Water Pump Problems

[Traildad]

I used my escape 19 last March with no problem with the water pump. I am using it again now and something is wrong. In the beginning I noticed that the pump was quieter than normal. It pumps some water but there's a lot of air and the pump doesn’t turn off when I close the faucet valve. It just keeps running quietly. I pulled the filter cup off and it had a lot of alge in it. I cleaned it but the o-ring fell out and I'm not sure if I put it in correctly. With all the air it is spitting I guess it's got to be sucking air somewhere. Is the quiet pump a clue? I watched a video that suggested an internal valve was stuck. I opened the pump and it was stuck. I got it moving but that didn't solve my problem. I guess it could have stuck itself again. As far as I know I don't have a winterizing valve.

Can I rule out the pump being bad? Where exactly does the o-ring go in the filter cup?

[rubicon327]

The gasket just sets down in the recess in the clear cap. I have seen these caps with hairline fractures that are hard to see but will allow the pump to suck air in. Try some tape around it for troubleshooting. Also make sure that the strainer screen mesh is cleaned very well, clear lid screwed down snug with O-ring in place and that all fittings on the suction side of the pump are tight. When I have had a lot of air I found it simpler to hook to city water to fill all the lines (and purge of air by running all devices), hot water heater and fresh tank. Then unhook from city and try the pump. The fact the pump runs is a good sign. If you go over the system you’ll probably find something minor. In troubleshooting air/continuous pump operation on these systems on various trailers I have found different causes - a hairline crack in the strainer lid, a loose fitting on the suction side of the pump, improperly adjusted pump pressure/bypass settings, winterizing valve that was passing and allowing air into the system. Your pump settings are not likely the issue since your pump had been working fine.

This video by Reace might also help if you haven’t seen it
https://youtu.be/aL_3kz7y2zM?si=50v5SmZ630FyqMmV

[Traildad]

It's working again! I don't know why it wasn't working to start with but I took the filter cup back off and seated the o-ring in it and put it back on. Maybe the original problem was an alge clogged filter followed by a leaking o-ring. Now that the filter is cleaner and the o-ring in place it works. At least for now.