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Old 06-05-2022, 03:15   #1
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Fresh Water System Won’t Pressurize

When filling the fresh water tanks for the season, the system won’t pressurize. Symptoms:

- Pump runs continuously
- Only a trickle coming out of cold faucets
- Only air coming out of hot faucets

Filter is clean. Pump has never exhibited any problems. Could it be an airlock, maybe caused by the air in the empty hot water tank? Other causes?

Any suggestions for diagnosing / rectifying? Thanks!
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Old 06-05-2022, 03:27   #2
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Re: Fresh Water System Won’t Pressurize

The problem will likely be on the suction side and not the pressure side of the pump.

Check that all joints between tank and pump are tight and leak free, if air is entering the system then the pump will not be able to create the vacuum required to draw water from the tank.

The abive assumes that the pump diaphragm is not ruptured.
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Old 06-05-2022, 03:38   #3
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Re: Fresh Water System Won’t Pressurize

I installed a bleeder valve on Southbound. This was just a “Tee” fitting, with a valve on the open end, inserted in line, just after the pressure water pump. To bleed the water lines, you open the bleeder valve, and let the pump run until you get “airless” water.

Without a bleed valve, open up your plumbing pipe/hose at the lowest practicable point, or the nearest faucet.

Then open faucets one at a time, starting at next nearest, and run till airless.

Typically, if you notice air in hot water lines only, then it’s an issue with the water heater.

See: Bleeding Fresh Water System
https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums...tml#post190888
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Old 06-05-2022, 06:41   #4
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Re: Fresh Water System Won’t Pressurize

Ditto the above. I had this problem once and it turned out there was a screen on the end of the takeup hose that got clogged.
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Old 06-05-2022, 06:44   #5
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Re: Fresh Water System Won’t Pressurize

Check the inlet strainer on the pump. Make sure it's full of water and not clogged. If it's full of air, you've got a suction problem that's preventing the pump from priming (either a clog or an air leak).
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Old 06-05-2022, 07:45   #6
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Re: Fresh Water System Won’t Pressurize

Try pulling the inlet hose off the pump and put your finger over the opening to the pump. You should be able to feel it suck on your finger if the pump is working.

If it's sucking, it probably is a blockage upstream.
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Old 06-05-2022, 08:10   #7
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Re: Fresh Water System Won’t Pressurize

Sometimes my pump has a difficult time priming when air gets between the tank and the pump. There may be a small leak at the fitting on either the tank or the inbound pump fitting. I once had the issue with an air leak on an inline pump filter cap.

If there is no apparent leak on the inbound side of the pump, and you have multiple water tanks, try isolating tanks one by one until the system primes.
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Old 06-05-2022, 15:45   #8
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Re: Fresh Water System Won’t Pressurize

Last time this happened to me and i did a bunch of troubleshooting it turned out that .............. the tank was empty
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