Waterpump running constantly when tank empty

[petem]

I've observed (having spent a night wondering what a noise was) that my (Shurflo) water pump runs constantly when the water tank is empty. Presumably because it can't generate enough pressure to activate the pressure switch. Is this normal?

 

[julians]

Yep its normal, turn the pump off at the switch when youge run out of water

 

[jcwads]

Yep concur, it is the same on my boat.

 

[bigwow]

Easy fix, fill the tank:encouragement:

 

[petem]

Thanks all.

 

[sogood]

I just sorted the same thing with my pump. The water was sputtering and the pump stayed running and it was down to low water in the tank. I switched off at the power switch to the pump and after filling up, all is good. I don't think it can be any harm to have your pump low down and not too high above the tank outlet. Or maybe a loop in the water feed to the pump to keep some water in the feed and so also at the pressure switch.

 

[markc]

I assumed everyone uses the sound of the water pump constantly running to tell them to fill up the tank.

 

[petem]

I assumed everyone uses the sound of the water pump constantly running to tell them to fill up the tank.

I shall add it to my mental inventory of boat noises....

A/C cooling (with stream of water)
A/C not cooling (no stream of water)
TV inverter fan
Shower sump pump
Galley fridge
Cockpit fridge
Domestic water pump (pumping water)
Forward bilge (fortunately not heard that one in the night yet)
Aft bilge (ditto)
Wife's fan
Eberspacher
Plus of course the noises from neighbouring boats! ....
Etc

 

[BruceK]

Your boat would seriously upset my OCD. All I have to contend with is one 11 y/o boy on the broadband playing Fortnight. I can suffer an hour of that before I resort to the "magic" remote

 

[petem]

To be honest, I've become quite adept at knowing which breakers to switch off overnight but as above even I get caught out by a new 'noise'. Must be 10 times worse for JFM and you other guys with properly big boats.

 

[petem]

I forgot the odd 'ticking' noise that the autohelm makes in standby mode. Never really understood that one!

 

[benjenbav]

What about the dripping noise from your shaft seals when you're trying to sleep in a mid-cabin? Soothing, you could call it. Or mildly irritating.

 

[petem]

What about the dripping noise from your shaft seals when you're trying to sleep in a mid-cabin? Soothing, you could call it. Or mildly irritating.

Ah, that's the advantage of Outdrives!

But I'm lead to believe that in SCM you can hear the muscles chomping away at the weed on the bottom of your boat! Not had that one yet.

 

[jfm]

Yup, agree with others re water pump. I've often thought of but not got round to a cut out that disconnects the water pump after 20 mins continuously running. Anyone know of such a black box? Probably eBayable

Main noise for me on dead still night is mullet sucking at the hull. But with a larger boat/more cabins, pumps, condensate sumps etc, there is something buzzing every ten mins on a "quiet" night.

 

[bigwow]

Yup, agree with others re water pump. I've often thought of but not got round to a cut out that disconnects the water pump after 20 mins continuously running. Anyone know of such a black box? Probably eBayable

Main noise for me on dead still night is mullet sucking at the hull. But with a larger boat/more cabins, pumps, condensate sumps etc, there is something buzzing every ten mins on a "quiet" night.

The ice maker makes quite a noise as the cubes drop into the tray:encouragement:

 

[petem]

The ice maker makes quite a noise as the cubes drop into the tray:encouragement:

#firstworldproblem

 

[petem]

Yup, agree with others re water pump. I've often thought of but not got round to a cut out that disconnects the water pump after 20 mins continuously running. Anyone know of such a black box? Probably eBayable

Main noise for me on dead still night is mullet sucking at the hull. But with a larger boat/more cabins, pumps, condensate sumps etc, there is something buzzing every ten mins on a "quiet" night.

Far better to have the A/C drain the condensate in the bilges !

Incidentally, I think Vripack are big on designing 'silent' boats (according to FL). Not sure if they manage it or whether this is marketing BS.

 

[kashurst]

"Far better to have the A/C drain the condensate in the bilges"

I only have one air con compressor and the condensation drain goes into the engine bay bilge.
At first I thought this was a bit naff and considered getting a pump out box. But........

as Petem spotted no box = no funny noise in the night. No more cursing the name Attwood at 3-00am when the float switch sticks!

also I have old fashioned (simple) stuffing boxes/glands that I let drip when the boat is in regular use so I tend to manually run the engine bay bilge pump each time I start the engines so I know if I am getting any unexpected water. Even with the air con on 24 hours the amount of water barely registers in the bilge. Or am I being a terrible lazy boater again?

 

[stelican]

You would bloody think so.
I despair!

 

[AndieMac]

To be honest, I've become quite adept at knowing which breakers to switch off overnight but as above even I get caught out by a new 'noise'.

It's the only upside of getting older and subsequent hearing loss, you do sleep a lot better on the boat when you can't hear the random noises