Bypassing a water pump

[Beachcamper]

Hello GD help center

This afternoon I noticed a leak coming from the water pump. I am on city water so thought it odd my pump is leaking. It is coming from the top middle screw in the upper assembly.I tried to tighten the screw but no luck. My next solution which was not a good solution, was to disconnect pump from system thinking it would not be activated if on city water. Well, a bucket of water sprays out of the pump inlet hose. How can I bypass this pump so I can use my city water? A new pump would arrive next week sometime no expedited shipping any sooner. Camping as If in a tent at the moment.

[Jimmer]

Pump fittings are 1/2" pipe thread. Go to your local hardware store and pick up a nipple that's 1/2 on each side. Unscrew both hoses from the pump and bypass the pump using the nipple. No guarantees, but that's what I would try. Altermatively, I'd guess that only the pump output side is pressurized, so you could put a 1/2 plug on the hose connected to the pump output. Again, just a guess.

[Country Campers]

Vivian

There is a check valve on one side of the pump that does not allow city water pressure to get thru the pump. The only thing I can think of is if you remove the line opposite the feed line and plug that end you should be able to use city water. The line you are looking for on the pump is the one opposite the filter screen. The line on the filter screen side comes from the fresh tank. Not sure what you would have to plug the line, you could use a short piece of pex with a plug on one end and a male fitting on the other to fit into the line that you removed from the pump.

Brian

[Country Campers]

Jimmer

That is a good idea but, connecting the 2 hoses together will also bypass the check valve and the city water will fill the fresh tank. The nipple that you have pictured will work if they get a plug for one end and leave the other hose connected to the pump. There is no water in the fresh tank ( I think) so there should be no problem leaving that hose attached.

Brian

[TedS]

Disconnect the hose from the pump outlet and plug it. The swivel fitting is 1/2 inch pipe. At the most expedient but may damage the hose, disconnect it form the pump and bend it to kink it., or squeeze it with locking pliers without disconnecting the hose.

[Country Campers]

Another thought is disconnect the line from the back of the Nautilus panel that goes to the pump and plug it there.

Sorry for so much information Vivian, trying to give you some ideas to go with the parts that you may have.

Brian

[Beachcamper]

OK Guys this is what I originally did and it did stop the flow but I am afraid it will affect the nautilus by adding too much pressure. Using these items I had on hand (thanks Rob). One thing I wish I would of had on hand is an EXTRA WATER PUMP. I hope someone is learning from my mistake, carry one onboard.

So is this an acceptable bandaid while I await shipping? This is plugging the output line not the line where the strainer is.

[Jimmer]

So is this an acceptable bandaid while I await shipping? This is plugging the line feeding the pump not the line where the strainer is.

Perfect! Nothing wrong with that. Don't see why plugging a line in a plumbing system would add too much pressure,

[Country Campers]

I think that is a good fix. It should not cause any pressure difference at the Nautilus panel. You could turn off city water when not needed to be on the safe side if you want, but I think you should be fine.

Brian

[Beachcamper]

Thank you all for helping me out, you have no idea how much I appreciate the quick responses. Tomorrow morning will complete the fix as shown the new pump arrives earliest on Wednesday and I am in a remote place where getting an mobile tech is a mission and lots of money,

I am just terrified of that nautilus panel and disturbing anything not leaking…

[TedS]

Perfect solution. There will no change in system pressure.

[Cate&Rob]

Hi Vivian,

Glad I could help LOL!
The line you have plugged is the output of the pump and is the line pressurized by city water. The line with the strainer is the suction side of the pump coming from the tank (no need to plug this line). The line you plugged is normally sealed by a check valve within the pump . . . which is obviously leaking. You can safely operate on city water with no worries.

Rob

[Beachcamper]

Hi Vivian,

Glad I could help LOL!
The line you have plugged is the output of the pump and is the line pressurized by city water. The line with the strainer is the suction side of the pump coming from the tank (no need to plug this line). The line you plugged is normally sealed by a check valve within the pump . . . which is obviously leaking. You can safely operate on city water with no worries.

Rob

Thanks for correcting the reference to which line I plugged, I edited my comment above. Rob, your post on must have plumbing parts and pre made parts has been put to use, glad I listened to you. Just wish I would have listened to Shurflo back in 2018 about the benefits of bringing along an extra water pump. With my order today, I also bought some water alarms. Worried about my toilet shutoff Pex project coming up soon and the alarms will come in handy for this and that repair.

Should I make that output line Pex as well or leave as soft hose?

[Yoda]

Just so you know HD has a cap/plug to fit the pipe fitting going into the pump. I believe it is the same as on the low point drains, only 1/2" NTP instead of 3/4". But what you did should work fine.

Experts If I am wrong on this please correct me.

On edit this is another item to add to my parts bin in the trailer.

[Scott'n'Wendy]

So would installing a manual valve there in the pump output line make sense?