Pressure water plumbing issues

oceanprey · 12-21-2018, 08:28 AM

A rotten critter of some kind has apparently gotten into my TT and eaten a large hole in the braided water line that runs from the fresh water tank to the pressure pump. The hole is not to big an issue, repair should be easy. Here, however, is my problem. With the pump turned off and no outside water source connected to the TT, no water comes out of any of the faucets when open; this, of course, is normal and correct. How, however, when I turn on the pressure water pump (the one with the hole in the suction line) I have good water flow at all faucets, toilet, etc. My question is, how is the water getting from the fresh water tank to the pump? There is no water in the line from the tank to the pump nor is there any water coming out of the hole in that line! I'm puzzled, any help would be appreciated.
The TT is a 2011 Rockwood Signature Ultra Lite 8293RKSS.
I tried to attach a pic but it didn't work, sorry.

oceanprey

valleyduo · 12-21-2018, 08:38 AM

Just because it doesn't leak doesn't mean it won't still draw water. The hole in the suction side will draw air into the line but is probably still able to draw water as well depending on the size of the hole. Suction side works like a vacuum. Water can draw past that hole without leaking.

**Bama Rambler** · 12-21-2018, 09:08 AM

A picture of the offending line would help, but are you sure it's the pump suction that has the hole in it and not a vent or overflow line? Also, could it be that the hole isn't completely through the tubing and just the outer cover is chewed into?

5picker · 12-21-2018, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by valleyduo

Just because it doesn't leak doesn't mean it won't still draw water. The hole in the suction side will draw air into the line but is probably still able to draw water as well depending on the size of the hole. Suction side works like a vacuum. Water can draw past that hole without leaking.

I don't believe this to be true. If there is just the slightest air leak on the suction side, the pump won't suck water.

As Bama said... are you SURE it is the feed hose to the pump from the fresh tank?
Maybe it is the overflow line?

oceanprey · 12-21-2018, 03:19 PM

Really appreciate all the input. I'm going to try to include a picture of the water line. My TT uses a pretty standard 12V pressure pump; one water line in and one water line out. The damaged line is the intake, or vacuum line. I have watched this line with the pump running and water flowing out of the sink faucet and there is no water at all in the intake line. It's very strange.

oceanprey

5picker · 12-21-2018, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oceanprey

Really appreciate all the input. I'm going to try to include a picture of the water line. My TT uses a pretty standard 12V pressure pump; one water line in and one water line out. The damaged line is the intake, or vacuum line. I have watched this line with the pump running and water flowing out of the sink faucet and there is no water at all in the intake line. It's very strange.

oceanprey

Strange indeed!
I've never seen a pump produce its own supply of water.

oceanprey · 12-21-2018, 03:23 PM

Well, so much for the picture. I'll try again. The hole in the water line is almost all the way through the line and about 1 and 1/2 inches long.

oceanprey

5picker · 12-21-2018, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oceanprey

Well, so much for the picture. I'll try again. The hole in the water line is almost all the way through the line and about 1 and 1/2 inches long.

oceanprey

Well if that line that is chewed goes directly on the intake of the pump. (we can't see with 100% certainty as the wood is in the way) there is no way the pump is producing the water coming out of the faucet. These systems are not magic.

Adrian Gordon · 12-21-2018, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 5picker

Well if that line that is chewed goes directly on the intake of the pump. (we can't see with 100% certainty as the wood is in the way) there is no way the pump is producing the water coming out of the faucet. These systems are not magic.

What he said!!!
If there is no water in the line to the inlet side of the pump, there is no water coming out the outlet side. Are you certain you're not hooked up to city water?

**Bama Rambler** · 12-21-2018, 05:29 PM

My bet is that line is the antifreeze suction and there's a three way valve just out of site behind the vertical frame in the picture.

rockfordroo · 12-21-2018, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bama Rambler

My bet is that line is the antifreeze suction and there's a three way valve just out of site behind the vertical frame in the picture.

X2.

Ratchethead · 12-21-2018, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oceanprey

Well, so much for the picture. I'll try again. The hole in the water line is almost all the way through the line and about 1 and 1/2 inches long.

oceanprey

I don't know about anyone else, but it looks to me that the hose he is referring to is fine, it seems to be passing behind a larger tube, no hole in it, just an optical illusion.

**Flybob** · 12-21-2018, 06:21 PM

No way water is going to flow through that hose. Looks like it was a larger animal and they chewed through to get through the hole in the floor.

RacerRalph · 02-11-2019, 10:31 AM

So, was this resolved??

TitanMike · 02-11-2019, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 5picker

Strange indeed!
I've never seen a pump produce its own supply of water.

If you ever do, grab the rights to it and patent it. You'll get rich selling it to boondockers.

cavie · 02-11-2019, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ratchethead

I don't know about anyone else, but it looks to me that the hose he is referring to is fine, it seems to be passing behind a larger tube, no hole in it, just an optical illusion.

If you read his description and look at the picture it is definitely a LARGE hole. He just doesn't know what hose it is. My guess is it's the winterization pick up hose as someone has stated or the overflow hose. definitely not hooked to either side of the pump.

TitanMike · 02-11-2019, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cavie

If you read his description and look at the picture it is definitely a LARGE hole. He just doesn't know what hose it is. My guess is it's the winterization pick up hose as someone has stated or the overflow hose. definitely not hooked to either side of the pump.

Hook up an air line to the winterize port and that would certainly let one know if that's the case. Air should blow freely through that hole if that's the case.

I would recommend air over just hooking a water hose up for obvious reasons

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