Pump Not Pulling From Tank

[2 Allies]

This usually points to an air leak or restriction on the suction side of the water pump. Common causes include a loose inlet fitting, cracked hose, clogged strainer, or a failing pump check valve. Also confirm the fresh water tank has adequate water and the tank vent isn’t blocked. Tightening connections and cleaning or replacing the pump strainer often resolves this. Issues like this are fairly common in RV systems, and resources and guidance from RV-focused brands like Popular RV can be helpful when troubleshooting.

Very concise and accurate. Are you an AI bot?

 

[Top942002]

Update on this issue. Draw tube to the fresh water tank was NOT connected to the tank. Add this to the black tank flush line being capped off and I wonder how this unit passed quality checks. Perhaps anything that deals with water is not checked on the way off the line. Pass the problem to the customer and dealership.

 

[George]

Very concise and accurate. Are you an AI bot?

LOL — Likely since @Popular RV account was created 1/18 and last seen 1/18.

 

[Top942002]

Correction to fresh tank connection. It was a broken elbow fitting and the lines were reversed. Fill line was plumbed at the bottom and draw line was at the top. Unfortunately, the connection required pulling the belly to get to.

 

[Oregon_Camper]

LOL — Likely since @Popular RV account was created 1/18 and last seen 1/18.

Guess it is time for me to do a little house cleaning...

 

[azreddot]

So we just started our summer adventure. Our shake down trip in January had FHU so pump wasn’t really tested. First stop this trip is dry camp and 2nd day in we started having similar sputter issues on our 2026 Avenue. I was able sanitize, flush, and fill the fresh tank with about 21 gallons before we left home. The sensor read 2/3 full (48 gallons cap). Now day 3 and it still reads 1/3 full but has started sputtering a lot especially on the hot water side. We have a GE tankless H/W heater. The portable generator did shut off twice today (overload & fuel) so not sure if something needs to be reset or if a bubble got into a line and needs to be purged? Ideas?

TIA

 

[Lantley]

You cannot rely on the OEM tank gauges they are notoriously inaccurate. My first step would be to add water to the tank and see if things begin working properly. You may simply be out of water.

 

[azreddot]

You cannot rely on the OEM tank gauges they are notoriously inaccurate. My first step would be to add water to the tank and see if things begin working properly. You may simply be out of water.

Very true. I should have mentioned I had added an extra 5 gals via siphon which was struggling and now I know why. The threaded couple attached to the strainer filter on the side of the pump was incredibly loose. I added some pipe thread tape , resecured it and used the water station on the nautilus to bleed the air from the line. Working like a champ now. Hard not to go to worse case scenario at 11 O’clock at night. My dad always told me to check the easiest fix/part first.

 

[Top942002]

Not exactly your situation, but I learned that capacities listed rarely meet realities. I empty the fresh tank, add a meter to the hose, and then fill till I get overflow. That'll tell me what my true capacity is. Mine is listed as 98 gallons, I overflow at 86.

 

[azreddot]

I have a small meter I use when I’m filling too.

 

[Oregon_Camper]

Not exactly your situation, but I learned that capacities listed rarely meet realities. I empty the fresh tank, add a meter to the hose, and then fill till I get overflow. That'll tell me what my true capacity is. Mine is listed as 98 gallons, I overflow at 86.

I think the water heater is included in that number. If you have a 12 gallon water heater, then you have the listed 98 gallons of fresh water.

If you have an instant water heater...then forget what I said

 

[Top942002]

I think the water heater is included in that number. If you have a 12 gallon water heater, then you have the listed 98 gallons of fresh water.

If you have an instant water heater...then forget what I said

I can understand that statement, but it's a sneaky way to include the capacity of the water heater in the fresh water specifications. What about the 1 .5 gallons that's in the PEX?

 

[Oregon_Camper]

I can understand that statement, but it's a sneaky way to include the capacity of the water heater in the fresh water specifications. What about the 1 .5 gallons that's in the PEX?

Shhh....don't let their marketing department see that comment on the exra 1.5 gallons.

I think a lot of RV MFG state their fresh water capacity using both tanks.