I’ve done something silly with the fresh water pressure system… help!

[14K478]

I think my mistake was to turn the pressure pump on without realising that the fresh water tank was empty, and then step away for a few minutes. I came back to find the pump running continuously but no water at the taps.

Filled the fresh water tank - same thing; pump running nonstop but no water at the tap.

Have consulted Nigel Calder’s master work but can’t find the right bit…

… am stuck!

help please?

 

[nortada]

I think my mistake was to turn the pressure pump on without realising that the fresh water tank was empty, and then step away for a few minutes. I came back to find the pump running continuously but no water at the taps.

Filled the fresh water tank - same thing; pump running nonstop but no water at the tap.

Have consulted Nigel Calder’s master work but can’t find the right bit…

… am stuck!

help please?

I assume you have filled the tank - air lock. Any stop Cocks (bottom of tank) in the systemDoes the pressure pump need priming

 

[14K478]

I assume you have filled the tank - air lock.

Yes I have. Hand pump is fine. What do I do?

 

[bob the ancient mariner]

I think my mistake was to turn the pressure pump on without realising that the fresh water tank was empty, and then step away for a few minutes. I came back to find the pump running continuously but no water at the taps.

Filled the fresh water tank - same thing; pump running nonstop but no water at the tap.

Have consulted Nigel Calder’s master work but can’t find the right bit…

… am stuck!

help please?

Sounds to me that your pump is not self priming.Annually I completely drain my water .tank to clean and change the inline filer etc, then refill, turn on the pump switch, run both the galley and toilet compartment taps and after a few splutters the water runs through again. What make of pump is it ?

 

[Plum]

I think my mistake was to turn the pressure pump on without realising that the fresh water tank was empty, and then step away for a few minutes. I came back to find the pump running continuously but no water at the taps.

Filled the fresh water tank - same thing; pump running nonstop but no water at the tap.

Have consulted Nigel Calder’s master work but can’t find the right bit…

… am stuck!

help please?

This often happens to me after refilling after emptying the tank for the winter. No harm done. You just need to encourage the pump to get some water flowing as right now it is pumping air so not as efficient. I usually just remove the outlet hose from the pump and put a container under. Also remove your tank filler cap. Switch on pump until water comes out then off and refit hose. Works for me.

 

[Irish Rover]

This often happens to me after refilling after emptying the tank for the winter. No harm done. You just need to encourage the pump to get some water flowing as right now it is pumping air so not as efficient. I usually just remove the outlet hose from the pump and put a container under. Also remove your tank filler cap. Switch on pump until water comes out then off and refit hose. Works for me.

Ditto

 

[ashtead]

Is there a filter after the pump which is blocked? The usual jabsco type pump serving sinks and showers should self prime I think so is there a problem with pump insides eg impeller etc. can you take the pump out and try to pump water from a bucket maybe?

 

[Sandy]

What type of pump do you have?

 

[14K478]

What type of pump do you have?

Jabsco



Installed by the usual team of highly trained double jointed gibbons.

 

[westernman]

Jabsco



Installed by the usual highly trained gibbons

Looks rather like the installation on my boat.
Except my pump is something else.

 

[NormanS]

With a little ingenuity you can use a dinghy pump on the breather for the water tank to induce a positive pressure, which will encourage water to pass into the pump.

 

[14K478]

current plan is to overfill the tank until water comes out of the breather… which should mean a slight head on the pump.

 

[14K478]

well, that didn’t work…

 

[Boater Sam]

Surely that's not the pump, it says accumulator tank

 

[VicS]

Jabsco



Installed by the usual team of highly trained double jointed gibbons.

That's a nice picture of the accumulator tank but Sandy asked what pump do you have ? . . . Does it have an inlet strainer to protect it from any debris in the bottom of the tank?

Hopefully there is a strainer. If so check/ clean it.

If there is no strainer you have probably got some muck in the little valves in the pump. Look at the parts breakdown diagram on JabscoShop website ( assuming it is a Jabsco pump) and clean the valve assembly.

.

 

[14K478]

Yes, it’s the accumulator tank but the pump is boxed in below the shelf in the cupboard below the galley sink. The shelf is built in and requires dismantling to get to the tank (see “highly trained gibbons”) so that’s tomorrow’s job…

 

[14K478]

I’m guessing that the pump and the accumulator came from the same people.

 

[stuartwineberg]

I disconnect the outlet side and suck until water comes through

 

[jwfrary]

Block the breather, then blow down the filler while the pump is running.

If that don't work check there's water at the pump by pulling the hose (easy on a jabsco, theres a tab you pull up and then the spigot comes out)

Otherwise your pump could well need a clean/service or depending on how arsed you can be then replacement of said pump!

 

[KompetentKrew]

I get this quite often if I run the tank dry enough or when changing over tanks. I used to dismantle the system, checking water at various places and it was so annoying and frustrating for it only to start working again.

On one occasion, in my annoyance, I just switched the pump off and ignored it for some time and now I find that that works reliably - leave it for an hour or two, turn the fresh water pump back on and now the system pressurises reliably.

I mentioned this to a friend when he was having the same trouble with his tanks - I think he was perhaps sceptical, but I stayed for an hour chatting, he tried the tap when I left and it started working.