
    BFL13
    Explorer II
    May 29, 2018
    Hot water tank relief valve? HW tank drain valve (with anode if Suburban) FW tank drain valve? Toilet flusher not closing all the way?
  • Boon_Docker's avatar
    Boon_Docker
    Explorer III
    May 29, 2018
    Could be a small piece of debris stuck in the check valve of the pump.
    Turn pump on (pressurize) then turn pump off, then open a faucet (de-pressurize) then turn pump on with faucet still open. Sometimes that will dislodge the debris.

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