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Fresh water tank keeps filling up.

Yahoo Message Number: 19902
My fresh water tank keeps filling up when connected to city water. I also noticed that the fresh water pump wants to recycle when not connected to city water. I assume this is a bad filler valve; the valve in the plumbing bay with a yellow handle? Has anyone else had this problem? Thanks.

Larry, 2003 Allure #30856

Re: Fresh water tank keeps filling up.

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 19904
Larry,

I had the same problem, it was a bad pump. There are check valves in the pump and they go bad causing the problem.

John, 2000 Intrigue 11058

Quote from: Larry Feather
>

My fresh water tank keeps filling up when connected to city water.

I

Quote
also noticed that the fresh water pump wants to recycle when not > connected to city water. I assume this is a bad filler valve; the > valve in the plumbing bay with a yellow handle? Has anyone else

had

Re: Fresh water tank keeps filling up.

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 19906
Larry, I had the exact same problem with both my 2000 Intrigue and my current 03 Allure. The cure is to replace the water pump, as the shore water pressure is going back thru the pump and into the fresh water tank. In my case I discovered the problem when I got up in themorning and there was water standing on the ground. It was coming from the overflow valve, but I knew I only had about half a tank of water when I hooked up. Techs think it is the filler valve, but its not. In both cases a new water pump solved the problem.

Walt Rothermel
03Allure30811

Re: Fresh water tank keeps filling up.

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 19907
Larry, a bad check valve on the pump would not explain the filling of the water tank. I am quite certain that your diagnoses of a bad fill valve is correct. You might try a couple of cycles of aggresive open valve close valve to clear any debris that may be interfering with the valve seat. Sometimes the simple fixes work. Good luck.

George in Birmingham
'04 Allure 31038
George in Birmingham
2003 Magna 6298

Re: Fresh water tank keeps filling up.

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 19909
Larry: My input is a bad pump. I had identical problems. The pump has a check valve internally that shuts off when it received pressure from the outside source. When it fails, it allows the water to continue filling the tank and running out the overfill pipe in the top of the freshwater tank.
My fix was to replace the pump. One suggestion: An upgrade to a better pump is money well spent. I went through 4 pumps in 4 years. Two of the factory installed pumps failed with this same overfill problem. The other two went in the "surge" mode.
When I finally upgraded to the best pump available, I have had no problems in 3 years and I have no regrets.

Another Larry
Intrigue
10762

Re: Fresh water tank keeps filling up.

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 19913
Larry: Both symptoms appear to be from the pump itself. The filler valve only directs the water into the tank or shuts it off. Pressure on the pump remains whether or not the filler valve is turned on. (At least in mine)

Sounds like Santa needs to bring you a new 12v pump.

The other Larry
Intrigue
10762

Re: Fresh water tank keeps filling up.

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 19915
Boy, there sure are a lot of Larrys around here! Sounds like the consensus is the pump. It just so happens that I have a spare pump and will install that and see what happens. I have agressively recycled the filler valve with no change. This board is great! Thanks for all the replies!

Larry,2003 Allure #30856

Quote from: Larry Feather
>

My fresh water tank keeps filling up when connected to city water.

I

Quote
also noticed that the fresh water pump wants to recycle when not > connected to city water. I assume this is a bad filler valve; the > valve in the plumbing bay with a yellow handle? Has anyone else

had

Re: Fresh water tank keeps filling up.

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 19916
"George Sanders",

George I had the exact same problem as Larry. I diagnosed the problem just as you did as the fill valve. My pump too cycled a few seconds occasionally. I replaced the pump & the tank no longer fills with the fill valve in the closed position.

FYI
Steve

Intrigue 10673

Re: Fresh water tank keeps filling up.

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 19920
Quote from: LARRY A HANSON
>

When I finally upgraded to the best pump available, I have had no
problems in 3 years and I have no regrets.

Quote
>

Another Larry
Intrigue
10762

Larry,

Can you qualify "best pump available" ?? I may just go buy one to have as a spare.

Thanks,

Michael

'01 Intrigue #11224

Re: Fresh water tank keeps filling up.

Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 19922
Hi Larry #30856,

 Several people have made suggestions regarding your problem. Here is another!

 I owned a 2000 Intrigue so that is my experience base. May or may not be similar to a 2003 coach.

 In your note you write
Quote
fresh water pump wants to recycle when not connected to city water
My interpretation of your comment is that when no faucets are open you can hear the pump periodically turning on for a second or two on a fairly frequent basis.

 If that is true, it is indicating that a demand for water is being placed on the pump. It is also indicating that the "motor" portion of the pump is functioning which in turn indicates the whole motor/pump unit may not be the faulty.

 A demand for water when all faucets are closed usually indicates a leak in the system.

 Assuming (I hate to do that but) there are no external indications of a leak anywhere then the likely culprit is a leak within the system.

