BURPING the system

[ARD]

So I've been having some issues with my water pump the last week or so in that the pump won't stop running or it won't run at all. Or I'll turn on the water, the pump keeps running and then I turn on water again and it will stop running. Called Newmar and they told me to BURP the system. I'm probably the only person who doesn't know how to get air out of the lines, but just in case someone else out there doesn't know and wants to try this before moving to the next step of buying a new controller, etc.... here yah go. TO BURP: Make sure you have fresh water. Turn all the faucets on, including shower and flush toilets. Run for about a minute or so. And there you go.

I'm not sure if it worked yet. I have VERY low water pressure at this campground, so I'll burp the girl again when I get to the next CG. ??

 

[TJ&LadyDi]

I have also found that you need to include the "outside shower" in the wet bay. In fact, I have solved a couple of issues with the water pump not picking up a prime by just doing the outside shower "burp."

TJ

 

[Neal]

Low water pressure by itself can cause this. My rear sink will cycle the pressure because the demand is so low but if I open two faucets the problem goes away per my pump manufacturer. Try turning on two faucets which create a higher demand and see if the problem goes away. I don't know...strange issue and you haven't had this problem before.

Answer quality: D-

 

[ARD]

I have also found that you need to include the "outside shower" in the wet bay. In fact, I have solved a couple of issues with the water pump not picking up a prime by just doing the outside shower "burp."

TJ

OHHHHHH, and I did recently use the one in the outside bay for sewer rinse. I'll try that too! Thanks TJ!!!

 

[FLSteve]

So I've been having some issues with my water pump the last week or so in that the pump won't stop running or it won't run at all. Or I'll turn on the water, the pump keeps running and then I turn on water again and it will stop running. Called Newmar and they told me to BURP the system. I'm probably the only person who doesn't know how to get air out of the lines, but just in case someone else out there doesn't know and wants to try this before moving to the next step of buying a new controller, etc.... here yah go. TO BURP: Make sure you have fresh water. Turn all the faucets on, including shower and flush toilets. Run for about a minute or so. And there you go.

I'm not sure if it worked yet. I have VERY low water pressure at this campground, so I'll burp the girl again when I get to the next CG. ??

@ARD ... add me to the list of people never hearing of this procedure. Just a silly question ... I assume you do this with the water pump on ... not the shore water supply?

FLSteve

 

[skychs]

@ARD ... add me to the list of people never hearing of this procedure. Just a silly question ... I assume you do this with the water pump on ... not the shore water supply?
FLSteve

That is a good question. Would the water pump be able to keep up with all the faucets open? My guess would be to run both. Burp .............

 

[Kevin D Pem]

I would guess that the pump will not keep up. But all faucets on would keep the air in the lines from hammering as they purge.

 

[Neal]

In talking to @ARD a few weeks ago about this I suspect a faulty water pump controller. Hopefully new day new campground this problem will just go away. It's probably telling her get to warmer weather STAT!

 

[Kevin D Pem]

In talking to @ARD a few weeks ago about this I suspect a faulty water pump controller. Hopefully new day new campground this problem will just go away. It's probably telling her get to warmer weather STAT!

I gotta tell you, your computerized rigs and controllers make me wonder if it is just a water pump, or the system in the house controls it. Irradic behavior indicates to me the pressure switch is a problem. Not shutting off, the same. On and off tells me the valves in the pump have dirt in the seats.

 

[ARD]

@ARD ... add me to the list of people never hearing of this procedure. Just a silly question ... I assume you do this with the water pump on ... not the shore water supply?

FLSteve

Ahhhh, that is a good question. @TJ&LadyDi feel free to chime in. I called Newmar back and they did tell me to do it with the pump on. The first time I didn't ?. It has not done the trick for me so far. Water pump will stay running after I turn off all the faucets including wet bay, shower, and flushing. On the other hand, the good news is the water pump turns on...for now.

 

[TJ&LadyDi]

Well, @ARD, it is beginning to sound a lot like what @Kevin D Pem described above; either a pump or controller. Are you saying that the pump is now running continuously, or does it eventually shut off? If it is eventually shutting off, I think Kevin's theory of a bad pressure switch is a likely culprit. What I don't know is whether that switch is separate, built into the pump or built into the controller. Newmar should know the answer to that question.

