Advice needed on water pump please

[lizzie53]

We've just taken delivery of a 2009 Compass Rallye 650, we really enjoyed using it for the first time at the weekend. However the water pump seemed to be noisy when compared to our old van (Ace Jubilee), it's possible we may have put the water taps on in the wrong order or left a tap up or down or something when we set it up, has anyone got any advice on the best way to turn the water on (I know at the tap!) like should we have the taps up or down or lift them up furthest away from the pump first. It's up on our seasonal pitch in North Yorkshire so we can't experiment with it until we go again in a couple of weeks or so, Himself is getting in a tizz about it, and driving me mad, so any advice would be appreciated (about the water pump not about him driving me mad - I know what to do about that!!

) Thanks in advance!

 

[Damian]

You do not say if you have a plug in pump outside the van , or an internal pump?

 

[forestgump]

What system is it if its presure pump is it pump chatter .

 

[lizzie53]

Sorry, the pump is a Whale, it plugs in outside the caravan and drops into the aquaroll, it has a carbon filter on it.

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello Lizzie,

Some pumps may be noiser than others, but it doesn't usually cause comment so there may be something else wrong with yours, but it is really difficult to be objective without being able to watch and listen to the system.

One of the commonest problems with sub pumps, is if they are allowed to either run dry, or continuing to run when the taps are closed. The motors can over heat and damage their bearings and seals.

There are traditionally two separate ways of controlling the pump, The first uses a microswitch in every tap, which responds when the tap is turned. It only needs one switch to fail, and the pump will continue to run even when the taps are off. Its also a bit of a job to find which one may have failed. The switches can also fail to turn the pump on, at least the faulty switch is easier to identify.

The other system uses a single pressure switch fitted to the cold water supply. These need to be adjusted so the pump switches off when the tap closes and the pump runs for a short while to build the pressure up. If the switch is set too high, the pump will not develop enough pressure and will continue to run, so the switch needs to be adjusted down.

Having said that you have asked if there is a preferred way of commissioning the system.

There are a few points to watch though;

If the pump is left connecetd to the caravan when it is dropped into the water barrel, the air in the pipe may prevent the water from rising through and priming the pump. This will cause the pump to cavitate be noisy and not pump water properly. The solution is to unplug the pump hose from the caravan whilst the pump is dropped into the water.

I also note you have a filter, These should be replaced at last every season, though in the UK they are hardly necessary. Some systems allow you to replace the filter with a blank.

When using the system for the first time, make sure all drain taps and ports are closed. Then open both hot and cold taps and turn the pump on. When you get water flowing constantly from the cold close it, and then wait for the water to fill the hot water tank and then give a constant flow Close the tap, and then go round the caravan and open the other taps to allow the air out of the remaining pipe work.

 

[erica11]

just to say that we have a swift challenger 530 and when we use the water pump that also makes a lot of noise. Been told its normal on these new caravans for some reason or other. Doesn,t mean there,s a problem told this by swift caravans.

 

[lizzie53]

Thanks for that, I'll print it off and then Himself can take it with us up to the van, when we go again, which will be in the glorious sunshine in a couple of weeks (well I can dream can't I?) Hopefully following your instructions will solve the noisy pump. I said it sounded as though some air was in it - however as this is not my department, my comments were not taken on board!!

 

[Guest]

Getting fed up with hearing noise is somehow normal? excessive noise is certainly not normal.
I have a Whale Aqua-Smart fitted and it's barely audible above the normal sounds in the van, Metz's on here has a Flojet in a Swift and he reckons his is quieter than mine!
So the most common reason for noise is air being drawn in with the water, make sure all connections inbound to the pump are 100% air tight. A quick check for air being present on the inbound side is to look if you can see water flowing through the semi-clear pipe as it exits the pump? if you can, then air is present, it's tiny air bubbles in the water you see moving, no air in it and you won't see water moving!
Next is a restriction to flow, again on the inbound side, this makes the pump vibrate as it struggles to suck in enough water, a possible cause of restriction is too many 90deg elbow connections and or these leaking air in. Good solution to this is to replace inlet pipework with one length of soft flexible hose giving flowing curves.
Finally vibration caused will also affect the pipes themselves, make sure these are not tight up against wall or floor so giving them nothing to vibrate against

The Whale pump is often mounted on a board, if it is, release the board from the floor and use a piece of breathable groundsheet to insulate it, this mat is slip proof so should keep the pump from sliding about without replacing the screws, but if unsure, restraint the board from sliding about with sponge or similar.
By doing this you are preventing any noise the pump does make being amplified by the floor acting as a sound board

 

[lizzie53]

Thank you for all comments. We've been up this weekend (in the sun!!) and despite following instructions it's still noisy. We've got an engineer coming next time we go up as the flusher pump is cracked and leaking and this is going to be replaced under the warranty so we will ask him his opinion. I'll post what he says. Thanks again for taking the time to reply. Regards, Lizzie

 

[lizzie53]

Thanks for previous advice, we (himself) put the water system on in the way recommended and it did seem to be quieter, and the engineer had a listen and he said it sounded "normal", it seems it's a bit noisier than the pump in the old van. We just want to make sure everythings ok and if there are any problems get them sorted while it's still under warranty!! It's usually fairly quiet in our van when it's just us two old fogies, however now I've worked out how to work the stereo system we probably won't notice the noise of the pump over the noise of Queen and the Who!

 

[ProfJohnL]

Try Handle's Water Music

 

[Gafferbill]

.... the geasers name was George Friedrick Handel wot rote that!

Jimmy Ewards would have known that.