 This can happen if the on/off valve controlling water flow into the storage tank is malfunctioning. For example, if the valve is not 100% closed when not connected to city water, water pressure between valve and pump will fall and this will cause the pump to switch on momentarily on a fairly frequent basis.

 If you disable the pump when connected to city water and the storage tank slowly fills up when the valve is supposedly 100% closed you will know where the problem is.

 A couple of comments about the pump (if you are still with me!).

 Replacing the pressure switch on the pump is fairly inexpensive if cost is an issue and any respectable RV parts house should have the parts in stock for the DIY person. It is my opinion that many times the whole motor/pump assembly gets replaced because it is less time consuming then working just on the pressure switch. (Cost of the whole assembly is probably a lot less then the service tech. hourly rate).

 I replaced just the pressure switch on my coach but at the time was not living in the coach and could take my time to pull the pump and dismantle the switch. If I had to do it again I might give more thought to purchasing a complete motor/pump replacement and then rebuild the old pressure switch and keep as a back up.

 In conclusion, suggest you make sure the on/off valve is OK before pulling the pump.

 Sorry, this note got way to long winded. GGGGGGGGGG

 David, sleepless in Napa.

Re: Fresh water tank keeps filling up.

Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 19926
Mike" I wish I could. It has been nearly three years now. I had to take the entire fiberglass panel off the inside of the compartment to fix a broken anti-siphon valve in the black water flush line. At the time I had it all apart, I dashed down to Camping World and bought a new pump. It was easy to adapt and access with everything opened up.
My coach is in my garage sleeping for a few months. Things are so tight I can't get the doors open to see what model it is.
As I recall it was the newest, quietest Flojet and was priced at around $150.00. I can't hear it running and it seems to put out good pressure. At that time, I had been through three $50.00 pumps after the factory unit. The first two were under warranty.

Larry
Intrigue
10762

Re: Fresh water tank keeps filling up.

Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 19929
Dave

Thanks for your thorough analysis. My first thought was the filler valve and I intend to take a look at it when I get around to fixing this problem. The check-valve-in-the-pump theory mentioned on this board has really got my curiosity. If the check valve is supposed to prevent the pressure from going backward through the pump and it leaks, it sounds logical to me this could cause the problem too.
Without city water, the pump would lose pressure through the leaky check valve and start running for a second or two to build up the pressure again. When city water pressure is connected, it would force pressure backwards through the pump check valve and into the fresh water tank. Of course a leaky filler valve could, cause the exact symptoms (I think?). It will be interesting to see what the final fix will be., Thanks again for your input.

Larry, 2003 Allure #30856

Re: Fresh water tank keeps filling up.

Reply #12 –
Yahoo Message Number: 19954
Yes, Steve. I see your point. I guess I did not think the pump issues through completely. I had the same symptoms with the fill valve as the culprit but I do now see where it is more likely to be the pump.

George in Birmingham
'04 Allure 31038

Quote from: rheavn
"George Sanders",
> George I had the exact same problem as Larry. I diagnosed the problem > just as you did as the fill valve. My pump too cycled a few seconds > occasionally. I replaced the pump & the tank no longer fills with the > fill valve in the closed position.

FYI
Steve

Intrigue 10673
>

> Larry, a bad check valve on the pump would not explain the filling of > > the water tank. I am quite certain that your diagnoses of a bad fill > > valve is correct. You might try a couple of cycles of aggresive open > > valve close valve to clear any debris that may be interfering with the > > valve seat. Sometimes the simple fixes work. Good luck.
>

> George in Birmingham
> '04 Allure 31038
>
>

> > Larry,
> >

> > I had the same problem, it was a bad pump. There are check

valves in

Quote
> the pump and they go bad causing the problem.
> >

> > John, 2000 Intrigue 11058
> >
> >
> > >

> > > My fresh water tank keeps filling up when connected to city

water.

Quote
> I

> > > also noticed that the fresh water pump wants to recycle when not > > > > connected to city water. I assume this is a bad filler

valve; the
George in Birmingham
2003 Magna 6298
 

Re: Fresh water tank keeps filling up.

Reply #13 –
Yahoo Message Number: 19972
Larry

Just curious. What does the "...anti-siphon valve in the black water flush line" do? What are the symptoms if it's not working properly? Thanks.

Larry 2003 Allure #30856

Quote from: LARRY A HANSON
>

Mike" I wish I could. It has been nearly three years now. I had to
take the entire fiberglass panel off the inside of the compartment to fix a broken anti-siphon valve in the black water flush line. At the time I had it all apart, I dashed down to Camping World and bought a new pump. It was easy to adapt and access with everything opened up.

Quote
>

My coach is in my garage sleeping for a few months. Things are so
tight I can't get the doors open to see what model it is.

Quote
>

As I recall it was the newest, quietest Flojet and was priced at
around $150.00. I can't hear it running and it seems to put out good pressure. At that time, I had been through three $50.00 pumps after the factory unit. The first two were under warranty.

Quote
Larry
Intrigue
10762