I recently purchased a nearly 3 year old Beneteau 311, and followed Peggie's six step re-commissioning of the fresh water system just to play it safe. I got to step 5 and everything went smoothly until the tank was nearly empty and the pump did not make the usual "rat-a-tat-tat" noise - it just "whirred" but continued to pump water, and when the taps sputtered, I closed the taps but the pump continued to "whir". I had to shut off the pump at the panel in order to stop it. I then went on to step six and added a solution of five gallons of water and one quart of white vinegar and went sailing to agitate. Now, when I turn on the fresh water pump at the panel, it just "whirs" and nothing comes out of the taps. Do you think that I've fried the pump, or are there other possibilities, like an obstruction in the line from tank to pump? (I didn't have any problems like this after step 5) Any ideas? Also, will it harm my tank or water system to leave the vinegar/water solution in the tank until I can find and install a new pump (if that proves to be the culprit)?
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Vic Willman
Fresh Water PUmp
What brand/type of pump is it? Does it have a rubber impeller, diaphragm or what?
What brand/type of pump is it? Does it have a rubber impeller, diaphragm or what?
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Jim Logan
The pump might have lost prime
I've had that problem with an older system in which emptying the tank caused the pump to lose its ability to pump. I had to fill up the hose from pump to tank with water from an external source, put the hose back on the pump without losing the water to make it work. It was caused, I think by a buildup of deposits on the intake pipe from the tank - I backflushed the system with water pressure, put on a self-priming pump, and that fixed the problem - I don't know if your Beneteau has that problem, but you might look - if the pump is not lower than the bottom of the intake tube in the tank, it might need to be primed to work again.
I've had that problem with an older system in which emptying the tank caused the pump to lose its ability to pump. I had to fill up the hose from pump to tank with water from an external source, put the hose back on the pump without losing the water to make it work. It was caused, I think by a buildup of deposits on the intake pipe from the tank - I backflushed the system with water pressure, put on a self-priming pump, and that fixed the problem - I don't know if your Beneteau has that problem, but you might look - if the pump is not lower than the bottom of the intake tube in the tank, it might need to be primed to work again.
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Dave
Almost certainly lost prime
Every spring I go through the same thing. With my fresh water pump, if you run all the water out of the tanks, it will lose its prime. Given where all the hoses run, the easiest way for me to re-establish it is to disconnect the hose on the discharge side of the pump, make sure there is water in the supply tank, and turn on the pump. After a bit, the pump will prime. It will shoot water out which finds its way to the bilge, so you want to be watching and turn off the pump when the water starts coming out well. After that, reconnect the hose, turn the pump back on and open a faucet. It will spit a bit but then give you good flow.
Every spring I go through the same thing. With my fresh water pump, if you run all the water out of the tanks, it will lose its prime. Given where all the hoses run, the easiest way for me to re-establish it is to disconnect the hose on the discharge side of the pump, make sure there is water in the supply tank, and turn on the pump. After a bit, the pump will prime. It will shoot water out which finds its way to the bilge, so you want to be watching and turn off the pump when the water starts coming out well. After that, reconnect the hose, turn the pump back on and open a faucet. It will spit a bit but then give you good flow.
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Bill Cooper
pump brand/type
It's a Shurflo model 2095-433-244, 3.3 gpm 45psi. Btw, I have checked the filter and found no problem there. Thanks for the responses from those who have been there - it sounds like I might not have to buy a new pump, just restore prime.
It's a Shurflo model 2095-433-244, 3.3 gpm 45psi. Btw, I have checked the filter and found no problem there. Thanks for the responses from those who have been there - it sounds like I might not have to buy a new pump, just restore prime.
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Peggie Hall/HeadMistress
A couple of possibilities
The most likely is, sediment from the bottom of the tank has clogged the line to the pump, or the pump itself...or any filter inline between the tank and the pump. It's unlikely that the diaphragm (if the pump is a diaphragm pump) has failed in a 2 yr old boat...nor that you fried the impeller unless you let the pump run dry for several minutes. It won't hurt anything to leave the vinegar solution in the tank till you can get it sorted out.
The most likely is, sediment from the bottom of the tank has clogged the line to the pump, or the pump itself...or any filter inline between the tank and the pump. It's unlikely that the diaphragm (if the pump is a diaphragm pump) has failed in a 2 yr old boat...nor that you fried the impeller unless you let the pump run dry for several minutes. It won't hurt anything to leave the vinegar solution in the tank till you can get it sorted out.
T
Terry
Hi Bill, our boat has a screen filter ...
on the tank side of the pump, which is designed to catch gunk that could damage the pump impeller. Check to see if you have one and make sure that it is clean. It could have enough stuff in it to block the flow of water to the pump. Otherwise, it sounds like a prime problem as mentioned in the other posts. Terry
on the tank side of the pump, which is designed to catch gunk that could damage the pump impeller. Check to see if you have one and make sure that it is clean. It could have enough stuff in it to block the flow of water to the pump. Otherwise, it sounds like a prime problem as mentioned in the other posts. Terry
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Scott Blahnik
Mine was fried
It was a Jabsco on my 2001 Hunter 270 and I had never run it dry. Fortunately it was easy and not expensive to replace with a Shur-flo.
It was a Jabsco on my 2001 Hunter 270 and I had never run it dry. Fortunately it was easy and not expensive to replace with a Shur-flo.
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Don Alexander
Non Return Valve
Bill, I cleared this problem on another Hunter. We turned the pump on and also turned the galley faucet on. Then I got my mouth over the end of the faucet and SUCKED. (You need to be a contortionist!). In an instant the water came through. We concluded that the non return valve in the pump was held shut by a spring which was stronger than the water pressure in the tank. Hope this cures yours too.
Bill, I cleared this problem on another Hunter. We turned the pump on and also turned the galley faucet on. Then I got my mouth over the end of the faucet and SUCKED. (You need to be a contortionist!). In an instant the water came through. We concluded that the non return valve in the pump was held shut by a spring which was stronger than the water pressure in the tank. Hope this cures yours too.
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