Not getting water to kitchen sink - RESOLVED

jolamanna

My water pump used to sound like it was literally pumping up and down, made a bit of a racket, which I've been told is how it is supposed to sound. Since de-winterizing it is more of a hum and no water is getting to the kitchen sink. When the pump is running, I can pull the lever on the toilet and I can see the filter fill with water and the toilet will fill, but the shower has a little dribble and the kitchen sink gets nothing. Any ideas on what I should check next?

pthomas745

Welcome to the Forums!

1: how much water is in the tank? Not enough water could prevent the pump pickup point from grabbing any water.

2: are you sure that after your de-winterizing process that every possible valve, faucet, filter, is closed and tight? Are the Alde valves in the "camping season mode?" Drains all closed, including the Famous Yellow Flapper Valve? Outdoor shower faucets closed?

3: along with 1, if there is just not enough water in the tank, and the tongue is "up"…..that can also effect water pickup. The fresh water tank outlet is on the front of the water tank…which is just behind the front step. Lower the tongue a bit.

4: Have you "pressurized" the water lines? After you know everything is closed, try running the pump for a couple of minutes (the pump can be run "dry") and then open one of the kitchen faucets, hot or cold. Did you get a blast of air and spray? That would show the pump is trying to pressurize the plumbing. Close the faucet. Run the pump for a couple more minutes. Open the faucet again. More spray, less air? Every attempt like this will drive the air from each hot and cold pipe, and you should get more water flow on each attempt. Do this for all the faucets, hot and cold.

jolamanna

I’ve double and triple checked the valves but I don’t know how much water is in my tank. I’ll top it off and lower the front of the trailer and work on pressurizing the lines. Thank you! I’ll let you know how it goes

jolamanna

@pthomas745 you saved the day! Thank you so much! It worked like a charm😊

Horigan

If this is the first time the system is has been used this year, be sure to sanitize the system before using it. I add a 1/4 of bleach to a full tank. Run the water so it gets into all the lines, sinks, outside shower, but not the hot water (you don't want chlorine in the stainless steel Alde tank). You should be smell ing the chlorine from the taps. Let sit for a couple of hours at least, then drain, fill tank, and rinse the lines, twice at least to get the smell out.

pthomas745

And, if you do sanitize….and you should, remember to put the Alde valves in the "Winterizing" position.