Solved: Water pump not shutting off

Kr@cken · September 2020

Thank you for your advice in advance. On a recent trip I noticed that when I turned on my water pump it would not stop cycling. It will pump out water just will not shut down. Here are the things I have already tried on my 2020 T@B 320 BD with all original plumbing.
1) Cleaned filter at pump intake
2) Confirmed all water connections I could reach were tight
3) Checked for any water leaks. None
4) Tipped T@B nose down and let it sit (Someone suggested that might help)
5) Confirmed fresh water tank was full
6) Drained Alde and refilled it.

It was during the refill of the Alde that I noticed the outdoor shower was not turning on. I confirmed the hose was not kinked or tucked in a way that was blocking water flow. Turned both faucets all the way and back again. Took off the nozzle to check for blockage or dirt. I haven’t actually used it except to run during filling Alde so that flow was always minimum. I checked all the connections with a small mirror just in case it might catch air leaking out that I couldn't see. No luck. So now I am stuck.

Sorry for the long post but wanted to give as much information as possible. Any advice from all you wise and knowing T@Bber’s?

Sharon_is_SAM · September 2020

Fill your fresh tank. Then, hook up to city water, flush the toilet and open your taps and fill the Alde - this should get rid of the air in all your lines in short order. Then disconnect the city water. Then, turn on your pump and open a tap. Also, look for cracks in the pump’s black filter housing.

The shower hose has been a problem. Try not to pull it all the way out which tends to set a kink in the hose.

Kr@cken · September 2020

Thanks! Should I drain what is already in the Alde and start empty? There is no kink in the hose. I opened the bench and double checked that it is clear. How do you know when the Alde is filled?

Sharon_is_SAM · September 2020

No, just hook up to city water and open your hot tap to fill the Alde. When the hot tap stops sputtering, the Alde water tank is filled.

Kr@cken · September 2020

Once again I am saved by my fellow camper. It worked. I wasn’t filling the tank on city water. It took a while on city water for the shower to run so perhaps there was air in that part of the system. I noticed in all the Alde instructions and my NuCamp manual that it just says “fill hot water tank” and no guidance on how to do that. I really appreciate your time and expertise.

Sharon_is_SAM · September 2020

Whenever we know that we are headed out to a non-water campsite, we hook up to city water at home and fill the lines and Alde water tank. When we enter the park we fill the fresh water tank. That way you don’t use 2.5 gallons from your fresh water tank to fill the Alde water tank and your pump is ready to go!

TresK3 · September 2020

As another newbie, I just learned a whole lot from this exchange! Thanks to both of you. :}

BrianZ · September 2020

And it's a good reminder for the non-newbie as well.
"Pre-fill & Pre-chill"!

FriendsofMario · October 23

Unfotunately, this solution did NOT work for me. We have been out in our 2019 400 BDL for 17 days. Yesterday I noticed that while the pump was making adequate pressure and would cycle properly, it sounded very rough in operation. This morning I checked and tightened the mounting feet, all connections in the pump compartment and elsewhere in the trailer that are accessible, and cleaned the strainer. Now the pump runs perfectly smoothly--and constantly. Tried SAM's fix, no dice.

Anyone have any other ideas?

Sharon_is_SAM · October 24

It won’t turn off?

Horigan · October 24

Pumps that don't turn off typically have a failure in the pressure switch at the bottom of the pump. I recently replaced the switch on a boat water pump that kept blowing the fuse. It looks like this.

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021717/uploads/editor/8i/i84r56y6yxbl.jpg

FriendsofMario · October 26

No, the pump runs continuously, and now it's spitting out more air than a joint session of Congress. It does move water, but sounds really rough. All the low-side connections are tight, so I don't know where all the air is coming from.

When we get home next week I'm going to remove and disassemble the pump to see if something's going on with the diaphragm. Horigan, thanks for the tip on the pressure switch. I've got another Shurflo on hand at home, same model, so if need be a can cannibalize it for parts, or even switch it out entirely.

ScottG · October 27

I suspect you've covered this, but it's worth asking... Is the water tank full? I've never measured it precisely, but my pump will start sputtering air and stop pushing water while there's still a fair amount in the tank. My guess is the outlet starts "whirlpooling" when the water is below a certain level. Realistically, I'm guessing the usable capacity of my tank is only 75-80% of its rated capcity.

FriendsofMario · November 1

Update: removed and completely disassembled the pump. Expected (hoped?) to find some sort of obstruction/foreign matter on the valve assembly, but nothing was there. Reassembled, reinstalled, and filled the fresh tank to 2/3 KIB level. Turned on pump, system pressurized within a minute and shut off properly. Bled air from all fixtures, pump now shuts off and stays off like it should.

So, ScottG, you may be correct. I may not have had sufficient water in the tank during one use, and the pump head may consequently have become sufficiently airbound that, while it was still moving water, it couldn't make its cutoff pressure.

Anyway, it's working now.

Thanks, all.

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