Fresh water tank

Betty Hoyt · 11-10-2018, 07:17 PM

I have never heard this one before, so here is the mystery. I was walking into our 2018 Forest river forested 3150 tonight and as I passed by the fresh water intake, I noticed water coming out, I opened the cap and more water came out, went inside to check the monitor and a tank that had been 80 % full was now 100% full and leaking excess water out of the intake. Okay guys, please tell me how this could even be possible?

5picker · 11-10-2018, 07:27 PM

Common issue discussed here hundreds of times.

The check valve on the water pump likely is stuck partially open or may have some debris in it.

Also too high city water pressure can overcome the check valve. Are you using a regulator?

Turn off city water and relieve pressure by opening a faucet. Turn on pump and cycle several times by opening and closing a faucet. Turn off pump and turn on city water and see if flow stops.

The sole purpose of the check valve is to prevent exactly what is happening as you describe.
The check valve is built into the pump to keep city water from back flowing into the fresh tank since near the on- board pump, the city water and the output of the pump are tied together in a R/V water system.

Betty Hoyt · 11-10-2018, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 5picker

Common issue discussed here hundreds of times.

The check valve on the water pump likely is stuck partially open or may have some debris in it.

Also too high city water pressure can overcome the check valve. Are you using a regulator?

Turn off city water and relieve pressure by opening a faucet. Turn on pump and cycle several times by opening and closing a faucet. Turn off pump and turn on city water and see if flow stops.

The sole purpose of the check valve is to prevent exactly what is happening as you describe.
The check valve is built into the pump to keep city water from back flowing into the fresh tank since near the on- board pump, the city water and the output of the pump are tied together in a R/V water system.

Thanks, we do have a regulator, we will try the a solution you suggested

emm-dee · 11-10-2018, 09:13 PM

Procedure to clear contaminated check valve published in another thread.

Turn off city water
Turn off water pump if on.
Turn on any faucet wait 1 min
Turn on water pump
let water run 1 min
Turn off faucet
turn off water pump
Wait for water pump to quit running
Turn on city water

Betty Hoyt · 11-14-2018, 06:18 PM

So we did the thing with turning off the water and draining the faucets then running the pump and it seems the problem is sober!

Our thanks to everyone for suggestions !

**Bama Rambler** · 11-15-2018, 10:59 AM

Thanks for coming back and letting us know that you got it fixed. I'm glad that it was as simple as jogging the pump to clear the check valve.

mboatwright · 12-17-2018, 08:56 AM

I also have this problem and the corrective action of turning off city water, relieving pressure, and running the pump trick hasn't worked for me... it did the first time however so if you have this issue don't give up (You never know it could fix your problem permanently). I will be adding a simple check valve inline to my shortly to eliminate this. Question; Has anyone ever just bypassed the tank altogether? I'm thinking about just doing this since we never use the Fresh Water Tank anyways.

NMWildcat · 12-17-2018, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mboatwright

I also have this problem and the corrective action of turning off city water, relieving pressure, and running the pump trick hasn't worked for me... it did the first time however so if you have this issue don't give up (You never know it could fix your problem permanently). I will be adding a simple check valve inline to my shortly to eliminate this. Question; Has anyone ever just bypassed the tank altogether? I'm thinking about just doing this since we never use the Fresh Water Tank anyways.

Adding an additional check valve will work, but may decrease flow also. Replacing the pump is another option.

Taking the pump and fresh tank out of the loop will also work, but the next owner may not appreciate it. And who knows, at some point you may decide you actually want to use your rig as intended and utilize the tank/pump when on the road, or if you get stuck in between destinations due to weather. You never know. I would at least like the option.......

rockfordroo · 12-17-2018, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mboatwright

I also have this problem and the corrective action of turning off city water, relieving pressure, and running the pump trick hasn't worked for me... it did the first time however so if you have this issue don't give up (You never know it could fix your problem permanently). I will be adding a simple check valve inline to my shortly to eliminate this. Question; Has anyone ever just bypassed the tank altogether? I'm thinking about just doing this since we never use the Fresh Water Tank anyways.

You don't want to "bypass" the pump, you need to "isolate" it. Simply put a manual valve in the discharge line. But as stated in another post, this may cause problems for a subsequent owner if he is unaware of the valve.

JohnD10 · 12-17-2018, 10:50 AM

Rather than replacing the water pump and/or fixing the pump's built-in check valve (when I had this same problem last April) I added a brass external check valve in front of my water pump.

Now that pump works better than it did when the 5'ver was brand new 3 1/2 years ago!

And no pressure loss...

mboatwright · 12-17-2018, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnD10

Rather than replacing the water pump and/or fixing the pump's built-in check valve (when I had this same problem last April) I added a brass external check valve in front of my water pump.

Now that pump works better than it did when the 5'ver was brand new 3 1/2 years ago!

And no pressure loss...

Any chance you linking me a picture of the check valve you used, better yet size, make, part number, online link, or the place you got it?

Most likely 1/2 to 3/4 check valve from Homey or the Lowe brothers, but for those who are not really sure what were talking about could help them out with that information

JohnD10 · 12-17-2018, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mboatwright

Any chance you linking me a picture of the check valve you used, better yet size, make, part number, online link, or the place you got it?

Most likely 1/2 to 3/4 check valve from Homey or the Lowe brothers, but for those who are not really sure what were talking about could help them out with that information

Yes...

Got this from a small RV repair shop in New Mexico, but it can be purchased at Camping World or any other RV parts store.

Fit right on...no adapters or tools needed.

mboatwright · 12-17-2018, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnD10

Yes...

Got this from a small RV repair shop in New Mexico, but it can be purchased at Camping World or any other RV parts store.

Fit right on...no adapters or tools needed.

My apologies, I read back and saw your original post... thanks again for the responses!

This looks to be the same one from Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/Camco-23303-B...ck+valve+water

cavie · 12-17-2018, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mboatwright

I also have this problem and the corrective action of turning off city water, relieving pressure, and running the pump trick hasn't worked for me... it did the first time however so if you have this issue don't give up (You never know it could fix your problem permanently). I will be adding a simple check valve inline to my shortly to eliminate this. Question; Has anyone ever just bypassed the tank altogether? I'm thinking about just doing this since we never use the Fresh Water Tank anyways.

If the power goes out or the pump burns up in the campground you'll be gald you had it and it was full of water.

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