Water Pressure- Hunter 28

[Mike Conforti]

In the Fall I had the boat yard winterize the fresh water system. Last week when I used the system for the first time, anti-freeze(pink) came out out the sink. I put about two to three gallons of water in the now empty tank and turned on the switch for the pump. Normally, the pump turns off after 5-10 seconds after the water has been turned off, but now it seems to run continously. Does any know why? Maybe if I fill the tank to the top it will stop runnning?

 

[Peggie Hall/HeadMistress]

Fill up your tank and see what happens

The outlet fitting on a water tank allows the pump to start sucking air about 2" from the bottom, so I suspect 2-3 gallons was not enough to pressurize the pump. However, there could be another reason: You didn't say how old your boat is...but if it's more than about 5 years old, the diaphragm in the water pump may have worn out--or it could just have failed...it happens. When the diaphragm in a water pump fails, that will also cause the pump to keep running and/or come on for no apparent reason. Diaphagm kits are cheap--about $12 at WM, so it's nothing major...just a bit of a PITA.So fill up your water tank, or at lest put enough water in it to be sure the level is above the discharge fitting... and if that doesn't cure the problem, write down the make, model and year of your water pump and call West Marine.

 

[Steve Dublin]

leak in a line

If your water pump is running continuously it can't maintain pressure in the system. Either you don't have enough water, you have a leak in a line (usually at a clamp - check lines going to water heater from engine heat exchanger) or that little bladder needs to be pumped up (use bike pump). Steve sdublin@laker.net

 

[Peggie Hall/HeadMistress]

If there were a leak in a line...

...downstream of the pump, you wouldn't have to hunt for it very hard, because water would be gushing out of it. A water pump runs continuously because it can't prime...which means that it's SUCKING air--either in the tank or through a ruptured diahragm--not pushing it out of a leak somewhere.

 

[mike conforti]

THANKS!

With your help, on Tuesday I will resolve this problem and write back.

 

[Mike Conforti]

It Worked!!

The problem was that did not put enough water in the tank. Once I filled it all of the air came out and the pump turned off. Thanks. Mike