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Post by Mat on Jun 12, 2018 17:42:01 GMT -5
My pump wasn't pushing water to my two sinks so I took out the pump, tested and confirmed it works like a champ. I thought the connection from pump to the tank was blocked so I pushed a screwdriver in the opening to the tank where the pump inlet plumbing was connected. It appears there's a check valve or something inside the tank because I hit something hard about 2-3" inside the tank when pushing in the screwdriver. The pump can't draw water past whatever that is. I can see tubing pushed into the female threaded fitting the pump inlet connects to, so I assume there's a valve on the other end of that piece of tubing. Any guidance on what that is and how to un-block it? Thanks!
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Post by lynnmor on Jun 12, 2018 22:00:42 GMT -5
Is the tank outlet on the top, side or bottom? There should be no check valve or obstruction. If the connection is on top, a dip tube would need to go almost to the bottom. Can you post a photo? When tanks are manufactured, sometimes the cutout portion falls inside and never removed.
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Post by frontiermat on Jun 13, 2018 12:23:49 GMT -5
Is the tank outlet on the top, side or bottom? There should be no check valve or obstruction. If the connection is on top, a dip tube would need to go almost to the bottom. Can you post a photo? When tanks are manufactured, sometimes the cutout portion falls inside and never removed. ![]() The tank outlet where the pump connects is at the bottom and there's no dip tube. The attached picture shows the outlet (pump is disconnected.) When you look into that tank connector, there's a piece of tubing pushed into the tank connector on the inside and there's something on the end of that tubing that's blocking water flow. As mentioned, when I insert a screwdriver into that opening, I hit something. It's strange for sure. My alternative plan is to cut a new opening and insert a dip tube and bypass that connector. Attachments:
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Post by johnr on Jun 13, 2018 12:39:43 GMT -5
It could be a one way check valve so that water can't siphon back from the RV into the tank.
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Post by lynnmor on Jun 13, 2018 14:24:18 GMT -5
That is a strange one. I guess the fitting is spin-welded to the tank and cannot be removed? Adding another port is tricky because that type of plastic cannot be glued, there are special fittings that might work. Did you try blowing into that fitting to see if maybe it opens to the side? If it is open, then the pump problem lies elsewhere. Can you remove the big fill hose and insert an inspection mirror inside to get a look at it? Of course you could get aggressive and simply drill a 3/8" hole thru it, if it causes more problems, I didn't say that.  Is it somehow possible to tap into the drain to pick up water there? I did that so all the water was available. You see, the pump will begin to suck air when the water level drops to the top of the fitting and there will be 15 to 20% remaining. |
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Post by frontiermat on Jun 13, 2018 14:55:34 GMT -5
That is a strange one. I guess the fitting is spin-welded to the tank and cannot be removed? [It is welded and can't be removed. I tried that to no avail]Adding another port is tricky because that type of plastic cannot be glued, there are special fittings that might work. [ I think I might be able to use silicon to seal a new port onto that tank, if necessary]Did you try blowing into that fitting to see if maybe it opens to the side? If it is open, then the pump problem lies elsewhere. [Yes, I can get air into the tank there by blowing into tubing connected to that port. Maybe I should poke something sharp instead of a screwdriver to see if I can free up that stuck flapper or whatever it is.]
Can you remove the big fill hose and insert an inspection mirror inside to get a look at it? [No, but I can look into the opening a little.]Of course you could get aggressive and simply drill a 3/8" hole thru it, if it causes more problems, I didn't say that. Is it somehow possible to tap into the drain to pick up water there? I did that so all the water was available. You see, the pump will begin to suck air when the water level drops to the top of the fitting and there will be 15 to 20% remaining. [Good idea, thanks]
Thanks for the thoughts! |
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Post by nvguy on Jun 15, 2018 0:27:41 GMT -5
I have seen screens in the pick up fitting, but a clogged screen will clear out when you reverse the flow (at least until it clogs up again). I never saw a check valve in the outlet of a water tank.
Also, nothing will stick to the plastic tank, spin welding is the only method to add a fitting. There are fitting that can be installed from the outside, they have a flange you can hook onto the inside of the tank, then you tighten a nut on the outside pulling the two together.
I would try the "poke something sharp" method, if you do just don't distort the fitting itself or crack the tank.
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Post by Edd505 on Jun 23, 2018 13:32:47 GMT -5
Plastic plug didn't get knocked out? How about a hole saw just smaller than the pipe?
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