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10-28-2021, 10:00 PM
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#1
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2 Rivet Member
2017 30' Flying Cloud
Dallas
, Texas
Join Date: Jun 2021
Posts: 25
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Fresh Water tank full… hooked to city water
Parked at an RV park, had to take my wife to the airport for a trio. When I get back, I notice my fish tank fill is dripping overflow. I check and my fresh tank is full??? However haven’t used my fresh tank in 6 weeks and emptied it out when we left. So,confused how it got filled if I’m hooked to, city and my black and grey are empty.
Any one had this happen,
Thanks
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10-29-2021, 03:49 AM
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#2
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2 Rivet Member
1973 Argosy 22
Gold Hill
, North Carolina
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 31
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Sounds like your fresh water tank pump check valve is not blocking city water from back filling your fresh water tank.
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10-29-2021, 05:00 AM
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#3
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2 Rivet Member
2017 26' Flying Cloud
Ringgold
, Georgia
Join Date: Jan 2020
Posts: 26
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Fresh water tank fill
Hi, we’ve had this happen a couple of times too. The best I can figure is some debris got caught in the check valve on the freshwater pump. We shut off the city water and use the water from the tank until it’s empty. Turn the city water back on and monitor the level in the tank for a few days to see if it fills again. We’ve never had to do this more than once to clear the check valve. We use a very basic filter on the city water to catch some of the debris in the camp ground water. I also carry a spare water pump just in case we can’t clear the check valve, I believe they’re around $70 on Amazon.
Tim
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10-29-2021, 07:35 AM
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#4
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Rivet Master
2019 25' Flying Cloud
Hendersonville
, North Carolina
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 1,092
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Same thing happened to us. I tried to clear the check valve in the water pump several times but no joy. Replaced pump AND installed a positive shut off valve inline to prevent this happening in the future. 30 minutes to replace pump and had the valve installed at our selling dealer, Out of Doors Mart in Colfax, NC when in for some minor warranty work. They did it at no charge. Great dealer.
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10-29-2021, 07:54 AM
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#5
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"Cloudsplitter"
2003 25' Classic
Houstatlantavegas
, Malebolgia
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 19,977
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Sounds like something will have to check, if we ever connect to city water.
Bob
🇺🇸
__________________
"You don't know where you've been until you leave, enjoy life" RLC
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10-29-2021, 09:48 AM
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#6
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Rivet Master
1988 32' Excella
Robbinsville
, New Jersey
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 3,116
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Extremely common problem, literally 1000s of RVs have had this problem. Helps to always use filter when filling tank, unfortunately it's sometimes caused by construction debris left in tank from factory.
I do like the separate shutoff valve myself.
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10-29-2021, 10:00 AM
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#7
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Rivet Master
2017 25' Flying Cloud
Florence
, Alabama
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 711
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Streamerdogs
Parked at an RV park, had to take my wife to the airport for a trio. When I get back, I notice my fish tank fill is dripping overflow. I check and my fresh tank is full??? However haven’t used my fresh tank in 6 weeks and emptied it out when we left. So,confused how it got filled if I’m hooked to, city and my black and grey are empty.
Any one had this happen,
Thanks
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This happens a lot. You can try the recommendations here or do what I and many others did and put an inline check valve at the pump. That'll fix it. I always filter city water coming into AS and this still happened. I tried cleaning pump a couple of times and even bought another pump. The check valve fixed my problem and only took a few minuters to install where the pump is.
SharkBite U2008-0000LFA 1/2 inch x 1/2 inch Brass Check Valve, Push-to-Connect, Copper, PEX, CPVC
by Amazon.com
Learn more: https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B00506ET...ing=UTF8&psc=1
__________________
The Colonel and Southern Belle
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10-29-2021, 10:36 AM
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#8
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Rivet Master
2013 31' Classic
billings
, Montana
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 3,570
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I always shut water off when leaving….ever see a flooded floor.
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10-29-2021, 12:11 PM
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#9
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1 Rivet Member
2017 Basecamp
Salt Lake City
, Utah
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 5
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Wow - this happened to us for the first time last weekend. My fresh tank was empty and we hooked up to city water with a hose that has a filter and pressure regulator and that evening I saw that my fresh water was at 33% - which is what it stayed at for the next three days. If the valve was stuck open, wouldn't it have filled beyond 33%?
And how does a check valve solve this problem (as I'm not even sure what one is!)?
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10-29-2021, 12:57 PM
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#10
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Rivet Master
2013 31' Classic
billings
, Montana
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 3,570
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Shut city water off and use the pump
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10-29-2021, 01:01 PM
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#11
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Rivet Master
2019 25' Flying Cloud
Hendersonville
, North Carolina
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 1,092
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Zecol
Wow - this happened to us for the first time last weekend. My fresh tank was empty and we hooked up to city water with a hose that has a filter and pressure regulator and that evening I saw that my fresh water was at 33% - which is what it stayed at for the next three days. If the valve was stuck open, wouldn't it have filled beyond 33%?
And how does a check valve solve this problem (as I'm not even sure what one is!)?
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A check valve only allows water to flow one direction. That is what is inside of your onboard fresh water pump to keep your fresh water tank from filling when hooked up to city water. When the check valve gets grit in it it fails and the fresh water tank fills up. An inline check valve is just another insurance policy that prevents the fresh water tank from filling when you do not want it to.
I went one step further and had a shut off valve installed. I do have to manually open and close it in order to draw water from my onboard fresh water tank but I am OK with that.
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10-29-2021, 01:55 PM
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#12
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Site Team
2009 25' FB International
2018 27' Globetrotter
Tavares
, Florida
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 3,654
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We had had this happen and, like others have said, is most likely caused by debris in the check valve allowing water to seep into the fresh water tank.
Since then I've been using an inline water filter on the filling hose and I have not had a reoccurrence. Something like this:
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10-30-2021, 03:53 AM
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#13
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2 Rivet Member
1973 Argosy 22
Gold Hill
, North Carolina
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 31
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If you never connect to city water, you can still have a problem with a pumps defective check valve. With a leaking check valve, the water pressure will slowly decrease causing the pump to cycle on and off, which in addition to being annoying, will also add to the battery drain. Had this problem with my pump. Ordered replacement check valves and replaced the leaky one. BTW, installing a check valve down stream from the pump will protect city water from running back into the tank, but will not stop the problem of pump cycling on and off when using the fresh water tank.
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10-30-2021, 09:10 AM
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#14
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Rivet Master
2019 27' Globetrotter
Litchfield Park
, Arizona
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 548
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Quote:
Originally Posted by n89217
If you never connect to city water, you can still have a problem with a pumps defective check valve. With a leaking check valve, the water pressure will slowly decrease causing the pump to cycle on and off, which in addition to being annoying, will also add to the battery drain. Had this problem with my pump. Ordered replacement check valves and replaced the leaky one. BTW, installing a check valve down stream from the pump will protect city water from running back into the tank, but will not stop the problem of pump cycling on and off when using the fresh water tank.
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We haven't connected to city water for over two years and about 20K miles of towing. We just use the fresh water tank and the water pump. If you're using your fresh water tank I don't think the check valve comes into play but I'll take your word for it that it could fail. To me the check valve business is a bad design. Why not just have a valve that you turn by hand somewhere?
We started out using city water hookup, but twice had the check valve fail, even with water filtering (two stage Clear Source, not the blue cucumber), and replaced the pump twice under warranty. After that we quit using city water hookup altogether and only use the fresh water tank and the water pump. We installed an Intelligent RV Water Pump Controller which improved the pump's performance dramatically and cut WAY down on pump noise. We always fill before we leave a place so that when we arrive we start out with a tank of good water in case there is a water problem at our destination. We double filter water going into the tank with the Clear Source, use an RV On The Go water softener if the water is hard, and also have a Seagull II water filter installed in our galley for drinking and cooking water so our drinking water is triple filtered and always tastes great. Because we always use the water pump our water pressure is always the same. So far since starting this practice, there have been no pump or check valve failures.
If we put the trailer in storage for a while we sanitize the system when we use it again but otherwise don't have to ever do this since we are constantly using the fresh water system and the water is, well, fresh and reliable. We've only had to winterize once and when we did, we didn't use antifreeze in the water lines, just the drains. So those chemicals never touched our water lines.
This system works well for us. I just have to fill the fresh water tank all the time. But that's just a trailer chore, no big deal.
Steve
__________________
Steve Jones
2019 Globetrotter 27 FB
2018 Chevy Silverado 2500 4WD LT
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10-30-2021, 10:37 AM
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#15
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retired USA/USAF
2001 30' Excella
Somerset
, New Jersey
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,418
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I think we're making this more difficult and costly then it need to be. I've had this happen several times the most recent being several weeks ago while traveling with the Ozark Caravan in Arkansas and Missouri. The check valve is incorporated into the pump diaphragm head. The diaphragm head is easily replaceable and can be gotten from Amazon. This time I had some time to kill and upon removing the head I found that I was able to successfully clean the debris and re-install the diaphragm instead of replacing it. Easy job and corrected the overflowing water tank. Some say the external water filter will help but I use an internal filter so not sure about that. While there was no noticeable debris there was some slime and residue that was easily wiped off.
__________________
Roger in NJ
" