Water, water, .... nowhere :-(

[Confused Again]

Hi,
We bought an old (2009) motorhome and I thought it would be a brilliant idea to add a water filter to the system so that we could drink the water from the tap instead of using bottles. So I added a cartridge filter and UV LED. The only thing was, the water tank is under the seat towards the front of the MH and the pump is beside it. There was no room to add everything there so I ran pipes to the garage and added the filter system there. Now, when I turn the water on, all I get it the pump ticking like mad, a lot of gurgling from the system and air with the occasional spit of water from the taps. I did briefly get some water coming out of the taps but that stopped the next day. :-( I wonder whether the extra distance the water has to go is just too much for the pump. The pump is a Shurflo Trail King 7 12V/1,4Bar. Do you think it's worth trying a bigger pump or do I have to take the whole filter system out again. :-( Or maybe I'm missing some other problem???
All help would be very much appreciated!
Thanks!

 

[r4dent]

a diagram showing how the components are connected, and some photos will help understand what you have done.

a useful test would be to replace the filter wile a connecting piece and tell us what happens

 

[Canalsman]

It might be that you have an airlock in the system.

One trick I've read about, assuming you have a shower, is to remove the shower head whilst the pump is running (tap on) and suck...

This can help draw the water through.

 

[Pudsey Bear]

It sounds like you need to purge the air from all the taps, I do this while filling the tank.

 

[Confused Again]

a diagram showing how the components are connected, and some photos will help understand what you have done.

a useful test would be to replace the filter wile a connecting piece and tell us what happens

Thanks r4dent. Good idea, I'll knock together a diagram and take some photos. I'll also try bypassing the filter as you suggest to see if that helps. Thanks!

 

[Confused Again]

It might be that you have an airlock in the system.

One trick I've read about, assuming you have a shower, is to remove the shower head whilst the pump is running (tap on) and suck...

This can help draw the water through.

Hi Canalsman. Thanks! Yes, I had heard that too and I have tried it. All the sucking I could do didn't help I'm afraid but thanks for reminding me. I'll have another go this morning.

 

[Confused Again]

It sounds like you need to purge the air from all the taps, I do this while filling the tank.

Thanks Pudsey Bear. Yes, I think you are right. I just wish I knew how to achieve it. My fear is that the pipes are so full of air that it will not be an easy task. That's why I wondered whether a bigger pump would be the answer.

 

[r4dent]

When you have drained the system the tank / boiler/ tank / pump / pipewoork / filter are not empty!
They are full of air.

A lot of people fill the tank with the taps closed, the air cannot get out and is trapped in the system.

I always use this method and have never had an airlock

a) switch pump off
b) drain tank
c) open all taps (this giives the air a way out of the system)
d) Start filling tank

When the tank is half full (continue filling the tank)
e) Close all taps except sink cold
f) turn pump on
g) water should start to come out of tap
h) close sink cold
i) open each cold tap in turn, close when water comes out (this purges air from pipework)
j) open each hot tap in turn, close when water comes out (this primes the boiler)
k) continue until tank is full

 

[Confused Again]

Thank you all for your help! I've had a fun day today. I saw that there was some water on the floor. Initially I thought that maybe it was an overflow from when I filled the tank. However, some time later and with the help of an endoscope, I found a problem. I think when I ran the new pipes I must have pushed one of the original pipes (the main pipe from the pump) up against a Truma hot air pipe. From what I can see, I think the water pipe has been melted by the hot ait in the heating system. I'm surprised (as I wouldn't have thought it was hot enough to do that) but that's what it looks like. I won't know for sure until I can properly get to the pipe. Unfortunately, it's under the toilet, so not the easiest place to access! It looks like the top of the pipe has melted so, while it might be letting a little bit of water out, the main problem is that it is letting a lot of air in. At least, I hope that's the problem .... although it would have been simpler if it was just a dead pump!

 

[Confused Again]

When you have drained the system the tank / boiler/ tank / pump / pipewoork / filter are not empty!
They are full of air.

A lot of people fill the tank with the taps closed, the air cannot get out and is trapped in the system.

I always use this method and have never had an airlock

a) switch pump off
b) drain tank
c) open all taps (this giives the air a way out of the system)
d) Start filling tank

When the tank is half full (continue filling the tank)
e) Close all taps except sink cold
f) turn pump on
g) water should start to come out of tap
h) close sink cold
i) open each cold tap in turn, close when water comes out (this purges air from pipework)
j) open each hot tap in turn, close when water comes out (this primes the boiler)
k) continue until tank is full

Many thanks r4dent! That sounds like a great system. I appreciate your help and I'll do it this way in future.

 

[Canalsman]

Thank you all for your help! I've had a fun day today. I saw that there was some water on the floor. Initially I thought that maybe it was an overflow from when I filled the tank. However, some time later and with the help of an endoscope, I found a problem. I think when I ran the new pipes I must have pushed one of the original pipes (the main pipe from the pump) up against a Truma hot air pipe. From what I can see, I think the water pipe has been melted by the hot ait in the heating system. I'm surprised (as I wouldn't have thought it was hot enough to do that) but that's what it looks like. I won't know for sure until I can properly get to the pipe. Unfortunately, it's under the toilet, so not the easiest place to access! It looks like the top of the pipe has melted so, while it might be letting a little bit of water out, the main problem is that it is letting a lot of air in. At least, I hope that's the problem .... although it would have been simpler if it was just a dead pump!

I can't believe that the pipe has melted. The pipework is capable of carrying very hot water after all!

 

[Robmac]

Thank you all for your help! I've had a fun day today. I saw that there was some water on the floor. Initially I thought that maybe it was an overflow from when I filled the tank. However, some time later and with the help of an endoscope, I found a problem.

A very handy bit of kit for diagnosing problems and readily available for little money.

 

[Confused Again]

A very handy bit of kit for diagnosing problems and readily available for little money.

You're right. I bought a cheap one for one specific job and keep finding new uses for it!

 

[oppy]

Bloomin' water herrumph. Yesterday I filled the tank, switched on the pump (with the taps fully open) shut off the taps but the pump kept on going, yup a flamin' leak !! Not in the sort of place where you can easily get too, the taps in the loo compartment, the blasted third connection had snapped, so I've shut everything down in there and am now searching round to find a replacement tap unit, otherwise we'll be washing in the kitchen sink !!
Ah well