Pressurized Water System Problem

[Paul Housman]

Maybe you folks can help me solve a problem. When I was winterizing my water system I drained the water bladder to almost empty and refilled(Not completely full) the bladder with polypropelene Glycol. I turned the faucet on to let the glycol make it's way up. When the fluid turned pink I stopped but the pump (shurflow) continued to run in almost an idle mode. I talked to Shurflow they suggested I adjust the switch. I did to no avail. I ended up cutting the wire to the pump to shut it off. Not having the right wire connections on board I temporarily tied the wires together and wrapped them with electrical tape. Low and behold when I joined the wires together the pump stopped running. The next week I came down and put the proper connections on the wires you guessed it the pump wouldn't shut off. Bad pump? bad switch? HELP!!!!

 

[TOM MCNAMARA]

WATER PUMP

How many tanks do you have,what size boat.I have 3 and if one is empty,the pump draws air---shut it. Or another guess is the pressure switch,how old is it.

 

[Peggie Hall/Head Mistress]

First, what do you mean by "proper connections"

on the wires? If you mean those little caps, they should never be used on a boat because a) they don't keep moisture out--so wiring can corrode, and b) they don't provide any spark protection ( not critical if you have a diesel engine, but VERY important if you have a gas engine or the connection is exposed to a potential propane or CNG leak). Electrical connections on boats should always be joined together and sealed with electrical tape.And I also have to ask...why, instead of cutting the wires, didn't you just turn the pump off at the breaker? If it's not on a breaker, you really should put it on one that isn't shared with anything else.From the description of your symptoms, it's either a wiring problem ( it worked when you taped the wires together)...or, the switch is bad...but the most cause of a water pump running continously without pumping any water is a failed diaphragm in the pump, and if it weren't for the fact that fiddling with the wiring had some effect on it, I'd be 99.99999% certain that's the problem.How old IS the pump? Did you ever notice it cycling briefly for no reason last season? Are certain there's enough liquid in the tank to prevent the pump from sucking air, 'cuz that'll definitely cause this kind of problem until the pump can reprime itself.

 

[Sam Lust]

Here's the deal ---

Peggy is right on the wires -- otherwise :The pump has become airbound, and despite what the makers say, they don't pump air. The pump must reach it'd design pressure to shut off. If airbound it WILL NOT reach pressure; hence, won't shut off. Eliminate the air; suck, blow, whatever it takes to get water to the pump. You can sometimes accomplish this bu opening all faucets and just running the pump.Check the outlet of the bladder; it might be causing a problem, make sure the supply hose isn't kinked anywhere along it's route. Also check the supply hose from tank to pump. If it leaks it allows air in, the pump gets air bound and won't pump water. I've learned this the hard way.