Fresh Water pump clicking on

[simonfraser]

flowjet fresh water pump, totally quiet, at rest, when i bought the boat last year
now it switches on for a v short time every hour or so, no leaks I can see
guess it has a non return valve that is starting to seep ??

i could just replace the pump or fit an accumulator ?
seems like the better option to me

what do you all recon ?

 

[VicS]

There is either a leak you have not found or the pump valves are allowing the pressure to leak back through the pump
If the latter cleaning them may solve the problem otherwise replace them. There may be an overhaul kit available,
If the pump does not have a strainer on its inlet fit one.

An accumulator tank will smooth the flow when in use but it will result in this occasional operation being for longer at more widely space intervals

 

[Bilgediver]

Snap......Vic quicker on the keyboard


Check if you have an accumulator in the line. something like an upside down can teed into the pump discharge line. This should contain some air there should be a tyre valve connection to recharge. Recharging may reduce the amount of pumping however it should be possible to service the valves which may be leaking and allowing backflow through the pump.

 

[vyv_cox]

Yes, Vic said all I would have said.

A suction strainer is essential but often not fitted. The dip pipe in my water tank is copper that occasionally drops particles of green corrosion product. When my water pump began occasional running it was because one of these flakes of green was lodged in a suction valve in the pump. Cleaning it fixed the problem and I added a suction strainer.

 

[johnalison]

My system came without a filter and on one occasion a little dirt got into the pump and caused some back leakage. I managed to clean this out by taking the pump apart and fitted an in-line filter which was easily found. Lack of an accumulator won’t in itself cause the pump to cycle except when actually pumping.

 

[vyv_cox]

My system came without a filter and on one occasion a little dirt got into the pump and caused some back leakage. I managed to clean this out by taking the pump apart and fitted an in-line filter which was easily found. Lack of an accumulator won’t in itself cause the pump to cycle except when actually pumping.

My Sadler had no accumulator when I bought it. The pump ran constantly when a tap was opened but not otherwise. Adding an accumulator simply reduces pump running time.

 

[RupertW]

The usual reason is a leak and the usual leak is a dripping cockpit shower.

 

[QBhoy]

I’m going to take a guess that your inlet filter bulb has a hairline crack in it from freezing.

 

[Boater Sam]

PRV passing? Bet you have a leak that you have yet to find.

 

[Neeves]

As said in post 2 - 5 - dirt in the pump, could be from the tank or.......

Dismantle and clean. Its not a big nor complex task - but does take time. You may not find the errant dirt - it may be washed out when you remove or dismantle. (I'm impressed Vyv defined his issue).

Jonathan

 

[simonfraser]

tnx all
def not frozen as it had a nice shot of vodka in the pump and not leaking
however more dirt comming out of the tap, thought all if it had come out, v possible some of that is stuck in the non return valve
a much better in line filter on the way, good point tnx
and i'll clean the pump out

 

[Boater Sam]

tnx all
def not frozen as it had a nice shot of vodka in the pump and not leaking
however more dirt comming out of the tap, thought all if it had come out, v possible some of that is stuck in the non return valve
a much better in line filter on the way, good point tnx
and i'll clean the pump out

Ah, so you have dirt coming out of the tap now? Tank and pump cleaning time.

 

[simonfraser]

Odd, clean before I winterised it
Ran the yard hose 10 mins
2 outlets spotless, last one a splodge of contaminated water ??

Anyway it's getting cleaned out and new in line filter and drain plug fitted in the lowest part

 

[Clancy Moped]

If you have a calorifier check for leaks.

 

[Momac]

Could be air being drawn in.
Try fitting new O rings on the inlet and outlet from the pump

 

[simonfraser]

Rite, none of the above
its a par max 2.9 pump run without an accumulator, that’s how the boat was build
on low flow with the tap slightly open
the pressure switch rattles on off
this wears the membrane, see YouTube
no spares for the 2.9 !!!

so get a 3.0 which supposedly has a bypass to avoid the above
yep I’m fitting an accumulator too

 

[Spirit (of Glenans)]

The usual reason is a leak and the usual leak is a dripping cockpit shower.

Well observed. If it were me I would have only been thinking in terms of leaks in the plumbing, rather than dripping taps.