Water not working properly

[maminkagirl]

Our water system is working fine when hooked up to a water source but when trying to draw water from the tank it sputters and spits and the water pump does not shut off. Any ideas? Last year it was working fine.


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[OldCoot]

Make sure if it has an antifreeze suction line that the valve is closed and another member found that the screw on screen on the pump was loose and when tightened the pump worked great,

[TURBS]

Check the tightness of the little water strainer.

TURBS
08 duramax tuned n modded, 32bhok Sabre
2015 camping "2 nights"

[Herk7769]

Originally Posted by maminkagirl

Our water system is working fine when hooked up to a water source but when trying to draw water from the tank it sputters and spits and the water pump does not shut off. Any ideas? Last year it was working fine.


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You are sucking air in the intake line to the pump:

1) Make SURE the fresh tank is full. Due to the location and levelness of the tank, you may be indicating 1/3 full but the suction line may not be completely submerged. (see photo) In the photo, due to the "levelness" the tank is "full" but only indicates 2/3 full. The reverse is true if the tank is not level in the other direction. It would suck air and still indicate it has water in it.

2) Make sure connections on the suction side are tight.

3) Make sure the antifreeze/water selection valve is all the way to the water side.

[Ford Idaho]

Never mind I see it is covered above.

[maminkagirl]

Thank you! Any idea where the the antifreeze suction valve is located? I think that might be the culprit since the dealer did not dewinterize the unit as I requested.


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[Herk7769]

Originally Posted by maminkagirl

Thank you! Any idea where the the antifreeze suction valve is located? I think that might be the culprit since the dealer did not dewinterize the unit as I requested.


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If it was in freezing weather and not winterized, the strainer bowl could be cracked and leaking or the pump itself may be leaking.

Depending on where your pump is located, it should be VERY close to it so you can access the antifreeze jug.

[Pooneil]

Originally Posted by maminkagirl

Thank you! Any idea where the the antifreeze suction valve is located? I think that might be the culprit since the dealer did not dewinterize the unit as I requested.


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AFAIK, A-Frames do not come with a winterizing valve on the water tank draw line. At least mine didn't. As others have said, make sure the tank is full and check the connections on the draw line. And look for wet spots and drips.

The following may not be your problem, but it is similar and experienced by many A-frame owners.

Sputtering and the pump running on for a short while after the faucet is closed can be caused by the water filter housing. Since the actual filter causes a notable pressure drop the dealer may not have installed it in the housing. The solution to this is to remove the housing from the water path by unscrewing the pipes installing a 3" of 4" MPT nipple in the filters place. If the filter is in place and is clogged, then look at changing it or removing the housing, as you prefer.

[Flybob]

If the dealer winterized and the unit did not come with a winterizing valve, the dealer probably disconnected the inlet side of the pump and connected the antifreeze feed. They may not have tightened up that fitting when they put it back on. It will be on the input side of the water pump.

[Big Vic]

There is a valve at the bottom of the tank under the trailer near the drain that sucks in air if open. Make sure it is closed.

[Beluga]

I just had to put in a new pump on my trailer. No antifreeze hose attached so I hand pumped through the city line when I winterized it in the fall. Didn't even think about the pump not being drained. I had to get a new pump and anti-freeze line - $170.00 CDN later and a few hours of squeezing me under the kitchen cabinet and it's done.

The manufacturer for the pump suggests to disconnect both intake and outlet hose from the pump and then put towels under and run it dry then turn it off and leave it disconnected for the winter. Leaving a sign for yourself that the plumbing is disconnected. I went with the anti-freeze hose option for next fall.

[jkoenig24]

Do you have an outside shower? If you do and, one or both valves are left open, it can result in wonky water service.

[pgandw]

On my 2014 A122, I had a similar issue when I went to use water from the tank for the first time. Found a closed valve under the sink between the tank and the pump, right beside the low point drain. FWIW, my unit was winterized (delivered to Colorado in March).

The dealer did not install the water filter element in the filter (and suggested that I think twice before installing) casing, although they did show me how to do it on the PDI. After reading the horror stories on this forum, I have never put the filter element in, and will leave the filter casing untouched until I get around to bypassing it or installing a different filter.

Fred W
2014 Rockwood A122