water pump question - update problem solved

[bobm253]

I have a 2008 motorhome with a surflo water pump. I just replaced my bathroom sink with a new one from Lowes. When I turned it on I was surprised at how nice and steady of a stream I got from both the cold and hot sides. The water pump was running very quiet and steady with no pulsations.

However, the kitchen faucet, which I had replaced a couple of months earlier, has a decent stream but the water pump seems to pulsate and chatter. The faucet aerator is clean and does the same thing with the aerator removed. The shower has the same pulsation.

So I'm wondering why the water pump acts differently in the kitchen and shower vs the bathroom sink.

[Need-A-Vacation]

bobm253 wrote:
Problem solved. When I took off the kitchen faucet aerator again, I noticed that it had a soft red covering. Took that mesh type screen off and reinstalled the aerator. The water now flows as smooth as silk with no pulsations, just like the bathroom faucet.

Thanks again guys for all the help and suggestions.

TY for posting back what you found. Missed the thread earlier, but I probably would have overlooked the screen as you did.

[bobm253]

Problem solved. When I took off the kitchen faucet aerator again, I noticed that it had a soft red covering. Took that mesh type screen off and reinstalled the aerator. The water now flows as smooth as silk with no pulsations, just like the bathroom faucet.

Thanks again guys for all the help and suggestions.

[Old-Biscuit]

bobm253 wrote:
ok - thanks for all the help and suggestions.

Post back if/how you get better flow......

[bobm253]

ok - thanks for all the help and suggestions.

[Timtation]

The restrictor is usually a plastic disc with a small, 1/8". hole in the center. It is at the top of the aerator/screen at the discharge, the removable discharge of the faucet.

[hohenwald48]

Sometimes they are in the aerator. Just remove the aerator and see what happens. If that makes it better then do whatever is necessary to fix. That's where I'd start before crawling under the cabinet.

[Old-Biscuit]

bobm253 wrote:

Old-Biscuit wrote:
Bathroom faucet is flowing as much water as pump can supply........therefore pump is running full out w/o being able to reach pressure switch set point to shut off

Kitchen faucet and shower.......
Pump is able to reach shut off set point....momentarily
Shuts off/turns on----quick cycling (pulsating) due to resistors at kitchen faucet and shower (resistors are typically in cold/hot lines/connections on kitchen faucet and in hose at shower---some can be removed/others can be enlarged using a drill bit)

Would I have to take apart the faucet to get to the restrictor? Where are they commonly found?

Kitchen faucet.......resistors would most likely be in the ends of cold/hot lines. Disconnect at supply fittings----look in ends that are part of faucet assembly

[bobm253]

Old-Biscuit wrote:
Bathroom faucet is flowing as much water as pump can supply........therefore pump is running full out w/o being able to reach pressure switch set point to shut off

Kitchen faucet and shower.......
Pump is able to reach shut off set point....momentarily
Shuts off/turns on----quick cycling (pulsating) due to resistors at kitchen faucet and shower (resistors are typically in cold/hot lines/connections on kitchen faucet and in hose at shower---some can be removed/others can be enlarged using a drill bit)

Would I have to take apart the faucet to get to the restrictor? Where are they commonly found?

[pchartrand]

I would think you could also add an accumulator tank to help with the pulsing.

[3oaks]

hohenwald48 wrote:
Some faucets have flow restrictors. That may cause water pressure to build up on some faucets but not others. Yu may be able to remove the restrictor. On some faucets it can't be removed.

X2

And Old-Biscuit explains it in more detail.

[Old-Biscuit]

Bathroom faucet is flowing as much water as pump can supply........therefore pump is running full out w/o being able to reach pressure switch set point to shut off

Kitchen faucet and shower.......
Pump is able to reach shut off set point....momentarily
Shuts off/turns on----quick cycling (pulsating) due to resistors at kitchen faucet and shower (resistors are typically in cold/hot lines/connections on kitchen faucet and in hose at shower---some can be removed/others can be enlarged using a drill bit)

[opnspaces]

I wonder if it's the opposite. Maybe the new faucet has a flow restrictor and the older ones don't?

[hohenwald48]

Some faucets have flow restrictors. That may cause water pressure to build up on some faucets but not others. Yu may be able to remove the restrictor. On some faucets it can't be removed.