Water pump or pipe leak

[Jordan.Gabriel]

Hello everyone. I'm currently connected to city water and out of nowhere I noticed water pooling and running on the floor around the sink. I immediately shut off the connection and drained the pipes. I then had to rip the panel off so I can access the water pump (it's under the sink).

The strange part is that I cannot duplicate the leak. I'm reconnected and running water, waiting to see where the leak originated from.

Any thoughts? Where would be the most likely spot this leak could come from on the pump?

[dannyabear]

Probably the check valve in pump is bad and allowing flow into freshwater tank which is overflowing, I have had this problem before
Sometimes if you run the pump it will seal again.

[5picker]

Was this leak by any chance connected to your water heater leak in your other post?

[Jordan.Gabriel]

Thanks for the feedback - the freshwater tank is showing empty and the leak appears to be coming from around this gauge. Is that the check valve?

[ependydad]

That's some kind of filter.

[5picker]

Originally Posted by ependydad

That's some kind of filter.

Correct, it is the pump's intake screened filter to help trap any debris coming from the fresh tank to save from damaging the pump. The pipes/hoses simply screw on to the screen (hand tight) and the housing either screws into the pump or it may have a threaded swivel connection too. Check to see if they are tight. The clear plastic bowl also is removable and it usually is just a 1/4 turn or so to remove. Make sure it is seated and most have some kind of o-ring seal there.

If water is coming out of the screen/hoses when hooked to city water, it is very likely the pumps' internal check valve is leaking. It is built into the pump. (you cant see it) The check valve is there to keep the city water from back-flowing into your fresh tank as the two systems (city water/pump) are separate but common within the plumbing. You typically won't use the on-board pump when connected to city water.

You might try as suggested to turn off city water at spigot, relieve pressure at a faucet, turn on pump, run and cycle water a few times at a faucet, turn off pump, open faucet to relieve pressure and finally, reopen city water spigot.

In any case (using pump/city water) there shouldn't be water leaking there and you are going to have to rectify that first.

[Retired JSO]

I had one in the same spot last trip. It was leaking at the pump where the braided outline connected back to the pex. I tried new gaskets but the leak resurfaced. I went to Lowes today and got 1' of 1/2" braided tubing and 2 new 1/2" connections having brass centers. I made up my hose and testes it, so far no leak. This is the hose I replaced.

[Jordan.Gabriel]

@5picker and everyone else: thank's a bunch for the direction! I'll check the filter/gauge and go from there. Hopefully will be posting a "fixed" soon. Cheers!

[Jordan.Gabriel]

I'll be connected to city water for some time and won't need the pump. Can I simply remove the intake and outtake hose and then install a fixture to connect them, essentially bypassing the pump?

[5picker]

Originally Posted by Jordan.Gabriel

I'll be connected to city water for some time and won't need the pump. Can I simply remove the intake and outtake hose and then install a fixture to connect them, essentially bypassing the pump?

No because then the city water will backfill your fresh water tank to the point water will run out the fill port or worse, swell the tank and cause damage.

You could put a plug or shut off valve in the line on the output side of the pump to essentially perform the same as the pump's internal check valve. Many folks do this when the can't get the pump's check valve to clear or seal rather than replacing/repairing the pump.

[Jordan.Gabriel]

[QUOTE=5picker;1427708]Correct, it is the pump's intake screened filter to help trap any debris coming from the fresh tank to save from damaging the pump. The pipes/hoses simply screw on to the screen (hand tight) and the housing either screws into the pump or it may have a threaded swivel connection too. Check to see if they are tight. The clear plastic bowl also is removable and it usually is just a 1/4 turn or so to remove. Make sure it is seated and most have some kind of o-ring seal there.

If water is coming out of the screen/hoses when hooked to city water, it is very likely the pumps' internal check valve is leaking. It is built into the pump. (you cant see it) The check valve is there to keep the city water from back-flowing into your fresh tank as the two systems (city water/pump) are separate but common within the plumbing. You typically won't use the on-board pump when connected to city water.

You might try as suggested to turn off city water at spigot, relieve pressure at a faucet, turn on pump, run and cycle water a few times at a faucet, turn off pump, open faucet to relieve pressure and finally, reopen city water spigot.

In any case (using pump/city water) there shouldn't be water leaking there and you are going to have to rectify that first.[/QUOTE

This morning I followed these steps sequentially (Re-attached filter, intake and outtake, then the trouble shooting process to relieve pressure and reset seal) and it appears to have worked. It's been about 4 hours without a leak. Thanks to 5picker and the whole community for saving me time and money!

I think I'm going to splice a stop valve on the output end for an additional safeguard because my confidence in the pump is low. The theory is that you close the valve when you're not using water to stop any back flow into the water pump?

[5picker]

The theory really is to close the valve anytime you are connected to city water. It is the pressure from the city water that causes the water to back flow through the pump's weak/damaged check valve. Close the valve (isolating the pump and fresh water tank) and use city water as normal. No need to turn off city water either when you are not drawing water in the camper.

You would open it when you wanted to use the pump to draw water from your fresh tank. If you didn't, no water would get to anything in the camper.

[Jordan.Gabriel]

OK that makes perfect sense now. I thought the Y connect happened before the pump so all water, city included, runs through it.