Newbie water pump question

descott12
descott12 Member Posts: 46
in Heating/Plumbing & Winterizing
Hello all,
Is it ok to leave the water pump on when not actually running water from a faucet? And why does it hum and make so much noise when water is NOT flowing? It seems this is not good and it shouldn't really be doing anything when it isn't actually pumping water.  I would think it would sense the drop in pressure on the output side and start pumping when a faucet is opened. Otherwise it should be in an inactive/standby mode when powered but no water flowing. Or am I missing something.
Thanks
2025 Tab320S pulled by Ford Maverick
· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter Share on Google+

Comments

  • scott14
    scott14 Member Posts: 189
    We leave our water pump ON all the time, unless we leave the T@B/campsite.  A hum or noise from the pump is not normal if there is no open faucet.  Someone else may be able to help diagnose further.
    Scott / 2019 T@B 400 "C@lypso" / 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe LTZ / Northern Illinois
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter Share on Google+
  • pthomas745
    pthomas745 Administrator, Moderator Posts: 4,532
    Tell us what year your trailer is, and there are several fixes to help the pump noise level.
    2017 Outback
    Towed by 2014 Touareg TDi
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter Share on Google+
  • Bill&Suze
    Bill&Suze Member Posts: 174
    Check your Nautilus valve settings to verify that you are set to Dry Camping and not City Water.
    Susan & Bill, Yarmouth, Maine
    2024 T@B 400 Boondock Black Canyon
    2024 Kia EV9
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter Share on Google+
  • Basil48192
    Basil48192 Member Posts: 437
    I agree with @scott14.  The pump should be completely 'off' and silent when water is not 'flowing'.  When a faucet is open, the pump turns on to maintain flow.  When the faucet is closed, the pump should stop.  I believe there is a pressure switch in the system, so the pump may run for a few seconds after the water is turned off.  But once the system is pressurized, no power should be supplied to the pump. 
    Could you be hearing the Alde pump running?  Make sure the Alde system is off and see if the noise is still there.  
    Lastly, I'm a little paranoid....so I usually turn off the water pump if I'm not going to be using it for a while.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter Share on Google+
  • descott12
    descott12 Member Posts: 46
    Hey all thanks for the replies. It is a brand new 2025 Tab320S.
    I pulled up the cushions and it sound is definitely coming from the water pump which is right next to the ALDE system.
    I am currently hooked up to a hose so I have nautilus set on "City water".
    When I switched to "Dry camping", the pump is quiet and turns on as needed with the faucet.
    So what is the difference? It seems like there is something wrong with the City setting.
    2025 Tab320S pulled by Ford Maverick
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter Share on Google+
  • Sharon_is_SAM
    Sharon_is_SAM Member Posts: 10,061
    You don’t use the pump when on city water.  That may explain the cycling.
    Sharon / 2017 T@B CSS / 2015 Toyota Sienna Minivan / Westlake, Ohio
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter Share on Google+
  • descott12
    descott12 Member Posts: 46
    Sharon_is_SAM said:
    You don’t use the pump when on city water.  That may explain the cycling.
    Ah!!!....Thanks alot. I was not aware of that!
    2025 Tab320S pulled by Ford Maverick
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter Share on Google+
  • descott12
    descott12 Member Posts: 46
    Sharon_is_SAM said:
    You don’t use the pump when on city water.  That may explain the cycling.
    I don't think that little detail is mentioned anywhere in the manual...
    2025 Tab320S pulled by Ford Maverick
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter Share on Google+
  • scott14
    scott14 Member Posts: 189
    edited May 2025
    @Sharon_is_SAM is correct. We had a 2022 320 with the Nautilus system.  When on City water, the pump should be off.  Only use the pump when in Dry Camping mode.
    Scott / 2019 T@B 400 "C@lypso" / 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe LTZ / Northern Illinois
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter Share on Google+
  • Bill&Suze
    Bill&Suze Member Posts: 174
    The pump will function correctly when the Nautilus is set to Dry Camping (as I mentioned above.) When set to City Water, which is what your setting was with the hose connected, if you turn the pump switch on you will hear it run continuously (as you said, it made "so much noise") but water to the pump is bypassed to go directly to fixtures via your hose connection. If set to City Water, keep your pump off.
    Susan & Bill, Yarmouth, Maine
    2024 T@B 400 Boondock Black Canyon
    2024 Kia EV9
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter Share on Google+
  • MarkAl
    MarkAl Member Posts: 509
    I'm going to push this mod (again) if you don't like the noise of the pump. In addition to the link to isolate the vibration this thread talks about the IRVWPC "Intelligent RV Water Pump Controller" IRVWPC Variable Speed Pump Controller Install (I love this mod) it allows:
    - small streams of water without the ON-OFF pulsing of the pump
    - optionally deactivates the pump if pumping too long maybe due to a leak
    - other options check their site: HOME / IRVWPC
    Snohomish WA, 2015 Diesel Grand Cherokee
    Sm@ll World: 2021 320S Boondock, 6V Pb-acid
    Shunt, Roof & Remote solar & 30A DC-DC Chargers
    managed by VE Smart Network
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter Share on Google+

Categories