Water Pump Was Left On

[joeshmoe]

Apparently, my wife bumped the switch and never noticed it. She was cleaning and tidying up with the A/C on and didn't hear the pump. Later, I went inside, saw the switch light on. Reached under the step and placed my hand on it. HOT! Real hot. Must have been running for a good 2 or 3 hours non-stop. I shut it off and and let it cool. Put some water in the tank turned and it on. Seems ok, except it seems to cycle a lot more often now. So, how much life was taken off of it? Should I go buy another to keep on hand just to be safe? It's almost brand new. Not much use at all.

Seems like a good reason to not completely drain the FW tank again

[wnjj]

I went out to my shop one day to find the pump running. I had no idea how long but it had been weeks since I parked it. The tank was low, but not out and when enough water dripped from the faucet or evaporated it started up.

That was a few years ago and it still works but loses prime every time the camper is moved. I have to manually prime it using the winterizing valve. It could be just a coincidence.

[Old-Biscuit]

My GF has a very acute nose......if she smells anything I have to find it/fix it otherwise I don't get any sleep.

Good side.......no odors in 5vr batteries are not boiling, propane doesn't leak, all vents work, all water barriers work, all seals work)
Bad side.......she has a nose like a blood hound

[joeshmoe]

:B

[RZAR66]

I blame it on the black tank too.

[joeshmoe]

The next time she wakes up from a dead sleep and says "what was that noise", I can tell her that it was just the hydrostatics within the camper working. Although she still swears that she smells gas. I tell her it's just the black tank odor. Go back to sleep. :Z :W

[RZAR66]

My wife did the exact same thing. Water pump ran all day on an empty tank. This was 4 months ago and the pump still works as new.

[ScottG]

There are no impellers. The pump is a hydrostatic design - think of making arm-pit noises ;).
That's why it doesn't hurt it to run dry. There's nothing rubbing inside.

[sabconsulting]

If it runs dry could it wear the impellers so the system loses pressure back through the pump causing the pump to cycle occasionally?

Just a thought.

Steve.

[Old-Biscuit]

They are designed to run dry.....doesn't need water to act as coolant. Diaphragms only move about 1/8" total.

Didn't get hot enough (motor) to trip.

Cycling more probably due to not getting all the air out of lines.......opening all faucets/showers (hot/cold sides).....toilet etc and purging lines of air.

It'll be OK

[ScottG]

Mine ran dry for more than two days - that was 5 or 6 years ago and it still works great to this day.
They are designed to run dry. I wouldn't worry about it.