Whatsa Quiet Water Pump?

[TeryT]

(I searched around, but didn't see any specific topics on quiet water pumps on RV.net.) While out on a 18 day journey through Colorado, my wife said she'd finally had enough of the old original water pump. It sits right under the bed and I'm amazed it only took her 13 years to come to this point!

I'm looking at the Flojet Quiet Quad, which is a decently review one on Amazon. It sells for about $78, but at CampingWorld they have the Flojet Quiet Quad 2, which seems to have better specs for about the same price (both free delivery).

I have no idea what came original in this Rockwood, but she's right - it is annoying! 😞 (why we waited 13 years . . . I dunno!)

Any ideas about this Flojet pump or other ideas?

Thanks!

[ScottG]

TeryT wrote:

Trackrig wrote:
An accumulator tank will help with the noise by preventing the pump from kicking on as often. I installed a large one in the the same compartment as the water pump in the DP, very little plumbing to mess with that way. I'm having problems with where to install a large one in the 26' TT, may have to go to one of the small ones.

Bill

Many of the pumps I've looked at say NOT to use an accumulator. And the space is really tight, so not sure where I would even put one . . . but you're saying it will help with cut-on frequency, not with noise, right?

You do not want to use an accumulator with a bypass of variable speed pump. It will circumvent the way the pump is designed to work and it will actually run more. An accumulator tank is great for the standard, single speed, non-bypass pump though, like the shurflow 3 GPM pumps so many RV's come with.

[SoundGuy]

TeryT wrote:
About 10 years ago I put the pump on rubber mounts and wrapped it and the plumbing from it in dense foam. That cut the noise maybe just 20% or so.

2oldman wrote:
As mentioned, the problem is usually not the pump itself, but the outlet hose vibrating and banging the pipe it's connected to on something.

Took me years to figure out a solution that actually works so well at dampening pump noise that I had to add a light so I'd know when the pump is running. 2 pics and a video as proof of performance start here. Anything else I had tried previously on a variety of trailers weren't anywhere near as successful as this. :B To the OP - you likely don't need a new pump but rather a proper pump installation. 😉

[2oldman]

TeryT wrote:
About 10 years ago I put the pump on rubber mounts and wrapped it and the plumbing from it in dense foam. That cut the noise maybe just 20% or so.

As mentioned, the problem is usually not the pump itself, but the outlet hose vibrating and banging the pipe it's connected to on something.

[Dutch_12078]

The water pump in our Landau was originally installed next to the bed in a cabinet, and was very disturbing when sleeping. After tracing out the related plumbing from the under bed fresh tank, I was able to relocate the pump down into the wet bay where all the valves and hookups are. I mounted the pump on a vibration damping folded foam rubber mouse pad, and connected it with flexible hose instead of rigid piping. Now we can only hear a slight hum when the pump runs if everything else is quiet. We also have a 2-gallon accumulator tank to minimize pump starts/stops.

[HadEnough]

Adding the accumulator tank is the best way to keep the pump from even running.. absolute silence. Added bonus? It can make the pump last 10x longer before a replacement is needed.

[RoyB]

I placed a piece of carpet under my water pump feet mounting. Did wonders for dampening the vibration sound. I also had one line banging on the side the hot water tank which is in the same area. I re-positioned that to be away from the housing which helped also...

Not much you can do about the noise the motor makes but at least you can dampening the vibration made sounds...

Roy Ken

[TeryT]

Trackrig wrote:
An accumulator tank will help with the noise by preventing the pump from kicking on as often. I installed a large one in the the same compartment as the water pump in the DP, very little plumbing to mess with that way. I'm having problems with where to install a large one in the 26' TT, may have to go to one of the small ones.

Bill

Many of the pumps I've looked at say NOT to use an accumulator. And the space is really tight, so not sure where I would even put one . . . but you're saying it will help with cut-on frequency, not with noise, right?

[TeryT]

ScottG wrote:
Some of the newer bypass pumps aren't too bad.
Most of the noise comes from the plumbing vibrating against walls and what not.
If you can isolate the water lines where ever they touch anything (pipe insulation works great) you can reduce noise dramatically.
There are also "Quiet Kits" that add more flexible lines to the input and output and allow the pump to vibrate without transferring that to the harder pipes and anything they touch.
Some even put foam or rubber pads under the pump.

Thanks. About 10 years ago I put the pump on rubber mounts and wrapped it and the plumbing from it in dense foam. That cut the noise maybe just 20% or so. Needless to say I was disappointed in my effort . . .

[Trackrig]

An accumulator tank will help with the noise by preventing the pump from kicking on as often. I installed a large one in the the same compartment as the water pump in the DP, very little plumbing to mess with that way. I'm having problems with where to install a large one in the 26' TT, may have to go to one of the small ones.

Bill

[Almot]

There are many ways to quieten the pump, depends on what is causing it. Often it is the plywood surface it is sitting on. Try putting 2" thick piece of closed-cell foam under the pump. Length and diameter of intake hose matters - the shorter and wider, the better.

My Flojet 03526 wasn't quiet. Shurflo Revolution 4008 was better.

They all make noise. Only once I saw a quiet one: 12V Inline Centrifugal Pump. Could barely hear a sound in the video. The guy tried it in the US market, went to Dragons, - big mistake :). I used to watch this show sometimes, then lost interest. Episodes are heavily edited, questions and answers are cut and mismatched to make it more exciting. Main question they always ask - How much have you made in sales already. If the number isn't big enough they are not interested. Boring.

[ktmrfs]

ScottG wrote:
Some of the newer bypass pumps aren't too bad.
Most of the noise comes from the plumbing vibrating against walls and what not.
If you can isolate the water lines where ever they touch anything (pipe insulation works great) you can reduce noise dramatically.
There are also "Quiet Kits" that add more flexible lines to the input and output and allow the pump to vibrate without transferring that to the harder pipes and anything they touch.
Some even put foam or rubber pads under the pump.

x2. find the quitest pump you can, and do the above to further reduce noise. Most pumps now list a db level. FWIW a mid level pump isolated well can easily be quiter than a very quite pump mounted to a board with hard connection lines running against hard material.

[ScottG]

Some of the newer bypass pumps aren't too bad.
Most of the noise comes from the plumbing vibrating against walls and what not.
If you can isolate the water lines where ever they touch anything (pipe insulation works great) you can reduce noise dramatically.
There are also "Quiet Kits" that add more flexible lines to the input and output and allow the pump to vibrate without transferring that to the harder pipes and anything they touch.
Some even put foam or rubber pads under the pump.