Pressure Water Pump

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Oct 2, 2008
4
C&C 30MkII Chesapeake
My pump runs continuosly, unless I shut it off at the breaker panel. Sometimes when I first turn it on it will stop running for maybe 10 seconds, then start running again. I've bled the system many times and replaced the O ring in the glass (plastic) "cup" but neither had an effect. I have 2 twenty-two gallon tanks, but only use one due to the infrequency of use. The second tank is empty.
I can find no evedence of a leak. The tank doesn't seem to be losing water. Any ideas? Where do I begin?
Thank you.
 
Jun 5, 2004
241
Catalina 30 MkII Foss Harbor Marina, Tacoma, WA
...I'd go from cheapest fix to most expensive...check/ tighten ALL of your hose clamps, check plastic fittings (if you have them) at your water heater for cracks, check your check valves (could be pumping water into your empty tank if tank valve isnt closed), check if your expansion tank (if you have one) is full of water, check the pump head end...you might need a new pump...good time to check out the variable speed models. Good luck.
 

BarryL

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May 21, 2004
1,119
Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 409 Mt. Sinai, NY
trouble shooting

Hey,


1. Have you traced the water lines so you know that you are drawing from the full tank and not the empty tank? If the tank selection valve isn't all the way closed the pump could be sucking air.

2. Do you have a water heater and an expansion tank? If you have an expansion tank, it can take a minute or so for the tank to get pressurized. How long have you left the pump on?

3. When the pump is running and you open the tap (hot or cold), does water come out? If water is coming out the pump is definitely working. Does the water come out steady or does it burst and pop with lots of air? If there is lots of air in it you have an air leak somewhere BEFORE the pump that is allowing air into the system.

4. The pressure switch on the pump could be bad. Some are removable, others require a new pump. Can you provide the make and model?

Good luck,
Barry
 
Oct 2, 2008
4
C&C 30MkII Chesapeake
Thanks to all so far...
I do not have an expansion tank, but I do have a hot water heater (not hooked up, it is bypassed (I think)
I have not tested the system with water in both tanks, but I will.
When the pump is on and the water is running, I get a steady flow with no air bursts or pops.
When I select the empty tank I do not get any water beyond what is in the pipes.
The pump is about five years old, and hasn't been used much.
 
Jun 9, 2008
1,850
- -- -Bayfield
I assume that if you have two tanks you have a valve to turn each one on and off so that when you run out of water in one tank, you turn that off and turn on the other full tank. If your pump keeps running it simply does so because you have a leak where the pressure will not completely build up. It is a demand pump. As soon as you open a faucet, the pressure decreases and the pump works. Turn the faucet off and the water flow stops immediately, but the pump will run until the pressure builds up to its max. If it continues to run, then something is keeping it from maxing out the pressure. This could be because your second empty tank has an open valve, or you have a leak somewhere in the system, which most likely is where there are fittings, or maybe even a burst hose. If you have a water heater, check it out to make sure it is bypassed as you say. I don't know why it would be. If the hoses are hooked up to it, then maybe that tank is empty or the valve is open on the hot water tank. You have to close that pressure valve then turn on your hot water faucet and fill up the hot water tank so that it eventually comes out of your sink faucet. Remember to also never turn on the switch for the hot water heater unless you know it is full of water. Otherwise you will burn out your heating element and that will have to be replaced. Also, if you have a hot water heater that is hooked up to a heat exchanger attached to your inboard, you must make sure your coolant water is full or you can over heat your engine. But, the engine side is antifreeze coolant and the fresh water pressure pump is your fresh water (two different systems).
 
Dec 2, 1999
15,184
Hunter Vision-36 Rio Vista, CA.
Assuming you are NOT sucking air from the empty tank (and there are no other leaks), it is probably your pump. You can purchase rebuild kits or just replace the pump.
 
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