water pump problems

[dave17352]

Okay I just took the 5th wheel out of storage. I have filled the fresh water tank and turned on the pump. I do the usual of opening fixtures and hear some gurgling like usual. But it just keeps gurgling. I turn the pump on and off to try to get it to prime but it just won't. The I hook up the hose and make sure the hot water tank is full and run water out all the lines. I turn the pump back on and it just won't get pressure. So I remove that pump put another pump on and exact same problems. All I get is dribbles and spurts of water. Any help here would be appreciated. This is on my Forrest River 2005 Cardinal. I should add it has been in storage for 4 years.

Thanks again for any advice opinions.

[mich800]

joebedford wrote:
A water tank vent doesn't leak into the basement. My tanks vent is right beside the fill.

It could if the leak was near the top of the tank and it was over filled. In either case, a leak in the tank itself would not impact the pump. Unless the leak was at the pump. And the OP has tested the winterzation port so presumably would know if there was a leak in the very proximity of the pump.

They may need to drain the tank and do a similar test but draw from a bucket from the normal pump port. Just because it is drawing from the winterization port does not mean the primary works.

[joebedford]

A water tank vent doesn't leak into the basement. My tanks vent is right beside the fill.

[wa8yxm]

A leak at the TOP of the tank will not affect the water pump. It's supposed to have a "Leak" (Note the quotes at the top to let air in as the tank empties, it's called a vent.

[dave17352]

Interesting ideas. I have been working mon tues and wed. I will take another look Thursday. You see when I filled the fresh water tank all the way up instead of just 2/3 full, water actually leaked out of the tank area. Meaning to me something has come apart, or cracked. How I do not know because I am always very anal about winterizing. Somewhere at the top of the tank probably where the fresh water tube connects there has to be a problem.
When I find it I will update! Thanks

[wa8yxm]

dave17352 wrote:
I checked the pump by running water through the winterizing hose and it worked fine so....

If you have a winterizing hose. Do you have a valve 3-way type that you use to select it? IF so the valve is suspect (I mentioned it earlier) to test plug the winterizing hose or seal the intake by whatever means you like.. if that fixes it the valve is the problem.

[way2roll]

Check the in line screen cover. Those little clear plastic covers can crack when frozen despite having rv antifreeze in the lines. Ask me how I know.

[Old-Biscuit]

mich800 wrote:

dave17352 wrote:
Thanks for all the suggestions. It is definitely on the inlet side. I have no idea what happened but I have leak right at the top of the fresh water tank. I am thinking where the fresh water line enters the tank. I had two thirds of the tank filled and no water leak. When I filled it to the brim a little water leaked out. I checked the pump by running water through the winterizing hose and it worked fine so.... I replaced the pump for no reason. 😞 Works fine with city water inlet though.

So does it work now?

A leak there should not cause the problems you are experiencing. The tank does not need to be pressurized. You are drawing air somewhere in front of the pump or the pump itself.

Exactly^^^^^
Tank has a vent so a small crack/hole on top of tank would NOT affect pump being able to suck water from tank.

Air leak on suction line between tank and pump, strainer gasket, winterizing set up etc allowing air into pump ---hence no priming/pumping

[mich800]

dave17352 wrote:
Thanks for all the suggestions. It is definitely on the inlet side. I have no idea what happened but I have leak right at the top of the fresh water tank. I am thinking where the fresh water line enters the tank. I had two thirds of the tank filled and no water leak. When I filled it to the brim a little water leaked out. I checked the pump by running water through the winterizing hose and it worked fine so.... I replaced the pump for no reason. 😞 Works fine with city water inlet though.

So does it work now?

A leak there should not cause the problems you are experiencing. The tank does not need to be pressurized. You are drawing air somewhere in front of the pump or the pump itself.

[Veebyes]

So now you need a product to fix the leak. Should not be difficult once you determine what will bond to area of the leak.

[Dave_H_M]

I checked the pump by running water through the winterizing hose and it worked fine so...

:h so then did you switch the winterizing valve to suck the water out of the tank?

[dave17352]

Thanks for all the suggestions. It is definitely on the inlet side. I have no idea what happened but I have leak right at the top of the fresh water tank. I am thinking where the fresh water line enters the tank. I had two thirds of the tank filled and no water leak. When I filled it to the brim a little water leaked out. I checked the pump by running water through the winterizing hose and it worked fine so.... I replaced the pump for no reason. 😞 Works fine with city water inlet though.

[chainegang]

On some setups, and this problem sounds like one of them, the exit point of the tank that leads to the intake of the water pump, sometimes have a pre filter the shape of a nipple that is part of the exit plumbing. This nipple is a screen material probably stainless steel to eliminate corrosion. Over time the inside of the water tank develops a skin like material that is not harmful, but clings to the wall of the tank. Constant filling and draining can can shake loose some particles of material as the water level drops and float to the discharge point of the tank plugglng the screen on the inside of the fitting. Removing the fitting at that location will reveal I think, the culprit of your issue. It will come out as one piece and is easily cleaned.

[wa8yxm]

If it keeps gurgling that means it is sucking air.. Now fact it will gurgle for a long time when you first charge the lines but ... .... if it's sucking air it will gurgle forever.

now why would it suck air
The most likely cause is the inlet strainer on the pump. but you'd have checked that when you replaced the pump Still check to insure it is properly sealed and not cracked.

Then inspect the suction line ONE option.. on my RV the fresh tank drain valve is "T" connected to the suction line. did you remember to close it

As others have said some rigs have a 3-way valve called a "Winterizing" valve that changes the suction line to a hose that can suck pink stuff out of a bottle.. If you have such a valve is it properly set.

Next is a pin hole in the suction hose or a mouse hole.

Finally and this one is rare.. My tank has an outlet strainer as well as the inlet strainer on the pump.. it can get "Slimed up" (in theory, never seen it happen) or otherwise clogged (Again never seen it happen).

[bob_nestor]

On some RVs if the water is set to "city water" and you turn on the pump it will just pump water from the fresh water tank back into the fresh water tank making gurgling sounds and not sending anything to the faucets. Discovered this helping a friend de-winterize his Class A Dutch Star.