Forum Discussion

norrisboat's avatar
norrisboat
Explorer
May 24, 2021

Water pump not pumping water

Hi everyone,

I replaced my old water pump because it leaked for my pop up camper. After replacing the old with a new one, the new one would not pump water when I turn it on. It spits out water out of the faucet and the water heater gurgles. Sounds like the water heater is blowing bubbles. I have valves to bypass the water heater and that doesn't create a different result. I thought I might have gotten a bad water pump so I ordered another new one and replaced it with the 2nd new one. 2nd new pump had same result.

I have no water leaks anywhere in the line that I can find.

My original pump was a Shurflo 2088-422-144(12VDC 7 Amps Max) and the new one is 1088-554-144(12VDC 5 AMPS Max)

Any ideas what to do to get it to pump water? Thank you.
  • enblethen's avatar
    enblethen
    Nomad
    May 25, 2021
    Do you have a winterizing valve to suck antifreeze into system? Is it in the use position so as to draw water from fresh water tank?
  • capacitor's avatar
    capacitor
    Explorer
    May 25, 2021
    Do the bucket test, that will prove pump is fine and air leak is towards tank. Do you have pex to flex near pump?
  • wa8yxm's avatar
    wa8yxm
    Explorer III
    May 25, 2021
    norrisboat wrote:

    If I was sucking air, wouldn't water come out of the leak? If there is a leak, wouldn't it be before the water pump? Yes The hose likely drained when you replaced the pump and hence may not leak. With a vacuum leak it can't prime and sucks air.
    - -
    You would think that but a line or fitting can be water tight without being air tight.
  • CA_Traveler's avatar
    CA_Traveler
    Explorer III
    May 25, 2021
    norrisboat wrote:
    If I was sucking air, wouldn't water come out of the leak? If there is a leak, wouldn't it be before the water pump? Yes The hose likely drained when you replaced the pump and hence may not leak. With a vacuum leak it can't prime and sucks air.

    Isn't the water tank non-pressurized at all times? Not sure and just wanted to confirm. Yes


    Again connect a new hose into a bucket of water. This is to help verify it's not a pump problem. Or remove the pump and bench check it.

    You can also plug the overfill, pressurize the tank with compressed air and look for leaks but this is likely more involved.
  • norrisboat's avatar
    norrisboat
    Explorer
    May 25, 2021
    opnspaces wrote:
    Are the inlet and outlet hoses reversed?

    Plug the winterizing bypass hose that sucks antifreeze into the pump.

    Disconnect the outlet from the pump and turn the pump on to see if water comes out.


    I tried reversing the outlet and inlet. When I reverse them I get absolutely no water. If they are the correct way I get spitting water.

    If I disconnect the outlet and turn on the pump I get nothing coming out when its in the correct configuration.

    I have also reversed the wires to see if it produces a different result. No difference seen. Someone mentioned above that since its a diaphragm the wiring won't make a difference. Makes sense to me but I reversed the wires anyway with non difference in result.

    Thanks for the help.
  • norrisboat's avatar
    norrisboat
    Explorer
    May 25, 2021
    jdc1 wrote:
    Let's start with why you replaced the first pump. What was it doing? The same thing? Then you have a vacuum leak....you are sucking air somewhere like CAtraveler says.


    I replaced the pump because the original had a leak(gasket). Instead of getting a rebuild kit for it, i decided to get a new one.

    If I was sucking air, wouldn't water come out of the leak? If there is a leak, wouldn't it be before the water pump?

    Isn't the water tank non-pressurized at all times? Not sure and just wanted to confirm.
  • wa8yxm's avatar
    wa8yxm
    Explorer III
    May 25, 2021
    assuming you have water in the tank the pump may be sucking air.
    But it does take a while to clear the lines of the air in them after draining.

    Assuming you have given that time I'd check the inlet strainer on the pump. then inspect lines and and valves before the pump.
  • opnspaces's avatar
    opnspaces
    Navigator II
    May 25, 2021
    Are the inlet and outlet hoses reversed?

    Plug the winterizing bypass hose that sucks antifreeze into the pump.

    Disconnect the outlet from the pump and turn the pump on to see if water comes out.
  • Sjm9911's avatar
    Sjm9911
    Explorer
    May 25, 2021
    Yup, as they said, air is getting into the system from somewhere.

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