House Water Pump

[four winns 214]

My boat has an 8-gallon water tank that serves a faucet at a small sink and spray nozzles at the swim deck and bow. This water is pumped by a Flojet Quiet Quad model #4405-134. During the winterization process, I turned the water on at the sink to drain the water tank in preparation of filling it with pink RV anti-freeze.

While the tank was being drained, I went out to my truck to get the anti-freeze. During that time, the tank went dry and the pump ran for a short time with no water. After I poured the anti-freeze in the tank, the pump would run but produce little to no pressure.

Anybody know what the problem may be? Does this pump lose prime?

It's not really a problem because I'm keeping the boat in a temperature controlled spot. I was putting the anti-freeze in because I was having some fiberglass work done on the boat before putting in storage and there was a slight chance it would be exposed to freezing temps. It wasn't, but I would like to get ahead on this problem in preparation for next spring.

 

[Fireman431]

Re: House Water Pump

Yes, the pumps can easily lose prime. It a small centrifugal or rotary vaned pump and if it doesn't have enough water to displace the air, it won't build pressure. These pumps can't pump air, only fluid.

I accidentally let my water tank get too low and the best I can figure is that the pump ran for 3 days because it was sucking air and couldn't build pressure. I refilled the tank and it immediately built up pressure and shut off. Lucky me...no harm, no foul.

It could be that the anti-freeze that you put in wasn't enough volume to create pressure after filling the lines with it and you simply need a little more fluid to increase the head pressure on the pump. Try adding more water or refilling the tank. You can always collect the antifreeze and re-do the system.

 

[sasto]

Re: House Water Pump

Whenever my pump runs dry I fill the tank to where water starts overflowing out the vent, which is above the pump, turn on the pump and it should get some prime.

 

[shrew]

Re: House Water Pump

How much antifreeze did you put in the freshwater holding tank? Mine takes several gallons to fill the water lines before it begins to come out of the faucets. Mine also takes a several minutes to fill the lines before water starts coming out of the faucets.

If the pump runs and doesn't turn off, then it sounds like the pressure switch is working correctly and you're getting power to the pump. Take a look at the lines coming from the pressure pump to see if it is starting to turn pink from the AF.

 

[four winns 214]

Re: House Water Pump

I put two gallons of anti-freeze in the tank. The boat is tucked away among many boats now with the batteries removed. Access is not easy. I'll work on it in the spring. Hopefully, it's just a prime issue.

 

[Fireman431]

Re: House Water Pump

More than likely thats' the issue. I haven't done the math yet, but if you have a sink and a bow & transom wash down, I'm sure you'll need more than 2 gallons to fill those lines.