water pump runs short burst every 30 mins or so...

[John in Santa Cruz]

sooo, this new-to-me 2014 Escape 21, with everything 'on' (water heater, pump), every half hour or so, the pump runs a very short burst, like less than a second, sounds like a short poot.

Since I couldn't find any trace of a leak or drip, I went ahead and got the kit for the backflow valve, and put it in yesterday. slept in the camper last night to evaluate, and dayum if I didn't hear that PDPDT a couple times. shut off the toilet water supply and bypassed the hot water heater (shutting said heater off), and didn't hear it again.... a few hours later, I turned the toilet back on, and I don't think I heard it again, so that suggests it has to do with the water heater.

I *just* replaced the anode rod, after thoroughly flushing the heater out with the plastic wand made for that purpose, and I'm quite sure I used plenty of teflon tape on it, so I doubt its dripping there (it was POOT'ing before I did this, too). Its been raining all night, so I'll have to wait for dry weather to investigate for water heater release valve or whatever leaks.

[gbaglo]

I use as little tape as I can get away with. Less is more.

[KarenH]

I just turn off the pump when not in use.

[wetzk]

It sounds like you have an air bubble in the tank that is slowly being absorbed into the water. Maybe you are not real level side to side and it's holding an air pocket? I can see an accumulator tank coming in handy for that too as it would keep the small pressure changes from firing up the pump.

[cpaharley2008]

Originally Posted by KarenH

I just turn off the pump when not in use.

I like Karen's solution, I do not love my pump charged while not in use.

[PGDriver]

When you fill the hot water tank open the pressure relief valve to bleed off the air. This should help, mine does the same thing.


Cheers
Doug

[Ron in BC]

Originally Posted by KarenH

I just turn off the pump when not in use.

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

I like Karen's solution, I do not love my pump charged while not in use.

Double ditto.

Ron

[Patandlinda]

Our pump is always off unless needed . Pat

[Vermilye]

Originally Posted by Patandlinda

Our pump is always off unless needed . Pat

I did the same with my 17, but the switch is too far from the bathroom for easy nighttime visits (I know, that is really lazy!). I do shut it off when leaving the trailer for any length of time.

No problems with the pump doing short bursts.

I'm not sure removing the air from the water heater will help - if there is no cushioning in the system such as the water heater air or an accumulator, it seems to me even a slight drop in pressure (due to temperature changes, etc) would cause a short burst.

Somewhat related since it did cause a short pump burst - I had a very slight leak under the sink from the hot water connection that only happened when I first fired up the water heater when it was very cold out. The expansion in the tank, plus the addition of a anti back flow valve on the water heater to protect the pump caused excess pressure on the sink hot water line & a few drips.

Rease suggested using a wrench to get a bit more "turn" on the fitting (it is designed to be hand tightened) & it solved the problem.

[Patandlinda]

Originally Posted by Vermilye

I did the same with my 17, but the switch is too far from the bathroom for easy nighttime visits (I know, that is really lazy!). I do shut it off when leaving the trailer for any length of time.

No problems with the pump doing short bursts.

I'm not sure removing the air from the water heater will help - if there is no cushioning in the system such as the water heater air or an accumulator, it seems to me even a slight drop in pressure (due to temperature changes, etc) would cause a short burst.

Somewhat related since it did cause a short pump burst - I had a very slight leak under the sink from the hot water connection that only happened when I first fired up the water heater when it was very cold out. The expansion in the tank, plus the addition of a anti back flow valve on the water heater to protect the pump caused excess pressure on the sink hot water line & a few drips.

Rease suggested using a wrench to get a bit more "turn" on the fitting (it is designed to be hand tightened) & it solved the problem.

Jon not a expert on electrical here but can't another line be run to turn pump on and off ? PT

[Vermilye]

Originally Posted by Patandlinda

Jon not a expert on electrical here but can't another line be run to turn pump on and off ? PT

Yes, although if you wanted to be able to use EITHER to turn the pump off & on, you would need to convert the built in switch to a 3 way. Wiring either would be "interesting"...

[Ron in BC]

I'm just guessing here but in the 21, with the bed not directly over the water pump, maybe a blip here or there is less noticeable.

Ron

[KarenH]

Originally Posted by Ron in BC

I'm just guessing here but in the 21, with the bed not directly over the water pump, maybe a blip here or there is less noticeable.

Ron

I sleep at the front end of my trailer whereas the pump is in the rear. Granted I have a much smaller trailer but it was annoying to have the pump go off a couple of times a night. I quickly got used to the furnace firing up, but the pump was a little more startling--maybe because it was only every couple of hours.

[John in Santa Cruz]

Originally Posted by Ron in BC

I'm just guessing here but in the 21, with the bed not directly over the water pump, maybe a blip here or there is less noticeable.

Ron

um, on my 21, the pump is directly under the bed.

re: plenty of teflon, two full turns stretched on snuggly, as I've found a single layer will usually tear off before you get the threads going.

re: air bubbles in the water heater, I did in fact open the release valve to fill it, then once it was full, ran the kitchen sink hot water til it stopped spitting. My 2008 Casita has a very similar water heater and pump and everything, and we've not ever noticed the pump running when its not being used. I do shut off the pump when we're not in the trailer, but like to leave it on when the hot water is on, and when we're sleeping so the toilet and sink are ready to use, etc.

[Rossue]

Seem to remember a previous discussion here for same problem and the fix was a seal in the water pump.

[gbaglo]

That PDPDT is to remind you to turn the pump off.

[John in Santa Cruz]

Originally Posted by Rossue

Seem to remember a previous discussion here for same problem and the fix was a seal in the water pump.

I in fact just replaced the check valve. old one looked like new, no sign of any flug in the pump, etc. new one made no difference. bypassing water heater seems to have stopped it, so when its stopped raining, that's what I'll be investigating next.

[thoer]

Originally Posted by gbaglo

That PDPDT is to remind you to turn the pump off.

So it does have a purpose!

[AllanEdie]

Perhaps not applicable to your situation since you seem to have narrowed it down to your hot water tank, plus you mention a new anti-backflow valve - but as most of these pumps age, their internal valves can allow a slight seep back through the pump head, which will cause this kind of pump behaviour. Solution in that case is rebuild the pump, or turn it off.

Good luck with the chase, let us know what you find.

[Patandlinda]

Originally Posted by Vermilye

Yes, although if you wanted to be able to use EITHER to turn the pump off & on, you would need to convert the built in switch to a 3 way. Wiring either would be "interesting"...

Sounds like not to easy then . Pat