Water pump runs when not in use

Do you mean the check valve or the whole pump? If the check valve, where do I look for parts?

lynnmor:

Will do. I will pull it and take it apart when I get a chance and see if I can find a problem with it. If not, I will probably look for a new one.

Thanks for the help.

Certainly, I will look for a repair kit. However, if not, a replacement won't be a total loss. I camp at a lot of sites that don't have water hookups which forces me to use the onboard water and pump. But, it is a small trailer with a small tank and if we stay more than two nights or so, we either have to scrimp on the water or wind up running out. So, I figure I could keep the old pump, which still technically works and use it to siphon water from a portable tank into the trailer holding tank. This allows us basically endless water supply without having to hook up and pull the trailer to a water point to fill up. I had been gravity siphoning in the past, but that requires positioning the portable tank up higher than the holding tank and then takes forever. Using a water pump to transfer water would solve those issues.
But, my first option is a repair with a kit. I am just about to research a repair kit.
Anyway, before I pull the pump, I plan to run it in the trailer for an afternoon to let it pressurize the lines and then let it cycle on and off during the day. While the trailer is parked on my driveway, I will be able to check for water dripping under the trailer which would tell me it is a leak in the lines between the pump and outlets. Otherwise, I will consider it a backflow problem and likely check valve (diaphram) problem inside the pump allowing water to leak back through the pump back into the holding tank.

It is funny, because the cycling seems to be different every time. Sometimes it will stay off for 10 minutes and run for 10 seconds. Sometimes it is only 4 or 5 minutes between cycling. Today, it was only a minute between cycling but only ran for a few seconds each cycle.

Anyway, I checked all the easily accessible water lines and joints that I could get to and didn't feel or see any leaking while the system was pressurized. But, I figure if I let it run and stay pressurized for an afternoon, it will eventually show a wet spot some where on the drive way underneath the camper if it is leaking from a water line. If not, I think I can assume the issue is inside the water pump and it is leaking back to the holding tank. The problem is right now is that it just rained and the whole driveway is wet right now. I will have to wait to do the leak test.

Seems logical to me, What say you?

Thanks. At this point, I am letting the driveway completely dry up, then I will purge and drain the system and then restart the pump. After that, I can leave check for cycling and if so, I will leave it on and then be able to check for leaking under the trailer later on. If no cycling and no leaking over night, I will assume it is an internal pump issue and proceed from there.

Then, as you say, maybe you can enlighten me on the process for having my camper pump draw water from an external tank.
Thanks,
Bruce

another update. There is a small hex screw on the pump and the user instructions stated to turn it 1/4 turn until the pump quits cycling. I wound up turning it about a full turn. If seems the pump runs a bit stronger (more pressure) now and after running water it seems to only cycle one more time about 10 seconds later for just a few seconds and then that is it. I can live with that. I left the pump energized almost 24 hours and when I checked it, it wasn't cycling. I think it just had to cycle a few more times to get it to full pressure before shutting off for good. Now it seems to just do it one time for a few seconds. Which I can live with. No water that I can find inside or outside the camper after almost 24 hrs so I ruled out a leak. If it gets worse again, I will pull the pump and open it up and take a look, but I am crossing my fingers that the problem is solved at this point.

lynmoor: I could still use a block of instruction for using my existing water pump to siphon water from an external water tank into my trailer tank.

lynmoor, I think you should post that mod on the forum. There could be others that would benefit from that setup.

Here is my modification to draw water in. It looks complicated but the only three things necessary are the tee with hose clamps after the water intake where I connected the winterizing hose, the check valve after the tee with some hose clamps and the removal of the check valve within the water intake. The red valve is the factory valve for winterizing. In my case everything was in one place and easy to do. If you have to fish hoses, it might not be as simple. Having posted this on other forums, I have yet to see anyone do this simple modification.

The rolling 8 gallon water container is modified with a dip tube made from common plumbing supplies. While any sort of container can be used, this is sanitary and connects to the city water port via a short garden hose.

Other modifications are in the diagram. The added valve and metering valve (not in this diagram) is a water saving measure that sends water back to the tank instead of wasting it till hot water reaches the bathroom. Just think, almost instant hot water for your shower. It also serves as a method of heating the fresh water tank in freezing weather. I need to update my diagram on PhotoBucket to show the metering valve.

Pretty much any RV type water pump will work.

OK lynnmor, what type clamps are you using on the white line left side of the check valve? I see a gear clamp on the rt and what looks like a PEX to the left. I had a leak on a hose like that and 1/2 PEX doesn't fit well over the hose. I forced one on but I'm not happy with the connection.