Hi All, I'm trying to find the source for my fresh water pump cycling for a few seconds every two minutes or so. I've checked all the piping joints and there is no apparent seepage. My first guess was the pump (Jetflo), so I rebuilt it with a service kit, but it still cycles. Perhaps one of the faucets is leaking? Any suggestions welcome! Thanks Dan Aquila
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check valve a possibility
A closgged or failing check valve at the pressure pump will let the pressure fail by simply sending water back to the storage tank, not leaving any evidence since the leak is internal.
A closgged or failing check valve at the pressure pump will let the pressure fail by simply sending water back to the storage tank, not leaving any evidence since the leak is internal.
Hmmmmmm...
If replacing the diaphragm didn't cure it, I suggest you make sure you got all the rubber parts correctly seated/aligned. If there's a leak in the plumbing downstream of the pump, the water level in the tank has to drop (the water that's leaking has to come from somewhere)...so you you should be able to either confirm or rule out that you do have a leak by leaving the water pump breaker on for several days....it won't hurt the pump. If it's not a leak, and it's not incorrectly seated aligned rubber parts in the pump creaing an air leak, and if you're sure the hoses are securely clamped onto the pump, there's not much left but the pressure switch that can cause the pump to cycle.
If replacing the diaphragm didn't cure it, I suggest you make sure you got all the rubber parts correctly seated/aligned. If there's a leak in the plumbing downstream of the pump, the water level in the tank has to drop (the water that's leaking has to come from somewhere)...so you you should be able to either confirm or rule out that you do have a leak by leaving the water pump breaker on for several days....it won't hurt the pump. If it's not a leak, and it's not incorrectly seated aligned rubber parts in the pump creaing an air leak, and if you're sure the hoses are securely clamped onto the pump, there's not much left but the pressure switch that can cause the pump to cycle.
I just thought of something that might work
Hardware stores carry pressure gauges that screw onto the hose threads on the drain on the water heater. They aren't too pricey and are used for checking pressure at the bib outlets on houses to check pressure for things like adding a sprinkler system. Anyway, what I'm getting at is you can put the gauge on the drain and open it therefore monitoring the pressure in the system. If it drops and pump comes on there is probably a good possibility the pressure switch is doing what it's supposed to. It doesn't help to tell you why the pressure is dropping unless you could shut off the water at the outlet of the pump and hold the pressure in the system then it would tell you that there is or isn't a leak in the downstream side and not in the check valve on pump. Just a thought....
Hardware stores carry pressure gauges that screw onto the hose threads on the drain on the water heater. They aren't too pricey and are used for checking pressure at the bib outlets on houses to check pressure for things like adding a sprinkler system. Anyway, what I'm getting at is you can put the gauge on the drain and open it therefore monitoring the pressure in the system. If it drops and pump comes on there is probably a good possibility the pressure switch is doing what it's supposed to. It doesn't help to tell you why the pressure is dropping unless you could shut off the water at the outlet of the pump and hold the pressure in the system then it would tell you that there is or isn't a leak in the downstream side and not in the check valve on pump. Just a thought....
Leaks
If there is a leak, then you should be noticing that your bilge pump is turning on, or turning on more often than 'normal' - although in a perfect world the bilge should be dry. In my case, I had a water line running through a floor stringer from the head sink to the galley sink that was pierced by a screw from the cabin sole. But the bilge filled up relatively quickly whenever I turned the pump on for a reasonably long duration (a couple of hours or so). If you leave the pump on for a couple of hours or longer, and your fresh water tank is full, and your bilge does not fill up, at least you can be reasonably certain that you don't have an actual leak, and the problem lies with one or more of the items posted here by the others.
If there is a leak, then you should be noticing that your bilge pump is turning on, or turning on more often than 'normal' - although in a perfect world the bilge should be dry. In my case, I had a water line running through a floor stringer from the head sink to the galley sink that was pierced by a screw from the cabin sole. But the bilge filled up relatively quickly whenever I turned the pump on for a reasonably long duration (a couple of hours or so). If you leave the pump on for a couple of hours or longer, and your fresh water tank is full, and your bilge does not fill up, at least you can be reasonably certain that you don't have an actual leak, and the problem lies with one or more of the items posted here by the others.
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