Water not flowing

[noony]

Hi,





Fixing up an old van and the water is hardly coming out of the kitchen sink and nothing out of the shower. The pump is working, I can hear it. There seems to be a missing hose inside the water tank, there is the main one that draws the water but it looks like there is a place for another as there is a line running from the outside of the tank somewhere. As you can tell I am a newbee so any help trying to figure out why no water or how to remedy appreciated!

 

[toad a caravan]

Welcome aboard noony.Do you have more details as of make,model and year as these can assist in trying to determine the problem. ,Gary

 

[noony]

Welcome aboard noony.Do you have more details as of make,model and year as these can assist in trying to determine the problem. ,Gary

Hymer 2000

 

[toad a caravan]

Sorry noony I've no experience on your vehicle,I would however if it was mine in the first instance check that the tank is filling ok,also are both hot and cold taps working,if it hasn't been used for sometime it may have an air lock in it,is there a filter
line? sorry I can't be more helpful,, Gary

 

[noony]

Sorry noony I've no experience on your vehicle,I would however if it was mine in the first instance check that the tank is filling ok,also are both hot and cold taps working,if it hasn't been used for sometime it may have an air lock in it,is there a filter
line? sorry I can't be more helpful,, Gary

Did you see the photo? What is that missing pipe going into the tank?

 

[Hutch]

Did you see the photo? What is that missing pipe going into the tank?

Is that pipe NOT the fill pipe for the tank, or does that go in at a different point.
I am clutching at straws, and just thinking basics, check that the aerators on the taps are clear, they should just unscrew.

 

[toad a caravan]

That's why I asked was it filling alright Hutch,,check it step by step 👌

 

[noony]

No that s not the fill pipe. As you can see it is similiar in size to the one pipe coming into the tankl.

 

[ProfJohnL]

MAy I suggest you follow the unknown pipe and tell us or better take a photo to show where it goes and what it connects to.

 

[Dustydog]

Welcome Noony,
How do you fill the onboard tank? When you give detailed answer to Prof's post more help will follow 👍

 

[JTQ]

The second connection on our Hymer, is the air vent pipe associated with the tank filling tube.
Therefore it terminates at the cap, there is no internal pipe fitted to it.

Apologies for the poor quality image, I was holding a heavy bed up whilst using phone.

 

[JTQ]

Is this clearer?

 

[Beachball]

Hi Noony Welcome to the forum sorry I cannot help you but keep posting,

 

[ProfJohnL]

Following JTQ's post, the pipes purpose jumped out at me. It is as he describes a breather pipe, to allow the water level in the tank to change without causing a pressure increase or decrease in the inboard tank.

I think you will need to some investigations to find out,.

Many caravan taps have grids in th e outlet nozel which can fur up with lime scale and other debris. These can usually be cleaned,

Is the pump actually pumping water? - you may need to undo a pipe joint close to the pump and capture the water when the pump is turned on. It should fill a 1Litre jug or bottle in less than 10 seconds. If it doesn't do it that quickly, then the pump is faulty

It could just be blocked, but I don't know if you can actually clean the pump they have used, or whether it needs to be changed.

IF the water flow from the pump is ok, then you will need to progressively work your way through th e pipe work and joints for fine where the pipework is obstructed, and clean or replace as necessary.

 

[Bluetonic]

Many caravan taps have grids in th e outlet nozel which can fur up with lime scale and other debris. These can usually be cleaned,

Exactly this!
I spent a weekend going mad trying to get our taps to work, I bought a new pump needlessly. Bathroom and kitchen taps did not work, pump did not switch on. I eventually thought to try the shower, which worked ok.
Penny dropped and I unscrewed the filters on the end of the taps, both were totally blocked.
A weekend to figure it out and 2 minutes to fix

 

[Hutch]

Exactly this!
I spent a weekend going mad trying to get our taps to work, I bought a new pump needlessly. Bathroom and kitchen taps did not work, pump did not switch on. I eventually thought to try the shower, which worked ok.
Penny dropped and I unscrewed the filters on the end of the taps, both were totally blocked.
A weekend to figure it out and 2 minutes to fix

Had that with a friends caravan, he was adjusting the pump adjuster, I suggested the aerators on the taps, all cleaned water flowing, open the wine bottle.

 

[noony]

I can't even imagine what I will have to do to be able to look at all the pipe from tank to sinks, it's buried under and behind cabinets etc! Done all the obvious stuff, tapes blocked etc.

 

[IanB1485]

If you can get to both ends of a pipe then connecting one end to water source, even a tundish, and the other end to a bucket then you can check the flow

 

[JTQ]

If you can get to both ends of a pipe then connecting one end to water source, even a tundish, and the other end to a bucket then you can check the flow

Somewhere between the pump and the "system" there will be a Non Return Valve [NRV] to stop back flow via the pump, plus another[probably as there should] to stop the heated water back flowing into the potable water tap(s)
Bear this in mind when doing flow tests.

 

[Anseo]

Had that with a friends caravan, he was adjusting the pump adjuster, I suggested the aerators on the taps, all cleaned water flowing, open the wine bottle.

I was the friend who was fortunate to have Hutch and his experience close to hand on that waterlesss day.

Thank you Hutch

 

[Buckman]

Exactly this!
Penny dropped and I unscrewed the filters on the end of the taps, both were totally blocked.
A weekend to figure it out and 2 minutes to fix

Makes you wonder how well the water is filtered as we are ingesting all that muck.

 

[otherclive]

Makes you wonder how well the water is filtered as we are ingesting all that muck.

In one of our caravans it was lime build up over a period of time , once the initial makers debris had all gone from the pipework.

 

[Buckman]

In one of our caravans it was lime build up over a period of time , once the initial makers debris had all gone from the pipework.

Caravan or at home, still a concern. Makes you wonder what they add into the water sometimes.

 

[otherclive]

Caravan or at home, still a concern. Makes you wonder what they add into the water sometimes.

The water boards have to publish the details of their quality which is sampled at designated points. The lime is naturally occurring depending on the source of the water. I don’t think there’s a conspiracy to poison us all.

 

[Buckman]

The water boards have to publish the details of their quality which is sampled at designated points. The lime is naturally occurring depending on the source of the water. I don’t think there’s a conspiracy to poison us all.

I wasn't referring to lime. While we are on a about water, on the news this morning a commodity that we get for free, the cost of maintenance and lining pockets of shareholders for it will be be increased by 36% over the next 5 years so well above inflation. I wonder if standards will improve?