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Post by larkboy on Jan 6, 2018 22:04:20 GMT
I know this is a problem that's come up elsewhere, but trawling through search search results has been less than satisfactory. Basically, we have a Whale 3.2 pump that pressurises to 30psi coupled to a 5l accumulator. The pump and accumulator are right next to the water tank, there are no leaks in any of the pipe work that we've found, and we have checked all the joints. We don't have any obviously leaky taps and the pressure relief valve seems to be functioning ok on the calorifier, but, the pump is cycling for a few seconds every 20 minutes to half an hour. Went to maplins today and got a new switch for the pressure switch as that has been an issue in the past, but not this time. The pump is possibly 3 years old and we live aboard but it's not leaking, could it just be back flowing through the pump into the tank? When I change the pump I'm going to instal a Jabsco ParMax 2.9 25psi pump as I've had issues before with a whale water pump, I'm also fitting a new pressure relief valve to the calorifier just to totally eliminate that. I would appreciate any thoughts from those of you on here that know about such things....
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Post by Deleted on Jan 6, 2018 23:46:55 GMT
I know this is a problem that's come up elsewhere, but trawling through search search results has been less than satisfactory. Basically, we have a Whale 3.2 pump that pressurises to 30psi coupled to a 5l accumulator. The pump and accumulator are right next to the water tank, there are no leaks in any of the pipe work that we've found, and we have checked all the joints. We don't have any obviously leaky taps and the pressure relief valve seems to be functioning ok on the calorifier, but, the pump is cycling for a few seconds every 20 minutes to half an hour. Went to maplins today and got a new switch for the pressure switch as that has been an issue in the past, but not this time. The pump is possibly 3 years old and we live aboard but it's not leaking, could it just be back flowing through the pump into the tank? When I change the pump I'm going to instal a Jabsco ParMax 2.9 25psi pump as I've had issues before with a whale water pump, I'm also fitting a new pressure relief valve to the calorifier just to totally eliminate that. I would appreciate any thoughts from those of you on here that know about such things.... Our pump would do this sometimes when water in the calorifier was cooling. ISTR there is some explanation for it but I am buggered if I can recall what it is. We just lived with it. As an aside the flojet in our caravan does it on occasions too. Btw just because you can't see an obvious leak doesn't mean you don't have one, have you checked your cabin bilge? |
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Post by larkboy on Jan 7, 2018 0:00:01 GMT
I know this is a problem that's come up elsewhere, but trawling through search search results has been less than satisfactory. Basically, we have a Whale 3.2 pump that pressurises to 30psi coupled to a 5l accumulator. The pump and accumulator are right next to the water tank, there are no leaks in any of the pipe work that we've found, and we have checked all the joints. We don't have any obviously leaky taps and the pressure relief valve seems to be functioning ok on the calorifier, but, the pump is cycling for a few seconds every 20 minutes to half an hour. Went to maplins today and got a new switch for the pressure switch as that has been an issue in the past, but not this time. The pump is possibly 3 years old and we live aboard but it's not leaking, could it just be back flowing through the pump into the tank? When I change the pump I'm going to instal a Jabsco ParMax 2.9 25psi pump as I've had issues before with a whale water pump, I'm also fitting a new pressure relief valve to the calorifier just to totally eliminate that. I would appreciate any thoughts from those of you on here that know about such things.... Our pump would do this sometimes when water in the calorifier was cooling. ISTR there is some explanation for it but I am buggered if I can recall what it is. We just lived with it. As an aside the flojet in our caravan does it on occasions too. Btw just because you can't see an obvious leak doesn't mean you don't have one, have you checked your cabin bilge? Thanks for the input. With regards to leaks, I understand where you're coming from but I have checked the bilge as best I can, plus all the joints are visible with a bit of effort and there's no sign of leakage anywhere, no dampness. For the accumulator to discharge as regularly as it has done over the last couple of days the water would be visible if it were a leak, I'm bloody sure of it. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 7, 2018 0:30:57 GMT
Our pump would do this sometimes when water in the calorifier was cooling. ISTR there is some explanation for it but I am buggered if I can recall what it is. We just lived with it. As an aside the flojet in our caravan does it on occasions too. Btw just because you can't see an obvious leak doesn't mean you don't have one, have you checked your cabin bilge? Thanks for the input. With regards to leaks, I understand where you're coming from but I have checked the bilge as best I can, plus all the joints are visible with a bit of effort and there's no sign of leakage anywhere, no dampness. For the accumulator to discharge as regularly as it has done over the last couple of days the water would be visible if it were a leak, I'm bloody sure of it. Water in the cabin bilge should run to the stern. Unless some clown has fit floor bearers that prevent this. Normally in a well built boat there is a removable disc as far to the rear of the cabin as possible, if your boat has one removing it should reveal any water. |
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Post by larkboy on Jan 7, 2018 0:47:52 GMT
Thanks for the input. With regards to leaks, I understand where you're coming from but I have checked the bilge as best I can, plus all the joints are visible with a bit of effort and there's no sign of leakage anywhere, no dampness. For the accumulator to discharge as regularly as it has done over the last couple of days the water would be visible if it were a leak, I'm bloody sure of it. Water in the cabin bilge should run to the stern. Unless some clown has fit floor bearers that prevent this. Normally in a well built boat there is a removable disc as far to the rear of the cabin as possible, if your boat has one removing it should reveal any water. Have now done that, no water..! |
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Post by Graham on Jan 7, 2018 9:24:31 GMT
