Water pumps
Q. The water pump runs continuously but no water is available at the taps.
A.1.The most likely problem is that there
is no water in the water tank or no water is reaching the pump
from the water tank. This causes the pump to run continuously
trying to build up a suitable water pressure. The pump should
always be turned of when this occurs as if the pump runs dry for
any period of time it is likely to cause damage to itself. Causes
are as follows
a - There is no water in the tank.
b - The isolator valve between the tank and pump is turned off.
c - The filter is clogged, many pumps have a clear plastic filter
just prior to the pump if this become clogged no water reaches
the pump. Probable time taken 12 - 15 minutes. Parts required
- none.
Q. The water pump runs intermittently.
A.1. The pump running intermittently,
often only heard at night when the boat is quiet. This intermittent
running implies that the water pressure is dropping in the system.
The usual causes for this are as follows
a - There is a leak in the system. This could be a dripping tap
or shower, the first thing to do is to check all taps.
b - A genuine leak from the pipe work is another possible cause,
this can often be checked by examining the cabin bilge, if they
are wet then a possible leak exists. Check all joints in the water
system looking for leaks, when found correct the leak.
c -The final possibility is that the pump is leaking back into
the tank i.e. allowing water from the pressurised system to leak
back to the tank. The best way to check for this condition is
to let the pump run until the system is pressurised then turn
of the valve between the tank and the pump. If the pump no longer
runs intermittently then the pump head needs replacement.
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