There’s something happening here…

papacliff

what it is ain’t exactly clear.

As a reminder, I always run off my pump and fresh water tank. A couple of days ago, while showering, I accidentally ran the fresh tank dry, or nearly so. Just as I was done rinsing, the pressure started to drop, the shower sputtered some air, and what water there was got cold. I quickly dried off and shut off the water heater. Within a few minutes I had the tank refilling and thought all was good.

Since then, the system is acting oddly. Normally, the pump goes on almost immediately after opening a faucet, now it takes a bit longer. I ran about a pint of water before the pump kicked on. It also runs longer after the faucet is closed. It seems like there is an air pocket someplace that is not flushing out of the lines. There is no sputtering or spitting, but the pressure seems a little lower than normal.

Now for the really weird part. When I turn on the cold water, it will start at room temp, then get hot before it gets cold again. Not fully hot, but more or less luke warm. It seems like something is heating up a small section of pipe/hose and any water standing inside it. I have never noticed this before. I Looked around and felt the hoses in the fresh water area, everything seemed normal.

I don’t know if these two issues are related or not, but both have me scratching my head. Any ideas?

Cliff

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Posted: 8:19 AM – May 15, 2016

JoeLifestyle

With my water problem I’m learning that unrelated systems effect each other because the plumbing is all connected. My water pump problem may be caused by the winterizing valve. Still not sure. My water works fine on city water, so i think the problem is somewhere around the pump. Can you narrow down where your problem is occuring? For example is it ok running the outside fixture which is closer to the pump? Does it happen more at the kitchen sink near the water heater? There are so many valves and short tubes. I’m considering running new plumbing to bypass the winterizing and simplify the whole thing.

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Posted: 9:43 PM – May 15, 2016

JohnD222

Papa,

When you run out of tank water, you did the right thing- turn off the hot water heater. You skipped the next step. As you fill the tank and run the pump, you need to bleed the air out of the hot water heater via the pressure relief valve on the outside of the 5er. Just leave it full open until water flows freely. Then flick it closed and pressure should build up throughout the system and the pump turn off. It is then safe to turn on the heater.

If you have not operated the pressure relief valve for a long time, it may tend to drip because of calcium deposits on the seal. Actuating it a few times usually fixes this.

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Posted: 9:47 PM – May 15, 2016

JoeLifestyle

Where is a pressure relief valve exactly?

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Posted: 10:17 PM – May 15, 2016

papacliff

JohnD222 wrote:
You skipped the next step. As you fill the tank and run the pump, you need to bleed the air out of the hot water heater via the pressure relief valve on the outside of the 5er.

John, I didn’t skip that step, I just didn’t detail everything.

Neither issue is particularly troublesome, I just can’t figure out what happened, or why.

B.W.Gentry
Owner/Admin
2007 Carri-Lite XTRM5
Breckenridge, TX

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