Peggy, It is our first season with our recently purchased H34. I thought it would be as simple as filling up my fresh water holding tanks, drain, clean out, and fill again. However, I cannot get water pressure to any of my faucets. The pump will run continually. So, I dropped the line between the port holding tank and the water pump, and black crud flowed out. I figure this is throughout all my pipes, and wanted to find out the best way to clean the pipes out, or would it be better to replace? Also, I read your reference on fresh water maintenance,and was informed about using bleach in the holding tanks to clean them out, but have a level of panic when you mentioned that bleach is a corrosive ingredient and should not be left in the tank over 24 hours. I was informed that it would be fine for the week. I used about 1/2 gallon in each tank at 30 and 35 gallons in size. I have turned a headache into a disaster? Either way I am looking forward to any or all thoughts on this.... Only way to learn is by doing! Thanks Paul s/v The Regina Avery
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You didn't say whether it's a new boat, but...
If the lines are full of black crud, it obviously isn't. My guess is that all that's happened is the diaphragm in your water pump has failed...diaphragms only have a life expectancy of about 5 years, and that's almost always what it means in a pump that runs continuously but doesn't pump any water. (Btw...the first sign that the diaphragm is going is a pump that cycles periodically for a few seconds for no reason...happening closer and closer together...till the pump just doesn't shut off). And if it was getting there, it's possible that leaving the heavy dose of chlorine in the system for a week finished it off. Fortunately, diaphragm kits are cheap--about $12 at WM. And as long as you're gonna take the pump apart, I'd also invest another $10 or so in a valve kit...'cuz leaving the bleach in the system didn't do that any good either. Tell whoever told you to leave it in the system for a week that all the "purifying" properties in chlorine evaporate within about 24 hours...so even if weren't caustic, it does no good whatever to leave it in any longer. That's also why it does no good to add a little to each tank fill...any benefit is gone in a day.
If the lines are full of black crud, it obviously isn't. My guess is that all that's happened is the diaphragm in your water pump has failed...diaphragms only have a life expectancy of about 5 years, and that's almost always what it means in a pump that runs continuously but doesn't pump any water. (Btw...the first sign that the diaphragm is going is a pump that cycles periodically for a few seconds for no reason...happening closer and closer together...till the pump just doesn't shut off). And if it was getting there, it's possible that leaving the heavy dose of chlorine in the system for a week finished it off. Fortunately, diaphragm kits are cheap--about $12 at WM. And as long as you're gonna take the pump apart, I'd also invest another $10 or so in a valve kit...'cuz leaving the bleach in the system didn't do that any good either. Tell whoever told you to leave it in the system for a week that all the "purifying" properties in chlorine evaporate within about 24 hours...so even if weren't caustic, it does no good whatever to leave it in any longer. That's also why it does no good to add a little to each tank fill...any benefit is gone in a day.
Are the Pipes and Tanks safe?
Peggy, Thanks for the reply. I am planning on working on this project this weekend, and it will help to have some items available before the dismantling occurs. Is the bleach going to harm any of the water pipes or holding tank? I appreciate your thoughts on this, and think this is the greatest website! Thanks again, Paul
Peggy, Thanks for the reply. I am planning on working on this project this weekend, and it will help to have some items available before the dismantling occurs. Is the bleach going to harm any of the water pipes or holding tank? I appreciate your thoughts on this, and think this is the greatest website! Thanks again, Paul
Do yourself a favor
BP: Before you try to fix that old pump. Buy yourself a new one. Then you can just send the old one back to the mfg for about $20-30 they will check it out, see if there is anything else wrong with it and repair it. If they can repair it you have a spare ready for NEXT TIME.
BP: Before you try to fix that old pump. Buy yourself a new one. Then you can just send the old one back to the mfg for about $20-30 they will check it out, see if there is anything else wrong with it and repair it. If they can repair it you have a spare ready for NEXT TIME.
Everything else should be ok...
Worst case, it pushed something over the edge that was already about to go...which CAN be a blessing in disguise, 'cuz better for it to happen during recommissioning than in the middle of a week-long cruise two months from now. So check everything over very thoroughly...and if you don't find any "uh-ohs," don't worry about it. Leaving the bleach in for a week didn't help anything, but it wasn't a catastrophe...just don't make a habit of it.
Worst case, it pushed something over the edge that was already about to go...which CAN be a blessing in disguise, 'cuz better for it to happen during recommissioning than in the middle of a week-long cruise two months from now. So check everything over very thoroughly...and if you don't find any "uh-ohs," don't worry about it. Leaving the bleach in for a week didn't help anything, but it wasn't a catastrophe...just don't make a habit of it.
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