Fresh water pump/accumulator issues

[Painkiller]

I just bought a 2005 Sundancer 420 now and am having issues with my fresh water pump continuously running. In addition, I had low water flow in the master head and galley. I changed the water pump thinking it was bad but the new one still runs continuously. I did clean my screen filters and the water flow seems to be satisfactory now. I don't know why the pump wants to keep running and can only think that it is an accumulator problem or a switch. I don't think I have a leak in the system but not even sure how to find one if I did - I did check all bilges and didn't find any water in any of them. I did find some green plant/algae on the inlet screen to the water pump. Could something growing in the water tank cause this issue? Any thoughts?

 

[northern]

We had a leak at the dock water inlet piping. IE where you connect a hose to the boat so you do not need to use your water tank and 12 volt pump. If you connect it up and you have good pressure at all faucets you will know you do not have any blocked lines. My leak was at the T behind the hose connection. I had wet area along a fuel tank near the vacuflush accumulator and thought it was that. Leaking fitting was behind the ice maker.

 

[LG111]

The accumulator has a blatter in side and requires air pressure to work properly. On the unit is a bicycle tire pump valve. It may need a few pounds of pressure pumped up.

 

[Painkiller]

We had a leak at the dock water inlet piping. IE where you connect a hose to the boat so you do not need to use your water tank and 12 volt pump. If you connect it up and you have good pressure at all faucets you will know you do not have any blocked lines. My leak was at the T behind the hose connection. I had wet area along a fuel tank near the vacuflush accumulator and thought it was that. Leaking fitting was behind the ice maker.

Thanks. Did the water from the leak accumulate in the engine bilge area then?

 

[Irie308]

Did you check the water manifolds for leaks? We surveyed a 420 that had a leaky manifold and wouldn't build pressure so the pump kept running.

 

[stephens013]

Might also check the pressure valve on the pump. When mine started going bad the pump would run continually.

 

[douglee25]

The accumulator should be set around 23 psi assuming your pump cut in pressure is around 25 psi. Confirm. Check for leaks as mentioned. The pump also has a pressure adjustment at the head of the pump.

 

[Sublimetime]

When you run the faucets do you get any air bubbles or spitting out of the faucet? If so you have a leak on the suction side and are pumping air. Even with a bad accumulator you should eventually build pressure and it will shut off as if there was no accumulator in the line. Only three things will keep it from turning off, Sucking air , leaking water from the pressure side, or a bad pump check valves/diaghram

 

[Painkiller]

A shout out to Captain Rusty Higgins a ClubSeaRay member and contributor. Captain Rusty helped me troubleshoot my water system and find a leak up by the spigot in the anchor chain compartment. It is working well now. Thanks for all your ideas and comments

 

[KevinP]

I am a new owner of a 2001 310DA and think I have an issue. My pump shuts off and holds pressure fine, but if I turn any water on, even at a trickle, the pump instantly turns back on to pressurize, then turns off. In other words, if I turn a faucet on trickling for 20 seconds, the pump will cycle on/off probably 10 times. Is this an accumulator problem? Or do I even have an accumulator? Everything works OK, just wondering if this is normal.

 

[ttmott]

Many times it's the hot water heater safety valve. Hard to know because it drains overboard.

 

[KevinP]

Many times it's the hot water heater safety valve. Hard to know because it drains overboard.

I had that issue, when the pump was cycling on/off without any water being used. Had it repaired. This is slightly different problem. I guess my question is, if I turn a faucet on and use (literally) 1 ounce of water, should the pump come on to repressurize? And if I do that every 30 seconds, should it come on each time? I was under the impression there is an accumulator that keeps the pressure up for small uses, and the pump only comes on to recharge that, as necessary.

 

[ZZ13]

I am a new owner of a 2001 310DA and think I have an issue. My pump shuts off and holds pressure fine, but if I turn any water on, even at a trickle, the pump instantly turns back on to pressurize, then turns off. In other words, if I turn a faucet on trickling for 20 seconds, the pump will cycle on/off probably 10 times. Is this an accumulator problem? Or do I even have an accumulator? Everything works OK, just wondering if this is normal.

I don't have an accumulator (had one but it split in half) and my Aqua King II does this with a trickle. I played with the pressure adjustment screws to minimize it as much as possible. But a trickle is just like a leak. The pump can catch up to it's shutoff pressure because the flow is so low. So it shuts off. Then the trickle release enough pressure for the pump to turn back on. Then the pump catches up the pressure and turns off and that cycle just keeps on going. The Aqua King II manual says if this bothers you, to install an accumulator. Ha! Not a problem for me. I rarely use just a trickle.

 

[ttmott]

I had that issue, when the pump was cycling on/off without any water being used. Had it repaired. This is slightly different problem. I guess my question is, if I turn a faucet on and use (literally) 1 ounce of water, should the pump come on to repressurize? And if I do that every 30 seconds, should it come on each time? I was under the impression there is an accumulator that keeps the pressure up for small uses, and the pump only comes on to recharge that, as necessary.

Sorry, suggestion for the OP but I now see it's old history.
My boat has no accumulator and the pump runs when it's switch crosses the pressure threshold which I believe is cut in 30 PSIG and cut out 50 PSIG. An accumulator that is working correctly will extend that cut in and cut out time span. Systems like mine the pump pretty much runs when the water runs.

 

[Sublimetime]

I

I am a new owner of a 2001 310DA and think I have an issue. My pump shuts off and holds pressure fine, but if I turn any water on, even at a trickle, the pump instantly turns back on to pressurize, then turns off. In other words, if I turn a faucet on trickling for 20 seconds, the pump will cycle on/off probably 10 times. Is this an accumulator problem? Or do I even have an accumulator? Everything works OK, just wondering if this is normal.

It sounds like you dont have an accumulator tank, or if you do it is broken and needs to be replaced.
If you dont have one I would suggest installing one. They save your pump and fittings associated with the constant on off cycling. Installation is just a matter of installing it on a in-line tee, cut into your existing water line,just after the pump.