Helping a newby with a water pump

[SaraJane]

Hi everyone I’m new to the site new to sailing and bought a boat before I could sail ! Just had a bit of bother over
a water pump that’s not pumping to tap - it’s a 12 volt Jabasco water pump for ma coaster 33
It’s making a noise that sounds the pump is working
I’ve changed the pressure switch before on this snd it worked a while
Then I noticed there was a small leak where the water pipe goes from pump to tap at the pump end
Anyway
Someone said to check pipes are not blocked
Any other advise would be amazing
And Thankyou for any time on this

[Celestialsailor]

Hi Sara Jane and welcome to the forum. I'm not sure I have enough information to diagnose. When all the faucets are off does the pump still want to run? If so perhaps the tanks are out of water or shut off. If it has a minor leak to the tap, perhaps sucking air in at that point. Another thing to just is if there is a strainer, that it is not packed with sediment. Also follow the line from the tank to the pump and from the pump to the tap and make sure there is not a kink in the line. Hope this helps.

[MarkSF]

What kind of pump is it? Can you post a picture?

Most of them have a couple of check valves, and the main diaphragm, any of which could cause the problem.

Blocked pipes is of course a potential problem too.

My ancient belt-driven Jabsco will no longer prime after the water tank has run empty, but works great once primed - until the next time the tank runs out. I'm assuming it has an issue with a check valve or the diaphragm.

Sounds like yours might have lost prime, and won't self prime.

[SaraJane]

Thankyou so much for all your replies

So I’m going to check this today in the light
Tanks are bursting full now as filled up
Will look for a kink
My slight concern is if I take the water pipe off. To check sediment that’s connected from tank iwater will fly out and I will become an uncontrollable sunken sailor !
I do have the knowledge of making home brew and that lifting pipes above stops the flow so I have that in my back pocket - plus I know where the bilge pump is now
My pump is a jabesco 12volt https://www.marinescene.co.uk/produc...BoC1YkQAvD_BwE

I will look for a check valve too


Thankyou all again for your time and thoughts on this
From an English babbling brook trying to get to get to the sea !

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, SaraJane.

[chris mac]

If no water comes out the taps, then it could be a blocked line, or pump is toast.
Also keep an eye on the bilge while water pump is running. If there is a burst hose somewhere, all that water is going to the bilge.
You mentioned a leak, so that means water is flowing to that point at least. You could open that connection( power to the pump turned off) and cover with a bottle or rag(to prevent spraying everywhere) and have someone flip the breaker on briefly.(1-2 seconds) that will tell you if the pump is working or not(in a rough and messy fashion) If you have extra new hose, you could put a length on at that point and out a hatch or into a sink(much cleaner way)
If there is good flow, then the hose going to the sink is plugged or the tap mixer is blocked. If no flow, then the pump isnt pulling water and it's either a block on the intake, or pump is toast.
Good luck