I know this is a problem that's come up elsewhere, but trawling through search search results has been less than satisfactory. Basically, we have a Whale 3.2 pump that pressurises to 30psi coupled to a 5l accumulator. The pump and accumulator are right next to the water tank, there are no leaks in any of the pipe work that we've found, and we have checked all the joints. We don't have any obviously leaky taps and the pressure relief valve seems to be functioning ok on the calorifier, but, the pump is cycling for a few seconds every 20 minutes to half an hour. Went to maplins today and got a new switch for the pressure switch as that has been an issue in the past, but not this time. The pump is possibly 3 years old and we live aboard but it's not leaking, could it just be back flowing through the pump into the tank? When I change the pump I'm going to instal a Jabsco ParMax 2.9 25psi pump as I've had issues before with a whale water pump, I'm also fitting a new pressure relief valve to the calorifier just to totally eliminate that. I would appreciate any thoughts from those of you on here that know about such things.... I wonder if this is muck in the pump valves slowly allowing the pressure to drop. Maybe strip clean and see what happens. |
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Post by larkboy on Jan 7, 2018 9:39:22 GMT
I know this is a problem that's come up elsewhere, but trawling through search search results has been less than satisfactory. Basically, we have a Whale 3.2 pump that pressurises to 30psi coupled to a 5l accumulator. The pump and accumulator are right next to the water tank, there are no leaks in any of the pipe work that we've found, and we have checked all the joints. We don't have any obviously leaky taps and the pressure relief valve seems to be functioning ok on the calorifier, but, the pump is cycling for a few seconds every 20 minutes to half an hour. Went to maplins today and got a new switch for the pressure switch as that has been an issue in the past, but not this time. The pump is possibly 3 years old and we live aboard but it's not leaking, could it just be back flowing through the pump into the tank? When I change the pump I'm going to instal a Jabsco ParMax 2.9 25psi pump as I've had issues before with a whale water pump, I'm also fitting a new pressure relief valve to the calorifier just to totally eliminate that. I would appreciate any thoughts from those of you on here that know about such things.... I wonder if this is muck in the pump valves slowly allowing the pressure to drop. Maybe strip clean and see what happens. Well, I've been through this morning and checked all pipe joints and connections again, I've wiped all taps and mixers (sink and shower) to see if they are weeping anywhere, and so far nothing to explain the regularity of pressure loss. The pump head is a non serviceable part, so I've ordered a new Jabsco Par Max 2.9 to replace it with. I'm fitting a new pressure release valve on the calorifier today and also de-scaling the shower mixer, which has a minuscule weep, but not enough to to account for the frequency of the pump cycling, given the accumulator fitted to the system. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 7, 2018 9:52:08 GMT
Some years ago we experienced a similar issue.
The perceived wisdom was there HAD to be a leak.
I checked, checked and checked again and KNEW there was no leak.
I eventually switched pumps and the problem resolved itself.
The best I could come up with, was that pressure was being lost back into the tank through a faulty valve.
Good luck with it.
Rog
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Post by larkboy on Jan 7, 2018 10:04:52 GMT
Some years ago we experienced a similar issue. The perceived wisdom was there HAD to be a leak. I checked, checked and checked again and KNEW there was no leak. I eventually switched pumps and the problem resolved itself. The best I could come up with, was that pressure was being lost back into the tank through a faulty valve. Good luck with it. Rog Thanks Rog, that's interesting to know....here's hoping the new pump will sort it as it did in your case. The wife's out today so I can play around to my hearts content unhindered for a few hours😄 |
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Post by bargemast on Jan 7, 2018 10:13:01 GMT
If it's sure that there aren't any leaks anywhere in the system, then it must be that the pressure can drop through a valve that doesn't close good enough anymore, because of a tiny little bit of crap on it, it must be next to nothing if the pump comes on only after a long time.
As Rog said, changing the pump could be a (or the) solution, but you could also try it with a non-return valve between tank and pump, that won't cost as much as another pump and should do the job too.
Peter.
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Post by peterboat on Jan 7, 2018 10:20:19 GMT
I think it must be a bit of crap or a faulty valve as well. You should always have a filter before the pump to stop these issues. Having said that I dont but my pump cost nearly 400 squids and is a 240 volt jobbie and the local fire brigade borrow it when theirs goes down!!
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Post by quaysider on Jan 7, 2018 12:00:09 GMT
something else to consider; the solenoid on our jabsco loo has a tendency to leak a bit through into the pan - thus reducing the pressure enough for the pump to kick in once in a while.
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Post by tonyb on Jan 7, 2018 14:15:45 GMT
If it's sure that there aren't any leaks anywhere in the system, then it must be that the pressure can drop through a valve that doesn't close good enough anymore, because of a tiny little bit of crap on it, it must be next to nothing if the pump comes on only after a long time. As Rog said, changing the pump could be a (or the) solution, but you could also try it with a non-return valve between tank and pump, that won't cost as much as another pump and should do the job too. Peter. I always fit a swing type NRV there as standard on any water system I install or modify. Best between the strainer and pump if possible. Has anyone mentioned that the PRV on the calorifier (or nearby) can scale up and leak. Try twisting the cap a few times to jump the seat up and down so water flow flushes the seat. |
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Post by larkboy on Jan 7, 2018 15:49:20 GMT
Thanks people, I appreciate the input. I have today fitted a new PRV to the calorifier and it has made things a little better, but not much, so I now have a new Jabsco on order as I've never been that keen on the Whale pump. Quaysides, I did consider the bog, but the level isn't increasing in the bowl over time, which to me would eliminate that. I don't have a strainer before the pump as the standard whale one has always leaked, and this is my second whale pump to have done that. Tony, I'll definitely look into fitting that non return valve. Cheers🙂
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Post by smileypete on Jan 7, 2018 17:29:16 GMT
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