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Topic Title: Confounded Water Pump
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Created On: 04/03/2009 11:25:01 AM

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04/03/2009 11:25:01 AM
CaptMark Member Posts: 174 Joined: 07/23/2007	I have a Shurflo pump for the water system. About every 30 seconds it "thumps". Like it's making one pump. I thought maybe I had a leak but I have run the lines several times (it's a pontoon style so water lines are completely exposed) but I can find no leak. I'm wondering if it could be leaking pressure back toward the water tank? ------------------------- Mark 1979 Crest Brookville Lake, IN
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04/03/2009 02:34:42 PM
peghall Admiral Posts: 404 Joined: 10/20/2002	Either the diaphragm in the pump is failing or the pressure switch is. The drop in pressure from an air leak in the diaphragm is what's causing the pump to cycle. It prob'ly started "thumping" every few hours, then closer and closer together...though, as the time between "thumps" gets shorter, the pump usually runs longer and longer each time....until eventually it won't shut off at all and won't pump any water either. A failing pressure switch will also cause the pump to cycle and eventually cease to pump any water. If the pump is more than 10 years old, you prob'ly can't get a rebuild kit for it any more...but they cost almost as much as a new pump. So my advice: replace the pump. ------------------------- Peggie Hall, Moderator Specializing in marine sanitation since 1987, Author: "Get Rid of Boat Odors--A Guide to Marine Sanitation Systems and Other Sources of Aggravation and Odor." [L=http://shop.sailboatowners.com/books/detail-books.htm?sku=66438&cat=1304[/L]
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04/03/2009 10:32:21 PM
Jeepster04 Admiral Posts: 310 Joined: 09/15/2008	Most likely it is leaking pressure back out like you thought. Could be a leaky check valve. Our Flojet kicks on every 30min or so also, we usually just turn it off when were not using it. ------------------------- 1990 16x78' stardust Eastern Ky
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04/03/2009 11:32:18 PM
peghall Admiral Posts: 404 Joined: 10/20/2002	Yes, the pump is leaking pressure...but unless you know what's causing it to lose pressure, it's kinda hard to fix. And he needs to fix it. Priming/pressurizing the system is the hardest work the pump has to do, so turning it on and off every time you want water puts a lot of unnecessary wear on it. Keep doing that instead of repairing or replacing it, and you're gonna turn it on when you come aboard sometime and find that it runs, but doesn't pump water any more. Turn it on when you come aboard...turn it off when you leave. Or if your ice maker is empty and you want to have ice when you come back, it won't hurt a thing to leave it on. ------------------------- Peggie Hall, Moderator Specializing in marine sanitation since 1987, Author: "Get Rid of Boat Odors--A Guide to Marine Sanitation Systems and Other Sources of Aggravation and Odor." [L=http://shop.sailboatowners.com/books/detail-books.htm?sku=66438&cat=1304[/L]
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04/04/2009 10:52:27 AM
Jeepster04 Admiral Posts: 310 Joined: 09/15/2008	Thats true peg but, since our pump will cycle on and off if we leave it on(like captmarks does), it will reduce the number of cycles if we turn it off when were not using it. Plus, we use dock pressure when were at the dock so its not used very often. Only thing is ours doesnt 'thump' every 30 seconds, its more like 30minutes so its not an issue, yet.. Captmark, have you tried getting on shurflo's website and finding a break down of the pump? Flojet has a nice break down of our pump with part numbers for everything. Not looked up the prices for the check valve though. ------------------------- 1990 16x78' stardust Eastern Ky Edited: 04/04/2009 at 10:54:07 AM by Jeepster04
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04/04/2009 11:27:09 AM
peghall Admiral Posts: 404 Joined: 10/20/2002	"Thats true peg but, since our pump will cycle on and off if we leave it on(like captmarks does), it will reduce the number of cycles if we turn it off when were not using it." The solution that problem: Fix or replace the pump! Fresh water pumps are not expensive. ------------------------- Peggie Hall, Moderator Specializing in marine sanitation since 1987, Author: "Get Rid of Boat Odors--A Guide to Marine Sanitation Systems and Other Sources of Aggravation and Odor." [L=http://shop.sailboatowners.com/books/detail-books.htm?sku=66438&cat=1304[/L]
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