No A/C Discharge Water

Flytrade

Active Member
Feb 20, 2018
302
Bradenton, FL
Boat Info
2006 320 Sundancer
Engines
Twin 6.2L Mercruiser
I have had this problem before. I turn on the a/c - heater, but no water is coming out of the boat. What I have done in the past is disconnect the exit hose from the pump, blow through it to dislodge any obstruction, and then it works fine.
A couple days ago everything worked fine. Now I have the same problem, but blowing in the discharge hose is impossible - there is an obstruction.
I checked the water going into the pump, and it flows freely.
Why would this obstruction come and go?
It either works perfectly, or not at all.
I am thinking there is something loose that is bouncing around and clogging the system.
Any ideas you have would be appreciated.
 
I have had this problem before. I turn on the a/c - heater, but no water is coming out of the boat. What I have done in the past is disconnect the exit hose from the pump, blow through it to dislodge any obstruction, and then it works fine.
A couple days ago everything worked fine. Now I have the same problem, but blowing in the discharge hose is impossible - there is an obstruction.
I checked the water going into the pump, and it flows freely.
Why would this obstruction come and go?
It either works perfectly, or not at all.
I am thinking there is something loose that is bouncing around and clogging the system.
Any ideas you have would be appreciated.

Your in Florida. When is the last time the system was flushed/descaled with https://www.westmarine.com/buy/trac...rt-concentrate-makes-1-25-gallons--P015373285
 
If the flow is totally blocked it will make it easier to find. Check for flow down stream at the AC unit, it'll tell you which direction to go. If you just want to try dislodging the obstruction, blowing into the discharge thru hull might get it going again for a while.
 
are you sure it is not air locked try priming the pump along with the flush idea.. I have had massive growths of mussels and other various things in sea rays over the years .. not familiar with your boat....
 
Get some pvc goodies and set you up a back flush system. Not expensive but saves you plenty in bucks and agrivation when the ac shuts down.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_0087.JPG
    IMG_0087.JPG
    97.3 KB · Views: 128
  • 62032218147__7CE6ABC6-D691-41A1-995E-27D08C81DAA8.JPG
    62032218147__7CE6ABC6-D691-41A1-995E-27D08C81DAA8.JPG
    80.6 KB · Views: 110
  • IMG_2333.jpg
    IMG_2333.jpg
    114 KB · Views: 113
I use muriatic acid to clean my systems at least twice a year. Use a nifty delivery system I rigged up. Pour the acid in the container; hook a hose to the in pipe and the other end to the previously mentioned washout fixture. Run the diluted solution in; let it sit for a few minutes then rinse it out with the rest.
 

Attachments

  • 06FE7FFE-5F37-4538-B9A8-DA25EB31B54A.jpeg
    06FE7FFE-5F37-4538-B9A8-DA25EB31B54A.jpeg
    213.1 KB · Views: 119
  • F608D93C-04E1-42FC-9CD0-C7B363FD8846.jpeg
    F608D93C-04E1-42FC-9CD0-C7B363FD8846.jpeg
    114.8 KB · Views: 107
  • E812DB56-19A9-492B-96E0-1FCBCCC843CC.jpeg
    E812DB56-19A9-492B-96E0-1FCBCCC843CC.jpeg
    180 KB · Views: 111
  • AB7EB2A1-FD73-4B3A-9A22-BD7837BC9171.jpeg
    AB7EB2A1-FD73-4B3A-9A22-BD7837BC9171.jpeg
    153.9 KB · Views: 110
  • F2AD1824-1C08-498D-9A89-8FE0EE25A8A2.jpeg
    F2AD1824-1C08-498D-9A89-8FE0EE25A8A2.jpeg
    119.3 KB · Views: 109
I use muriatic acid to clean my systems at least twice a year. Use a nifty delivery system I rigged up. Pour the acid in the container; hook a hose to the in pipe and the other end to the previously mentioned washout fixture. Run the diluted solution in; let it sit for a few minutes then rinse it out with the rest.

Wow. You fancy.

I just used my backup 12v water pump, some old garden hose, and a gallon bucket.
 
View attachment 115096
Yaaaa, what I thinking. Obstruction in the lines? WTF does that even mean? Barnacles, eels, fish, no. Thru hull has strainer then in line strainer.

