Soft Pex Suction Line at Water pump

[Glamping4two]

I might be late to the party but has anyone noticed or seen the inlet side of your water pump (soft Pex line) is collapsed or sucked shut? We have a '20 310GK however I guess other models have the same issue as well. Keep an eye out! I am getting our ready for the season and noticed it last weekend.

[Cate&Rob]

I might be late to the party but has anyone noticed or seen the inlet side of your water pump (soft Pex line) is collapsed or sucked shut? We have a '20 310GK however I guess other models have the same issue as well. Keep an eye out! I am getting our ready for the season and noticed it last weekend.

This situation has definitely be reported before. If often seems to accompany the winterizing or un-winterizing process when perhaps a combination of valve settings or the introduction of antifreeze creates enough vacuum on the suction side of the pump to cause this. Replacing this soft hose with Pex would definitely solve the collapsed intake problem but would likely transmit a lot more pump vibration into the plumbing system. I use two coils of prefabricated "washing machine" hose (black hoses lower right in the picture obscuring the pump behind them) to isolate vibration and this type of hose has a thicker wall that seems to resist collapsing.

Rob

[Glamping4two]

This situation has definitely be reported before. If often seems to accompany the winterizing or un-winterizing process when perhaps a combination of valve settings or the introduction of antifreeze creates enough vacuum on the suction side of the pump to cause this. Replacing this soft hose with Pex would definitely solve the collapsed intake problem but would likely transmit a lot more pump vibration into the plumbing system. I use two coils of prefabricated "washing machine" hose (black hoses lower right in the picture obscuring the pump behind them) to isolate vibration and this type of hose has a thicker wall that seems to resist collapsing.

Rob

Wow Rob, did you redo the system? Is the bladder tank for the pump no to run as much?

[Cate&Rob]

Wow Rob, did you redo the system? Is the bladder tank for the pump no to run as much?

I did rebuild the entire plumbing system to get rid of all the soft hose and add other improvements. The accumulator (bladder) tank is so that the pump runs less often and runs for longer when it does come on. The entire project is described at https://gdrvowners.com/forum/operati...lection-303rls

Others have accomplished similar projects. Check out the plumbing section of the master project list at https://gdrvowners.com/modifications...ification-list

Rob

[Glamping4two]

I did rebuild the entire plumbing system to get rid of all the soft hose and add other improvements. The accumulator (bladder) tank is so that the pump runs less often and runs for longer when it does come on. The entire project is described at https://gdrvowners.com/forum/operati...lection-303rls

Others have accomplished similar projects. Check out the plumbing section of the master project list at https://gdrvowners.com/modifications...ification-list

Rob

Rob, what size tank did you install? I’m going to repair the sucked closed soft pex tomorrow. I’d like to install a tank as well. Are you happy? Does your pump
run less, etc.

[Cate&Rob]

Rob, what size tank did you install? I’m going to repair the sucked closed soft pex tomorrow. I’d like to install a tank as well. Are you happy? Does your pump
run less, etc.

I installed a 2 gallon tank. If I could have fitted a larger one, I would have done that. The pump runs less often and for a longer time when it does run. On our boat, I installed two of these tanks . . . I may still look for a location for a second tank on the RV. The one tank works well . . . but, more accumulator tank volume would be better.

Rob

[Glamping4two]

I installed a 2 gallon tank. If I could have fitted a larger one, I would have done that. The pump runs less often and for a longer time when it does run. On our boat, I installed two of these tanks . . . I may still look for a location for a second tank on the RV. The one tank works well . . . but, more accumulator tank volume would be better.

Rob

What would be a good size? 5 gallon?

[Glamping4two]

What would be a good size? 5 gallon?

What pressure are you running in the tank? Around 50?

[Guest]

Cate&Rob Rob,

How are you supporting the accumulator? These models are rated at 150psi working pressure and would match the relief pressure of the T&P on the hot water tank. I would also like to install one of these, but am not sure there is enough space in the Imagine.

