Freshwater priming problem

[George Kornreich]

I'm having a priming problem when I refill the empty water tanks. There are two tanks, one under the sole, below the pump level, and the other in a salon cabinet, above the pump level. The water pump will not prime itself (lift) from the lower tank, but will easily from the higher tank. Then, after it has been primed from that tank, it will draw water from the lower tank if that tank valve is now selected... at least till that tank is empty; then the whole process begins again. Does this spell a bad check valve or some other component in the pump? Thanks.

 

[Steve Dion]

Had the same TYPE of problem.

Geo:I had the same type of problem. I have the built in tank that is under the aft berth in our H'31. Then we installed an aux. tank in the aft lazarette. The tank in the aft lazarette has a manual valve on it. The tank was set up with a seperate fill and vent. If we leave the valve on the aux. tank open the system will not prime. If I turn off the valve after it fills the primary tank everthing is just fine.You may want to try putting a shut off valve on the secondary tank and see if that helps!

 

[George Kornreich]

Got them, Steve.

The two tanks are factory installed, and both have valves. That at least makes it possible to get it going when both tanks are filled. I need to first shut down the below-pump tank valve and prime from the higher one, even when I want to alternate tank usage and use the lower one first. George