Growth in strainers, algae, etc. We have aggresive algae here in the Savannah area. The seacock inlets are checked and cleaned monthly during the hull dive and zinc checks, we do get a few barnacles also.

I clean the strainers every other week when I'm at "The Office", and they need it everytime.

I recelty had the HP fault after missing a visit (4 weeks w/o cleaning strainers).
I cleaned the strainer
Backflushed the heat exchangers, down and dirty, through the discharge. Just stuck a hose to it tight with the pump off (1 pump for both units).
Cleaned the coils and filters, use a good foaming agent and don't be afraid to bring the hose in and rinse it off good. I would do this several times to get max clean=max heat exchange. I did it three times to get to a baseline and make sure we were clean.

I got about 5 degrees better ambient than before after finished. 74 inside/90+ outside. 58 degree air. If I can keep the damn salon door closed it will hit 68-70.

I do need to rig up a proper circ system for cleaning though, great ideas here.
 
Great news - problem solved.
I held a hose at full power to the side of the boat to backflush the system and turned on the system. At first only a little water came out, but after about 10 seconds it's back to normal.
I suppose I should be concerned about solving the real problem, but I'm just so happy to have it working.
Thanks again to all who responded and tried to help.
 
Please check and clean strainer if you have not already done so. Do the rest I suggested and you will be trouble free
 
I thought I had the problem solved, but the saga continues.
I had the system working perfectly. Lots of water coming out of the exit hole in the side of the boat. Just like normal. This tells me the hull pickup is free and clear, the strainer (which I checked) is also free and clear, and the pump and a/c are working properly with no algae, etc.
I shut the system down for the night, and this morning no water flow at all. It either works completely normal, or not at all.
Again, I back flushed the system from outside the boat, and again it's now working perfectly.
So now the question is: How can the system work one day and not the next?
To picture the system, imagine a container of water with a ball in it. As the system works, sometime the ball will block a line and the system stops. Now, when I back flush the system I knock that ball back into the container. The system again works normally until the flow of water dislodges the ball, and again it blocks the system. That is the best way I can describe it in my mind.
 
I thought I had the problem solved, but the saga continues.
I had the system working perfectly. Lots of water coming out of the exit hole in the side of the boat. Just like normal. This tells me the hull pickup is free and clear, the strainer (which I checked) is also free and clear, and the pump and a/c are working properly with no algae, etc.
I shut the system down for the night, and this morning no water flow at all. It either works completely normal, or not at all.
Again, I back flushed the system from outside the boat, and again it's now working perfectly.
So now the question is: How can the system work one day and not the next?
To picture the system, imagine a container of water with a ball in it. As the system works, sometime the ball will block a line and the system stops. Now, when I back flush the system I knock that ball back into the container. The system again works normally until the flow of water dislodges the ball, and again it blocks the system. That is the best way I can describe it in my mind.
One more thing. Once I get it working, it continues to work fine. It is only after I shut down the system for a period of time does it not work.
 
I thought I had the problem solved, but the saga continues.
I had the system working perfectly. Lots of water coming out of the exit hole in the side of the boat. Just like normal. This tells me the hull pickup is free and clear, the strainer (which I checked) is also free and clear, and the pump and a/c are working properly with no algae, etc.
I shut the system down for the night, and this morning no water flow at all. It either works completely normal, or not at all.
Again, I back flushed the system from outside the boat, and again it's now working perfectly.
So now the question is: How can the system work one day and not the next?
To picture the system, imagine a container of water with a ball in it. As the system works, sometime the ball will block a line and the system stops. Now, when I back flush the system I knock that ball back into the container. The system again works normally until the flow of water dislodges the ball, and again it blocks the system. That is the best way I can describe it in my mind.
Is there an leak that's causing the system to lose it's prime?
 
Thank you for your thoughts but I do not believe it is losing its prime.
When I check the strainer it is clear and completely full of water.
Also when I disconnect the discharge hose from the pump I cannot blow through it. It is completely blocked from the pump to outside the boat.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
112,945
Messages
1,422,731
Members
60,927
Latest member
Jaguar65
Back
Top