Water Pump Noise Reduction

[Perfect Ride]

Looking for best practices in noise reduction on water pumps.

We run a Jabsco 5.0 fresh water pump that services 5 sinks, 2 heads and 4 showers. The pressure is fine but the noise is like a big-rig engine-braking below our floor boards. Not so wonderful a 3AM when using the head.



It currently is mounted via four bolts over rubber balls onto a hull mounted plate. I have installed an accumulator tank to increase the cycle time so it is less active, but it still vibrates the hull like the speaker at a rock concert.

Any ideas, beyond earplugs, on how to reduce the volume?



My wife thanks you in advance.

[Rapanui]

Mount pump on raft at least twice the mass of the pump. Mount other things on raft to increase mass. Mount raft to hull using bobbin mounts on stiffest parts of hull. Use long looped flexible pipe tails to isolate pipework.
Or turn pump off at night

[SailingPNW]

Check out the Marco Pumps made by Mate, they are costly but run much more silently. They are a variable speed pump you would need to eliminate the accumulator. While I don't have one was on a sailboat with one and it was almost silent.

[Kenomac]

Turn the pump off at night, you shouldn’t eliminate the noise as it’s important to hear if you spring a fresh water leak or the pump goes into cavitation.

[Terra Nova]

Originally Posted by Rapanui

Mount pump on raft at least twice the mass of the pump. Mount other things on raft to increase mass. Mount raft to hull using bobbin mounts on stiffest parts of hull. Use long looped flexible pipe tails to isolate pipework...

This is the correct approach. Isolate the base plate ("raft") from the hull using vibration isolators (Barry Controls) and isolate the pump from the base plate. Additionally you may want to soundproof the area in which the pump resides or build a soundproof enclosure using acoustical foam.

[OzePete]

Most likely you have a Diaphragm type pump at the moment. They are very noisy and very inefficient power wise.
There is a variety of Centrifugal 12VDC pumps now available that are very quiet and far more efficient, but their downside is that they best need to be located below the supply water level or use a non return valve in the suction supply tubing.

Cheers OzePete Ozefridge | 12 Volt Refrigeration Systems

[travellerw]

This is a very common solution used on RVs.


Although I haven't done it on our boat (I want the noise), I did it in my RV. After mounting like this I could barely hear it. It was just a slight hum that was barely audable in the silence of the night.

[Mike Banks]

The bearings in them are CRAP!!

I replaced the bearings in mine with stainless steel Japanese fully sealed and waterproof bearings of identical size--the pump purred quietly and gushed as before.

The bearings cost about 25 dollars. Not cheap for such small bearuings--but when one pays a good price for a pump--proper bearings should be expected instead of the rubbish bearings that were in there.

Also--it is important that these pumps be mounted with the body vertical and on a firm mounting. If the body touches anything it will act as a sounding board. Foam rubber can help here.

[Perfect Ride]

Thank you all.

The berry control mounts look good. Working on sourcing. I will add the water filter to the mount plate to increase mass. Looking for flex tubing to fit the 15mm plastic equal ID quick connectors. Suggestions?
We are full time live-aboards, so try to eliminate daily tasks, like turning things on and off. This is for fresh water so have a volume limit to any leaks and I imagine we will still be able to hear cavitation unless motoring. Finally, thank you for quality pump replacement ideas, will consider those once I have gone through the several rebuilds this pump has in it's future.

Thank you again.

[GALAWA]

You have an water&air tank which contains water and compressed air, actually compressed by the pumped water, to stretch the cycle time of the pump.
Make sure the compressed air is there. If the air has leaked out, the tank resonates with each pump stroke and make a considerable noise.
On my boat, I have a bicycle pump stored near the water&air tank and reinflate the water&air tank every month.

[Terra Nova]

Originally Posted by GALAWA

...I have a bicycle pump stored near the water&air tank and reinflate the water&air tank every month.

You must have a leak. These accumulators very rarely require service.

[Perfect Ride]

Originally Posted by Rapanui

Mount pump on raft at least twice the mass of the pump. Mount other things on raft to increase mass.

If using the water filter to increase the mass on the 'raft' can the water weight be included or does the liquidity cancel or substantially reduce the effect of that weight of the mass effect on the inertia?

[Simi 60]

Originally Posted by Terra Nova

This is the correct approach. Isolate the base plate ("raft") from the hull using vibration isolators (Barry Controls) and isolate the pump from the base plate. Additionally you may want to soundproof the area in which the pump resides or build a soundproof enclosure using acoustical foam.

You could get that carried away.
I simply mounted mine to a bit of 1/2inch ply and sandwiched an old thong between it and the boat


Always find at least one washed up on a beach

[desdestiny]

See video on noise and vibration reduction at

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z96FgUBhzNQ

This is after market variable speed control for pump.

pm me if you require further details

[Rapanui]

Jabsco do snap in ports for 1/2 inch bsp connections, you can buy stainless flexible pump tails at plumbers merchants 1/2 inch bsp to most pipe fittings including plastic push fit.
Yes, the mass of the water will help increase the mass of the raft.
Another option is to suspend the pump using a bungee cord cradle if you have a convenient location.