Wot no water ?

[Rubix]

I have recently purchased a (used - 1998) Crown Sovereign and was checking how everything works last night (I am new to caravanning).

Whilst checking the water heater, the water flow was intermittent from both hot and cold taps. I assumed some kind of airlock in the system, so I drained the water heater (the heater had water in it already), so I could then re-fill it. Before I drained it I noticed the water coming from the cold tap was warm too.

When I put the submersible pump into the water container, and turned on the taps, the pump ran, but it only took a small amount of water in (even though the pump kept running) The pump was fully submerged. Does it matter if the pump rests on the bottom of the water container?

I noticed that there was a noise (a king of chugging, or knocking) coming from the water heater when the tap was first turned on and the pump ran, it then stopped after a second or so, the pump then continued to run.

Does turning on the cold tap also fill the heater?

I rang the dealers service department and they seem to think that the heater's non-return valve needs replacing. They said this as the hot water coming from the cold tap and the fact that the chugging is happening and the pump seems to not be drawing any water in.

Is there a chance the pump is damaged as it is running but no water seems to be coming in the heater? Roughly how long will it take to pump in 6 or 9 liters (not sure which) into the heater tank, 5 minutes . 15 ???

They will do the work for me as I have only had the 'Van for a couple of weeks. I am so glad I checked this before we went away !!

My apologies for the essay, but I would appreciate any help as this is all new to me. Thanks again.

 

[gary]

The fact hot is getting into the cold systems without doubt means a fault with the water heaters non-return valve, simply replacing the fitting will cure that.

There is another non-return valve in the water filter housing if fitted, this if faulty will slow flow to both hot and cold taps, whereas the water heaters will only slow flow to the hot taps. Equally a blocked filter will restrict flow to both, as will yet another non-return valve in a water pressure switched system.

Given good flow, filling the 9lt tank takes perhaps a minute, although without a watch it will probably seem longer!

 

[Rubix]

Had the non-return valve replaced. All is tickety-boo in the kitchen sink and basin in bathroom except . . . .

The shower is now doing what the whole system was doing - namely when you turn on either tap the pump starts, but no water is taken from the container ?

Any ideas before I call the service department for an ear-bashing. Surely when they tested it (the whole syatem was primed full of water) they should have checked the shower too ? !

Thanks for your help.

 

[gary]

First suspect would be low battery voltage then the pump and then the possibility of a blocked pipe.

Any pump is capable of lifting a head of water to a certain height, it's possible yours is ok to the waist height of your sink taps but not good enough for the extra height of the shower head.

Quick check then is to bring the shower head down sink level, if the flow improves then suspect the pump is worn or simple not powerful enough.

 

[Rubix]

Duuueeer, don't I feel silly.

The "apparent blockage" was indeed the shower head had been turned off. I assumed (or course wrongly) that only the taps turned off the supply, I didn't know you could turn off the water supply by turning the shower head rose.

Is this designed so you can "lather up" while there is no water flow, and then turn it back on when you want to rinse ?

If this is the case, will the pump be ok running but with no water flow ? would it not over heat (it is a submersible pump, and so it is in water) as it is trying to pump but cannot ?

Hope this makes sense.

 

[gary]

I used to have a button to switch my shower head off, this allows you to adjust the taps to give the correct temperature over the sink and then switch off and place the head in position ready for your shower.

I always thought it a useful feature but my van had a pressure switched system so the pump would switch off, if yours is a micro-switched system then the pump will continue to run and that means you really cannot use this feature.

I don't know if it's still done but some vans used a shower head taps micro-switch to override a pressure switch so keeping the pump running, this is another good idea to stop a pressure switched pump 'hunting' on and off while showering but also makes it unwise to turn the shower head off.