TJ

 

[NWIP]

My water pump was running continuously a couple months ago, unknown reason as I was hooked up to city water and don’t use the water pump. Pump was somehow inadvertently turned on and I actually noticed it running?

I removed the inlet connection prior to the screen filter (red arrow), then reconnected and restarted the water pump. After about 15-20 seconds all was back to normal, I turned pump off. Don’t know if this will solve your problem but worth a try.

 

[redbaron]

I have had to replace 2 water pumps showing same symptoms. The inner seal was defective. Both times covered by warranty, both failed pumps where the remco high capacity. I am running my 3rd remco, which appears physically different than the first 2, although the same model.

When failed, it did in fact introduce air into the system. The original newmar pump is onboard as a spare, and I used it to purge the air.

 

[stang37]

I had a similar problem and it just happened to be a Remco variable speed pump. When there was no demand the pump would continue running very slow. I burped the system several times for a total of 50+ gallons of water. I called Remco CS explained the issue. I told him I could install the original pump and it would stop when the demand stopped. He told me I had a leak. I explained what I had done to him and I couldn't find a leak as no water anywhere. So why would the original pump stop but the Remco wouldn't? His answer was the Remco was a variable speed and the original wasn't. After a lot of searching and testing of the pump I found the issue. It was a leaking 90* fitting up stream of the pump where I had changed the original fitting clamp to a screw type hose clamp. I installed the clamp using screw driver it was tight but not tight enough. Used a socket got about 1/2 turn and that fixed the issue. So a small leaking fitting up stream that will allow air into the system without leaking water will cause the Remco variable speed pump (at least) to continue to run.

 

[Neal]

Love my Remco AES and yes, if air is getting in that will happen.

 

[Joe Hogan]

My $0.02, in the past I have found that if the outside rise outlet is shut off at the head and not at the Hot/Cold valves you will get all sorts of odd pump issues. Water will not leak from the head but will cross feed between hot and cold sides of the plumbing causing the pump to run.

 

[ARD]

Well, @ARD, it is beginning to sound a lot like what @Kevin D Pem described above; either a pump or controller. Are you saying that the pump is now running continuously, or does it eventually shut off? If it is eventually shutting off, I think Kevin's theory of a bad pressure switch is a likely culprit. What I don't know is whether that switch is separate, built into the pump or built into the controller. Newmar should know the answer to that question.

TJ

Well, it changed. When i switched on the water pump, it would immediately come on and run and run until I turned off. Then a few days later, I would turn it on and nothing happened. And I just tried again. I turned the pump on, no immediate sound, turned on water and it came on, but won't turn off.

 

[ARD]

My water pump was running continuously a couple months ago, unknown reason as I was hooked up to city water and don’t use the water pump. Pump was somehow inadvertently turned on and I actually noticed it running?

I removed the inlet connection prior to the screen filter (red arrow), then reconnected and restarted the water pump. After about 15-20 seconds all was back to normal, I turned pump off. Don’t know if this will solve your problem but worth a try.View attachment 4762

Thanks Bill!!! Will give that a try.

 

[stang37]

Same issue I had with a variable speed pump. Would not stop when no water was demanded. Turn it off and it would not come on until a water demand. Turned out to be a small leak on the suction side of the pump. It didn't leak any water but would suck air. Tighten a clamp and it works perfect. Good luck

 

[Neal]

My water pump was acting up a little and I've known ever since installing this one I may have had a problem with the screen filter on the inlet side of the pump. In Tucson I removed the screen filter as it was a source of an air leak I believe causing the pump to run oddly. If you have an air leak the pump will have problems as you describe. We filter the water going into the tank, in your case like mine we have at least two filters depending on if you use one prior to your water softener that would make 3. You (or Jack) could just go in and remove the screen filter at your water pump and connect the hose coming from the fresh tank to the pump directly, all the same fittings. Mine are quick release, some may have screw on. It's super simple, you could do it. Just detach and reattach the lines going into the pump, if that doesn't work then the line on the other side of the pump going into your coach. You can either detach/reattach the pump connections or do as I did and completely remove the screen filter at the water pump and see how that works for you. I think that screen is overkill and in my case was a cause for problems. No issues since removing the screen filter for me.

Turn off city water AND the water pump prior to doing this.