Shower / Water Pump

[bergeman]

First shower in RW today. After 30 minutes or so, the water pump would start to cycle. Is that normal? Joking about the 30 minutes, it was maybe 5 minutes. During the first 5 minutes, water pump was on continuously, after 5 minutes it started cycling.

Second, has anybody thought or actually put in a Kohler Shower system where it recycles and heats the water so you can have a powerful shower?

[markw]

The pump is a demand pump. It won't necessarily run the whole time the faucet is on. If the demand is less than pump output, it will cycle.

Mark

[almcc]

We found that the pump cycled when we were showering resulting in a variation in water temperature, warm to a little cool then back again.

When I took out the internal water filter assembly behind the basement wall and replaced it with an external one I put a small pressure tank in that location and mounted it to the basement wall, it reduced the cycling and the temperature variations were also reduced.

[Grizzby]

Great idea! You must have some plumbing experience...that comes in handy as an RV owner!

[mhs4771]

Or you can upgrade to a pump that varies in speed as the demand increases. Have done that mod to the last 2 fifthwheel.

[atom ant]

what model pump to you upgrade to?

[mhs4771]

Just purchased a FloJet Vflo Constant Pressure 5 GPM, R4426143A. On sale at CW for $199 or on Amazon for $289, but this style is very quiet in operation. Won't get it installed for another couple of weeks when we get to our Winter site.

[Jim & Mary]

We're parked at Mesa for the winter and the shore water just filled up our fresh water tank. Called Redwood CS, was told there was not a check valve to prevent that, but further study indicates there is a check valve in the pump itself. We either have a leaky check valve, or a partial tear in the diaphragm. The pump works, but seems to cycle with no faucets open, so looks like a pump replacement is in the works.

Jim

[almcc]

Originally Posted by Grizzby

Great idea! You must have some plumbing experience...that comes in handy as an RV owner!

I do have some plumbing experience but as I recall the 1/2 inch fittings that the water filter had are the same as those needed for the pressure tank, so it was "plug and play" as they say, no additional plumbing was required. I just unscrewed the fittings from the water filter and screwed them into the pressure tank, I did have to mount the tank to the basement wall though.

[Shane Wood]

Originally Posted by Jim & Mary

We're parked at Mesa for the winter and the shore water just filled up our fresh water tank. Called Redwood CS, was told there was not a check valve to prevent that, but further study indicates there is a check valve in the pump itself. We either have a leaky check valve, or a partial tear in the diaphragm. The pump works, but seems to cycle with no faucets open, so looks like a pump replacement is in the works.

Jim

Jim
I had the same problem. I opened the taps and ran the pump for a while and it has been good since

[markw]

Originally Posted by Jim & Mary

We're parked at Mesa for the winter and the shore water just filled up our fresh water tank. Called Redwood CS, was told there was not a check valve to prevent that, but further study indicates there is a check valve in the pump itself. We either have a leaky check valve, or a partial tear in the diaphragm. The pump works, but seems to cycle with no faucets open, so looks like a pump replacement is in the works.

Jim

You say shower water, I think you mean city water . If so, turn it off and open a faucet to relieve pressure. Turn the pump on and turn a faucet on and off. Turn the pump off and turn the city water on. See if this stops the back flow. It happened to me once.

Mark

[Dave&Ginny]

Originally Posted by Jim & Mary

We're parked at Mesa for the winter and the shore water just filled up our fresh water tank. Called Redwood CS, was told there was not a check valve to prevent that, but further study indicates there is a check valve in the pump itself. We either have a leaky check valve, or a partial tear in the diaphragm. The pump works, but seems to cycle with no faucets open, so looks like a pump replacement is in the works.

Jim

Jim,

mine would spurt on every now and then and I never could get it to stop. I figures some of it was due to the ice maker. The main thing I was concerned about was a leak somewhere. I never did find any leaks in my system. I did replace the water pump through warranty and it still continued, I guess I should have upgraded the pump.

[mhs4771]

Ours does the same, you hear quick burps from the pump during the night. With our 36RL we also had the issue of City water going backwards thru the OEM pump and overflowing the fresh water tank. Changed to a variable speed pump and no more problem. The pump in this 39MB will be very quiet at times, then other times it could wake the dead, so the new variable speed pump will be installed shortly.

[hoosierguy]

Originally Posted by Jim & Mary

We're parked at Mesa for the winter and the shore water just filled up our fresh water tank. Called Redwood CS, was told there was not a check valve to prevent that, but further study indicates there is a check valve in the pump itself. We either have a leaky check valve, or a partial tear in the diaphragm. The pump works, but seems to cycle with no faucets open, so looks like a pump replacement is in the works.

Jim

There is a check valve in the pump mechanism, and in our 2012 36RL, there is also a check valve inline and external to the pump. I have read where some folks have experienced debris getting caught in various check valves. The pump check valve may be cleared by cycling the pump. The other check valves will likely need to be removed and flushed backwards to clear the debris or replaced.

Hope this helps.

[Jim & Mary]

M & A could you please tell me what pump motor you used for replacement? Thanks

[mhs4771]

FloJet Vflo Constant Pressure 5 GPM, R4426143A, presently on sale at CW

[Jim & Mary]

Thanks for your help. I think either the diaphragm has a leak or the built in check valve leaks, so will be looking to replace I think.