water pump on switch

[pudgybear]

please settle an argument - My wife says that you can turn on the water pump and leave it on, I always thought you had to turn it off when not operating, won't this burn up the pump leaving it turned on, my wife said she thought it was on a pressure switch - which turns it on only when the pressure drops ? who is right ?

[dcheatwood]

If yours is like most, it does cycle on and off to provide pressure when a faucet is opened. It should turn off on its on after just a few seconds when the water is not running. I leave it on if we're using water and not hooked up to city water. But turn off if not going to be using it for a while.

[fonzie]

Your wife is right......until you run out of water in fresh water tank, then it will run all the time as it will pull in air......

[4B11T]

Its alright to leave it on, pump with only run when you turn on a fixture. I always turn my switch off when we leave the camper for a while.

[5picker]

It works just like the pump in your house. (unless your house is on city water, then you don't have a pump!)

When you are NOT connected to city water at the campsite, simply have your fresh tank filled with water and turn on the pump switch. When there is a call for water, (opening a faucet, flushing the toilet) the pump will run and supply the needed water.

It does in fact have a pressure switch so when the faucet is closed and the pressure builds to the pre-set amount, the pump will automatically turn itself off until the pressure drops to the point it needs to kick back on.

Under almost all circumstances, you do not want to turn the the pump switch on when you are hooked to city water.

[Cowracer]

As a rule, I treat the water pump like I have to pay for its usage. I turn in on only when I need it, I turn it back off when I am done. I know that its perfectly fine to leave it on for extended periods and it will cycle, but I am afraid of a PEX line rupturing when I am asleep and flooding things out. Just a personal quirk of mine.
Tim

[aeblank]

Pex is *very* reliable. I have thousands of feet of it and dozens of connections in my house.

[SeaDog]

Most RV water pumps are on demand pumps you can turn them on and leave them. I turn my off when traveling or when I leave the TT just for added insurance. I also have a pressure tank so mine cycles very little

[bikendan]

Wife is right.
Only if you have leak or the FW tank runs dry, is it a problem leaving it on. It's on-demand.

We also only turn it off when we leave for long periods.

[johnbryanpeters]

Originally Posted by aeblank

Pex is *very* reliable. I have thousands of feet of it and dozens of connections in my house.

PEX systems can be reliable, but given the poor construction quality of travel trailers and RVs I generally turn my pump off if I'm out of my trailer. The penalty clause for failure is too severe in my mind to do otherwise.

[Kimber45]

Originally Posted by 4B11T

Its alright to leave it on, pump with only run when you turn on a fixture. I always turn my switch off when we leave the camper for a while.

x2. always shut mine off if leaving camper. dont want to come back to a burst line and a flooded trailer.

[llr]

Just curious if the people that turn the pump off because of possible leaks also turn off the city water when not using it.

[johnbryanpeters]

Originally Posted by llr

Just curious if the people that turn the pump off because of possible leaks also turn off the city water when not using it.

Yes, if I'm leaving the trailer for more than a few minutes.

[SeaDog]

Originally Posted by llr

Just curious if the people that turn the pump off because of possible leaks also turn off the city water when not using it.

I turn the city water off if I'm leaving my campsite for any period of time just like the water pump.

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by llr

Just curious if the people that turn the pump off because of possible leaks also turn off the city water when not using it.

I turn the city water off also, if we'll be gone for an extended period of time.

[5picker]

Originally Posted by llr

Just curious if the people that turn the pump off because of possible leaks also turn off the city water when not using it.

You bet.
I've seen two different units (my Uncle's and another time, a neighbouring camper) that had water running out the bottom of the door when coming back from a day trip.

Neither was from a broken pipe or fitting.
My Uncle's flush valve stuck and overflowed the toilet bowl. The neighbors kid left the sink faucet run and filled the grey tank and then backflowed out the shower drain.

When gone for more than a hour or so, the water is off. Pump or city.

[Kimber45]

Originally Posted by llr

Just curious if the people that turn the pump off because of possible leaks also turn off the city water when not using it.

I very rarley hook to city water when available. (unless on a full hook up site) I'm used to camping off the fresh tank. I know how much water it holds and know how long my tanks should last.


I kinda think if not a full hook up site (sewer) being hooked up to water is silly. water pump is fine for me dont need the city pressure. Heard horror stories of city water blow ups and flooding campers.

[itat]

Some campgrounds that are on a private well for their water system, have lower water pressure in their system than you can get out of your 12V pump. In that case, you have the option of using your FW tank and 12V pump if its significantly different. The filling station is right there beside your site.

[DouglasReid]

Any man who tells you he is the boss in his own house....!.........wil LIE about other things too!

BUT, in this case your wife is dead right, so don't argue!

[njfishing]

Yep - Looks like you owe your wife a nice dinner, some jewelry or something

Just so it does not get lost here there are 2 different scenarios... Running on city water or running off your fresh water tank.

If running on city water you don't use the pump at all. The pressure comes from the city line, just like it does at your home.

When filling your fresh water tank and running off of it, you have to use the pump to create the pressure and like mentioned above, most pumps are designed to be on demand. They automatically turn on when they sense pressure is needed and will shut back off when the system is pressurized.

If your pump continues to run all the time you have a leak somewhere or your pump pressure switch is bad.