Unable to purge air from water lines using fresh water pump

dhatfield6 · 06-07-2014, 10:44 AM

I have a 2013 XLR 380AMP and have never used the onboard fresh water pump until now! Fortunate for me the bathhouse was available because I could not get the fresh water system purged and have the pump deliver a steady water stream. The camper has been used many times and the city water system is OK.

I checked the pump and could see there were bubbles constantly in the clear plastic suction screen. The pump would never shut off and I'm certain that's because it could never reach the 55 psi set pressure because of the air in the discharge lines.

IMO there must be a loose fitting somewhere between the fresh water tank and the screen where I can see the air ingress.

Any suggestions?

M109Rrider · 06-07-2014, 10:46 AM

Make sur the suction valve on your anti freeze suction hose is closed. For got to close mine last fall and had same problem this spring.... doh

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**Herk7769** · 06-08-2014, 09:15 AM

Yes, there is an air leak between the pump and the fresh water tank that is not allowing the pump to "prime."

Check all the fittings (in addition to the anti-freeze valve as stated).

Ford Idaho · 06-08-2014, 09:19 AM

Had the same problem with mine the dealer found a loose fitting in the basement near the water tank.

**dcheatwood** · 06-08-2014, 09:26 AM

Not trying to be silly but.... make sure there is water in the fresh tank.
DW complained about this while traveling. I had to explain to her that the pump doesn't create water. I had not put any in the tank. Lol.

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**Herk7769** · 06-08-2014, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dcheatwood

Not trying to be silly but.... make sure there is water in the fresh tank.
DW complained about this while traveling. I had to explain to her that the pump doesn't create water. I had not put any in the tank. Lol.

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Excellent point. Even with "some" water in the tank, it may actually be too low to prime due to the level allowing air to enter the top of the tank outlet.

Because the outlet in most installations is located on the tank side, there is quite a bit of "unusable" water in the tank. As soon as the top of the outlet is exposed, the pump will lose it's prime.

MrJoe · 06-08-2014, 10:40 AM

When I first got mine, I had the same problem. I was sure I had water because the lights said so. I checked all the fittings and still air with a little water. Then I found a valve open. After a minute I realized it was the fresh tank drain. Duh... I closed the valve and added water to the tank.... Either I was looking at the wrong gauge lights or it was incorrect. A learning moment for sure.

ironj · 06-08-2014, 10:43 AM

Mine would not prime this year even with a full fresh tank... I assumed like everyone else I had a leak In suction or the pump diaphragm was damaged......

Well after taking it all apart....some head scratching and some cussing, I forced some water through the winterizing hose (enough to fill the screen filter bowl) and lo and behold it primed, pressured up, and has worked fine since......go figure....never needed to do this when using pump for first time of the year before.....

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dhatfield6 · 06-08-2014, 07:36 PM

I'll try that ironj. The only sensible reply so far! Sorry guys, you really don't have to be a rocket scientist to understand that the tank has to have water in order for the pump to work!

ironj · 06-08-2014, 08:47 PM

To be exact, I switched the intake hose to winterize, poured water in the hose and blew it into pump...the ran pump and did itb again....I had a bucket of water there for this...when it started sucking from the bucket via winterize hose, I turned off pump, switched to main tank and it worked fine....I made sure the winterize hose was fully submerged the whole time so it wouldent suck air.....again...good luck... (ive had friends try n use tank with no water)..obviously they are NOT rocket scientists. ..or scientists for that matter!...lol

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Evereddie · 06-08-2014, 09:03 PM

First time I tried to use my pump I had only put about half a tank of water in. It just wasn't enough for the first time using it to get primed. After I filled it all the way it got primed and then after that i could use the pump with only 1/3 a tank or even less.

dhatfield6 · 06-13-2014, 03:52 PM

Irony, after your suggestion I am able to completely purge the air from the lines. I I found that the valve installed for the antifreeze fill line was not holding in the closed position, thus causing the pump to suck air. I capped the intake line and wala, instantly had potable water and the pump cycled off immediately as it should. thanks again

ironj · 06-13-2014, 04:35 PM

AWESOME!!...at least u didnt have to pull the pump, disassemble pump, curse in futility at said pump, then put it all back together before u figured it out!!...haha..and THAT is the beauty of these forums. ..you can (usually) let someone else pave the way to a solution with their frustration and just get to the solutions part of an issue!...

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