Water leaking out of tank filler?

My390 · Member

Water leaking out of tank filler?

Dougwe · Chief one feather

Before I changed it, Dale, I filled tanks by connecting a hose to inlet, mains water the same fitting. There was a tap like fitting next to inlet that I had to turn. One way filled tanks the other way was for mains water. They are seperate now.

KevinC · Senior Member

Your 12v pump has a non return valve which has failed. The fix is either replace the whole pump (expensive and only good until next time) or purchase a separate non return valve and fit it between the pump and the tank(s). This is a low cost and very effective fix.
You could fit the new valve on the pressure side of the pump, the jury is still out on this so it would amount to your own personal preference.

Bagmaker · Senior Member

does the water still flow as it should if the pump is used? (disconnected mains)

OutbackMK · Senior Member

Check if there is a pressure regulator at the pump outlet, mine was set too low and water flowed back through the pump and into the water tank.

My390 · Member

Thanks for the advice so far

The pump works normally with the mains disconnecteD so that seems ok.

No pressure regulator on the outlet of the pump.

Best option seems to be to fit a one way check valve or non return valve on the pump inlet rather than buy a pump. As I am on the road plumbing in a new tap arrangement will have to wait for now.

Currently on NSW coast near Merimbula heading north so will track down a caravan or plumbing supplies to see what I can get.

Thanks everyone for your advice

Cheers Dale

PeterD · Guru

KevinC wrote:
Your 12v pump has a non return valve which has failed. The fix is either replace the whole pump (expensive and only good until next time) or purchase a separate non return valve and fit it between the pump and the tank(s). This is a low cost and very effective fix.
You could fit the new valve on the pressure side of the pump, the jury is still out on this so it would amount to your own personal preference.

The jury is not out at all. If you fit the non return valve between the pump and the tank then the pumps valves will still be carrying most of the back pressure. See the following

Design your RV or Caravan plumbing system

Scroll to the bottom to see the last diagram.

KevinC · Senior Member

Yes Peter, We've all seen those diagrams. But logic tells us that the only reason we fit the extra valve is because the one in the pump has failed. That means it doesn't work any more, or in layman's terms it no longer exists. So without a valve in the pump, if we put the new valve between the pump and the tank, the pump will always be seeing pressure, and it will never cycle. We can leave it switched on and be able to read the Drifter to see the status of our system, and the pump will never run. However, put the new valve before the pump and the pump will be in a state of no pressure, which means that if we check the state of our tanks for any reason, the pump will immediately start to run. And it will only stop if we turn off the switch. So in my situation, since I have 3 fresh tanks and a grey, I choose to have my system active all the time and have a constant check on what's going on. For you, you can choose to do whatever you wish, depending on how you use your tanks, pump and monitors.
But as I said, the jury is still out, meaning, there is no right or wrong, you just do what suits you best.
Thank you for your input.

My390 · Member

Hi All. Just an update on this one

I bought a 1/2 inch one way valve for $9.95 ano cut it into the line between the water tanks and the pump.

Problem solved and a cheap fix. Thanks very much for the advice

Regards

Dale