Spitting isn't polite...

[fasteddieb]

...but its what our 21BHS wants to do when not on shore water.

Once shore water pressure is present, then disconnected, water pumped from the fresh water tank works fine.

But after driving for a while, both the faucet and the shower will just spit water and air alternatively, with both hot and cold water or both selected, and sometimes the pump just runs for an extended time without building the pressure to shut it off.

And all of this was with a nearly full fresh water tank.

How common is this, and is there standard cure or a place to begin troubleshooting?

[charliem]

[font size="3"]Something is amiss. The data is inconsistent. Almost seems the HW tank is draining. Check the hot and cold low point drains and that the pump inlet filter bowl is tight. If you have a winterizing valve on the pump inlet make sure it is in the FW tank position.
[/font]

[david]

[p]You have an air lock in the suction to the fresh water pump and/or an empty hot water tank due to water draining out. On my unit it takes several minutes of spitting air until it finally clears and runs strong. But this only happens after winterization while it fills the hot water tank and displaces all of the air in it. Yours probably has a leaking check valve in the pump that lets water flow back and creates the air lock each time.[/p][p]
[/p][p]Try opening the hot water valve on the two sinks and shower to let it fill the hot water tank.

But the only way to fix this I am afraid is to replace the pump.

David[/p]

[fasteddieb]

Thanks, guys!

No winterizing valve - to winterize I unhook the feed to the pump from the tank and run a hose into the RV antifreeze.

I'm going to try to find time tomorrow to troubleshoot.

It's been an intermittent problem since new. When the pump is hooked up directly to antifreeze, it seems to pump with authority. I'm going to look carefully at the fresh water pickup and connections, then maybe see if opening all the faucets in the system can purge out the air.

I'll let you know what I find.

[shovelhead]

Had an airlock in my 21RBS. Force fed the water tank while the pump was on.  It sputtered for about 20 minutes then full stream...