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PharmGeek · 02-01-2016, 07:44 PM

So - first let me say hello air forums - I've been super busy and distracted and not been on here in a while...hope everyone is doing great!

I winterized my airstream 4 nights ago.

In the process - somehow I left the water pump on....and just tonight went in to trailer to get something and heard it running...

Not sure what this is going to mean

Cannot believe I did that! This will be an all time record dumb dumb move for me lately!!

Any advice at this point

My next scheduled trip will be the end of April.

Advice appreciated!

Sbb · 02-01-2016, 07:52 PM

Well at least you didn't hook the black tank flush hose upthinking it was your fresh water intake. Missed the mess by 1"!

ROBERT CROSS · 02-01-2016, 07:53 PM

Rat's...hate it when that happens......two daze on an empty tank is my personal best.

SFSG...6yrs ago and pump still going strong.

Bob

PharmGeek · 02-01-2016, 07:56 PM

Well maybe I'll survive

Hahaha sbb - oh man that was close !!!!!!!! Hahahaha

dznf0g · 02-01-2016, 07:57 PM

It'll be fine. It's a diaphragm pump and doesn't need water as a coolant or friction reducer.

Siegmann · 02-01-2016, 07:57 PM

I believe the manufacturer states that they can be run dry..... but for four days? You could get a another jug of antifreeze and see if it will still pump it. A cheap test so you won't be surprised come April.

PharmGeek · 02-01-2016, 07:59 PM

I just came back from trailer and realized I used all my pink stuff - so I'll pick some up tomorrow and test it out - must have gotten a bit of air in the system somewhere - I thought I worked pink stuff in every single place then took off the winterization kit - probably right when I did that some air got in and I did not notice

Jim & Susan · 02-01-2016, 08:00 PM

Is anything leaking? If not, I think you should be ok there. The pump may have had its' life shortened by a few hours. But that's just a guess.

Others may have different (and maybe more correct) view.

Jim

PharmGeek · 02-01-2016, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dznf0g

It'll be fine. It's a diaphragm pump and doesn't need water as a coolant or friction reducer.

Thanks - that is reassuring!

curnes · 02-01-2016, 08:04 PM

Did it last fall. Cost me $125 for new pump. Kicked myself in the butt then thought, it could have been a lot worse, now I have a new water pump.

Wingeezer · 02-01-2016, 08:05 PM

Possibly it will still be fine - I believe earlier pumps could not tolerate this, but some newer models can survive running dry. We have done it with no apparent ill effect.

Likewise, leaving a hot water heater electrical element on with no water in the tank would likely burn out the element on earlier models.

Somehow we managed to leave hours switched on after winterizing (no water in the tank) for quite a few hours whenonshore power. Most likely the HW heater electrical switch was switched on by someone thinking it was the light switch! Could only have been me or one other person!)

When I discovered it and switched it off, I figured the element would be shot. Of course I blamed that other person! But it was fine.

Then I read someplace in the manual that the newer HW elements could survive this. Still not something I would do intentionally to test it though!

Brian

PharmGeek · 02-01-2016, 09:22 PM

Well no leaks around the pump - so far so good - I'll test it all out tomorrow and see that it holds pressure no prob

Siegmann · 02-01-2016, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wingeezer

Somehow we managed to leave hours switched on after winterizing (no water in the tank) for quite a few hours whenonshore power. Most likely the HW heater electrical switch was switched on by someone thinking it was the light switch! Could only have been me or one other person!)

Brian

You must have the same switch panel in the bath as me. It always bothered me the switches were so close. Now when I winterize and drain the heater, I put a strip of masking tape over that switch.

paiceman · 02-02-2016, 04:46 AM

If it was running when you went back to the trailer then it works. We mistakenly leaves ours on a lot. Seems fine.

streaminwild · 02-02-2016, 06:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wingeezer

Somehow we managed to leave hours switched on after winterizing (no water in the tank) for quite a few hours when on shore power. Most likely the HW heater electrical switch was switched on by someone thinking it was the light switch! Could only have been me or one other person!)

When I discovered it and switched it off, I figured the element would be shot. Of course I blamed that other person! But it was fine.

Brian

My ex could do no wrong, so I always blamed myself for things gone wrong. The problem was... she was ok with that.

Never sweat the small stuff, life is too short for that.

Pharmgeek your thread shows me I'm normal

...what a relief. Turn a negative into a positive...now you have a excuse to get the quieter pump. Good to see your back posting again.

AIRTRVL · 02-02-2016, 07:19 AM

A water pump is one of the easiest thing to replace in your AS and one of the worst things to go wrong while camping. For that reason I always carry a spare. If it where me I would by a new one and store it in the AS. You may or may not have damaged your water pump, but eventually it will go bad and probably at the worst possible time.

PharmGeek · 02-02-2016, 08:54 AM

Good point about a spare!

Drathaar · 02-02-2016, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Siegmann

You must have the same switch panel in the bath as me. It always bothered me the switches were so close. Now when I winterize and drain the heater, I put a strip of masking tape over that switch.

I built a plexiglas box that goes over the two WH switches so that we can't turn one on by mistake.

Siegmann · 02-02-2016, 09:43 AM

What is that saying.... "necessity is the mother of invention".

MelGoddard · 02-02-2016, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Siegmann

I believe the manufacturer states that they can be run dry..... but for four days? You could get a another jug of antifreeze and see if it will still pump it. A cheap test so you won't be surprised come April.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Siegmann

You must have the same switch panel in the bath as me. It always bothered me the switches were so close. Now when I winterize and drain the heater, I put a strip of masking tape over that switch.

It seems that the placement of those switches in the bathroom isn't the only 'misthought"
It seems that there are a number of design 'placements' that were installed without any thought to the dynamics of usage.
One wonders what the design team is thinking, if indeed they DID think at all!