Plumbing Problem

[Jeff and Karen]

I’m at a park in Yukon in my new 21 and I have a plumbing problem. Can you help?

My water is connected to a park spigot. I have the pressure set to 45psi. Last night, the fresh tank began to overflow out of the fresh tank fill nozzle.

I don’t understand how my trailer is plumbed, or how water coming from the park supply could be diverted to the fresh tank. Can you help me understand why this is happening and how I can fix the problem? Thanks.

[escape artist]

Originally Posted by Jeff and Karen

I’m at a park in Yukon in my new 21 and I have a plumbing problem. Can you help?

My water is connected to a park spigot. I have the pressure set to 45psi. Last night, the fresh tank began to overflow out of the fresh tank fill nozzle.

I don’t understand how my trailer is plumbed, or how water coming from the park supply could be diverted to the fresh tank. Can you help me understand why this is happening and how I can fix the problem? Thanks.

Hi: Jeff and Karen... The backflow/ check valve in the 12V pump is not working properly. Call ETI as there is a procedure to possibly correct this. Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie

[Jeff and Karen]

Thanks Alf. If that’s the problem, it sounds manageable. At least the pump is easily accessible. I’ll give ETI a call this morning.

[C&G in FL]

Originally Posted by Jeff and Karen

Thanks Alf. If that’s the problem, it sounds manageable. At least the pump is easily accessible. I’ll give ETI a call this morning.

I second what Alf says. The checkvalve assembly could be bad or just stuck with debris. It is my opinion that sanitizing with chlorine “affects” the components of the check valve and may lead to the condition you are experiencing. The kit to replace the assembly is somewhere around $15, and it is easy to do if one is proficient with a screw driver. However, Amazon sells cylindrical check valves that can be put on the outflow side of the pump (confirmed by the pump manufacturer) that is much easier. Disconnect the hose and put the checkvalve in line, reconnect hose, all connections finger tight, but check for leaks afterwards. In either case, it is way more expensive to replace the pump itself.

[PGDriver]

Jeff and Karen here is the procedure to hopefully fix your problem.

Water Pump Reset
If water leaks back through pump and fills fresh water tank.

1- Fill fresh tank 3/4 full.
2- With the city water line disconnected pressurize the system using the 12 V pump.
3- Turn the pump off.
4- Turn on the kitchen tap and bleed the water and pressure off, do this a few times.
5- Re connect city water hose, and check to see if it is still filling the fresh tank!

[Jeff and Karen]

I’m giving it a try right now, PGDriver. It would be nice if cycling the pump a few times resets the check valve. I’ll see. Thanks for the suggestion.

[PGDriver]

One other thing, I discovered that this happens more when the water pressure exceeds 30 psi.
Cheers
Doug

[Jeff and Karen]

So far so good. It’s been 1 1/2 hours after recycling the pump with a pretty full fresh tank, and no overflow yet. I’ll give it another couple hours before I declare victory.

[Hilola]

As a matter of practice, I never hook up to city water, opting instead to fill the fresh water tank and use the 12V pump system. I've heard too many horror stories of issues related to city water.

[bdornbush]

Originally Posted by Hilola

As a matter of practice, I never hook up to city water, opting instead to fill the fresh water tank and use the 12V pump system. I've heard too many horror stories of issues related to city water.

I am the opposite. I am on my third water pump so I use city water whenever it is available unless I am just stopping for the night.

[gbaglo]

I'm on original water pump after 10 years. We always shut off when not in actual use. I wonder if that has something to do with it?

[bdornbush]

Originally Posted by gbaglo

I'm on original water pump after 10 years. We always shut off when not in actual use. I wonder if that has something to do with it?

I doubt it as we also shut ours off when not in use. It has more to do with the later pumps not being as high a quality. Ours was replaced twice while in warranty. ETI has changed suppliers several times.

[Jeff and Karen]

Thanks everyone. Cycling the water pump freed the check valve, and everything is now working fine. I can head down the Alaska Highway tomorrow feeling a lot better than I did last night.