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Old 03-17-2019, 07:00 PM   #1
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Where goes the water?

Wife and I recently spent a couple of nights in the trailer. Getting ready for a big trip. So testing everything and getting in the spirit in the drive way.


We were using both the city water hook up and then the tank water. As usual you can hear the water pump running. Way too loud. (going to isolate the pump with rubber washers or something) But back to the question.


In the middle of the night the pump ran briefly a couple of times when no one was using the water. Is this normal? If so, why?


No leaking faucets. I opened up all the panels I could and checked from pump to kitchen to outside kitchen and under bathroom sink. Can not get under tub easily.


Anyone, any ideas?



Thanks
Bill
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Old 03-17-2019, 10:59 PM   #2
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The ONLY time you want the pump to cycle on is when you are flowing water.
If it cycles on in the middle of the night then the pressure is leaking down due to water leaking, somewhere.
Oh yeah, check the pump itself for a leak.
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Old 03-17-2019, 11:02 PM   #3
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A couple of possibilities; check your low point drains and the drain down valve on the fresh water tank. I have had all of those leak at some point or another causing the pump to come on. Also, check the pump fittings and valves closely for cracks that could be pulling in air.

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Old 03-18-2019, 03:56 AM   #4
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Originally Posted by sundancer 87 View Post
The ONLY time you want the pump to cycle on is when you are flowing water.
If it cycles on in the middle of the night then the pressure is leaking down due to water leaking, somewhere.
Oh yeah, check the pump itself for a leak.

Yeah I figured that. Was hoping for a different answer.......haha


Checked everything I can see from pump on.


Thanks
Bill
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Old 03-18-2019, 03:58 AM   #5
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Originally Posted by wahoonc View Post
A couple of possibilities; check your low point drains and the drain down valve on the fresh water tank. I have had all of those leak at some point or another causing the pump to come on. Also, check the pump fittings and valves closely for cracks that could be pulling in air.

Aaron

I have checked the low point drains. And fresh water tank drain. No issues. I will take a closer look at the pump. I need to noise proof it anyway.


Thanks
Bill
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Old 03-18-2019, 01:05 PM   #6
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[QUOTE=ArmyVeteran;66758]I have checked the low point drains. And fresh water tank drain. No issues. I will take a closer look at the pump. I need to noise proof it anyway.


noise may also come from the pipes against a wall ot floor ...I had bad noise in bathroom from that ...foam pipe insulation from the hardware store around the pipes does a good job
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Old 03-18-2019, 01:31 PM   #7
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Quiet is nice, often preferred in many walks of life.


However, a super quiet demand water pump in one's RV won't notify one of a water leak and future damage.
Making it less noisy is fine but I still want some indication that I may have a small leak in the system.
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Old 03-18-2019, 02:23 PM   #8
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Is it possible that the pump is not holding the pressure once it pumps up. It may be leaking back into the supply if you can't find leaks elsewhere.

I was thinking that the vibration in mine was kinda loud and it sounded like the pipes were shaking all over the place. This guy has a DUH moment... why didn't I think of that myself.

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Old 03-18-2019, 02:36 PM   #9
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alot can be said for putting this accumulator in the system and isolating the pump from the coach making the pump operation MUCH quieter.

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Old 03-18-2019, 04:29 PM   #10
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[QUOTE=Mongo;66760]
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Originally Posted by ArmyVeteran View Post
I have checked the low point drains. And fresh water tank drain. No issues. I will take a closer look at the pump. I need to noise proof it anyway.


noise may also come from the pipes against a wall ot floor ...I had bad noise in bathroom from that ...foam pipe insulation from the hardware store around the pipes does a good job

Thanks, I will double check that.
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Old 03-18-2019, 04:30 PM   #11
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Originally Posted by sundancer 87 View Post
Quiet is nice, often preferred in many walks of life.


However, a super quiet demand water pump in one's RV won't notify one of a water leak and future damage.
Making it less noisy is fine but I still want some indication that I may have a small leak in the system.

I hear you. I doubt that I will be successful in removing all the noise. That is just not my luck.....haahaaa
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Old 03-18-2019, 04:38 PM   #12
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I hauled water for my house in Mexico for 20 years and used all flavors of demand pumps for the system.


If I heard the pump cycle anytime when water wasn't supposed to be flowing I went on the search for a drip.


Hauling water in 110 degree temperatures isn't a feel good thing, farms that weren't growing weren't irrigating fields so a search was needed for water. From time to time the government would shut down all ag pumps to allow the water table to rise for measurements. All these little things meant that a drop of water was precious so I didn't mind hearing the pump run when it was supposed to run.
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Old 03-18-2019, 04:49 PM   #13
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Originally Posted by franktafl View Post
Is it possible that the pump is not holding the pressure once it pumps up. It may be leaking back into the supply if you can't find leaks elsewhere.




I think you may have something there. I still have under the tub to check. I will need my remote on a snake camera for that


After that I have checked everywhere possible. Question is how do I verify its the pump leaking back to the supply......hmmmmm???
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Old 03-18-2019, 04:50 PM   #14
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Check water heater drain plug?
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Old 03-18-2019, 10:00 PM   #15
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Is it possible that the pump is not holding the pressure once it pumps up. It may be leaking back into the supply if you can't find leaks elsewhere.
This gets my vote, especially if it's only coming on a few time a day. It's common for the stock pumps to have leaky seals.
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Old 03-18-2019, 10:10 PM   #16
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Check water heater drain plug?



Yes, I did. Thanks.
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Old 03-18-2019, 11:09 PM   #17
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Originally Posted by ArmyVeteran View Post
In the middle of the night the pump ran briefly a couple of times when no one was using the water. Is this normal? If so, why?


No leaking faucets. I opened up all the panels I could and checked from pump to kitchen to outside kitchen and under bathroom sink. Can not get under tub easily.


Anyone, any ideas?



Thanks
Bill
My pump does that on rare occasions. Just a couple of chugs when nothing is drawing water and that's all. I would be more worried if it repeated at intervals.
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Old 03-19-2019, 03:59 AM   #18
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My pump does that on rare occasions. Just a couple of chugs when nothing is drawing water and that's all. I would be more worried if it repeated at intervals.

Well, I like that idea the best.


But I have nothing better to do, so I will continue with due diligence until I fix something by accident haha or give up.
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Old 03-19-2019, 11:22 AM   #19
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Well, I like that idea the best.


But I have nothing better to do, so I will continue with due diligence until I fix something by accident haha or give up.
Might just as well put the quiet stuff on the pump while you're down there.
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Old 03-19-2019, 04:42 PM   #20
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Might just as well put the quiet stuff on the pump while you're down there.

Roger that!
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