Jim

[Cate&Rob]

Glamping4two

The larger the tank (or tanks . . . it doesn't have to be just one), the more water flow you will have before the pump comes on. The trade off is that when the pump does come on, it will run for longer to refill the accumulator tank. The accumulator air pressure should be set a few psi below the pump turn on pressure so that the accumulator tank is almost empty (but not quite) when the pump comes back on. So, if your pump pressure switch is set to turn the pump on at 30 psi, the accumulator air pressure should be set at about 28 psi (with no water pressure in the system).

Rob

[Cate&Rob]

Cate&Rob Rob,

How are you supporting the accumulator? These models are rated at 150psi working pressure and would match the relief pressure of the T&P on the hot water tank. I would also like to install one of these, but am not sure there is enough space in the Imagine.

Jim

Hi Jim,

Originally, I had the accumulator free standing on its water connection fitting (as would be normal in a residential application). From the original pictures, someone (on this forum) commented that that didn't look very secure for a relatively heavy tank of water in an RV! I had to agree . So, I built a support frame on the forward (braking) side of the tank with a large hose clamp attachment. This has been secure for many thousands of miles. As I mentioned earlier, the water pump, the accumulator tank, some drain piping and some wiring have been reconfigured so that each piece is easily removable for service access to the furnace (unique to my RV build). In the case of the accumulator, four screws from the support frame to the floor and one hand tightened water connection and it can be removed from the area.

On my boat, I strapped two of these tanks horizontally to the underside of a counter top, in the empty space above a shelf in a vanity cabinet. This was otherwise unused space and this installation also worked well.

Rob

[Guest]

Hi Jim,

Originally, I had the accumulator free standing on its water connection fitting (as would be normal in a residential application). From the original pictures, someone (on this forum) commented that that didn't look very secure for a relatively heavy tank of water in an RV! I had to agree . So, I built a support frame on the forward (braking) side of the tank with a large hose clamp attachment. This has been secure for many thousands of miles. As I mentioned earlier, the water pump, the accumulator tank, some drain piping and some wiring have been reconfigured so that each piece is easily removable for service access to the furnace (unique to my RV build). In the case of the accumulator, four screws from the support frame to the floor and one hand tightened water connection and it can be removed from the area.

On my boat, I strapped two of these tanks horizontally to the underside of a counter top, in the empty space above a shelf in a vanity cabinet. This was otherwise unused space and this installation also worked well.

Rob

Rob ,

I see the drop ear elbow where this was a great idea. But I was curious about the additional support where this is also a perfect solution. I'm thinking about the corner under the bed for this unit where the pex could be ran right into the docking station. But I'll need to get back home to take a look.

Jim

[ncitro]

Rob ,

I see the drop ear elbow where this was a great idea. But I was curious about the additional support where this is also a perfect solution. I'm thinking about the corner under the bed for this unit where the pex could be ran right into the docking station. But I'll need to get back home to take a look.

Jim

I did mine similar to Rob. It’s in the same orientation, and I got three large L brackets that are the height of the tank. I put them around the tank, screwed then to the floor and put three of the large 48” zip ties around it (the kind that use the tool to tighten). It’s been great for the last two year’s and 15-20,000 miles.

[Guest]

I did mine similar to Rob. It’s in the same orientation, and I got three large L brackets that are the height of the tank. I put them around the tank, screwed then to the floor and put three of the large 48” zip ties around it (the kind that use the tool to tighten). It’s been great for the last two year’s and 15-20,000 miles.

Neil,

Mounting this tank vertical is key for winterizing IMO and a shut off valve may also be helpful to isolate it for winterizing.

Jim

[RalphMac]

I might be late to the party but has anyone noticed or seen the inlet side of your water pump (soft Pex line) is collapsed or sucked shut? We have a '20 310GK however I guess other models have the same issue as well. Keep an eye out! I am getting our ready for the season and noticed it last weekend.

This issue still occurs. Our fresh off the lot 2023 367BHS has it. It does give me an opportunity to go to the candy store (aka the hardware store). I've included pics of the collapsed hoses to better illustrate the issue for those who may need the extra visual, red arrows indicate the two lines in question.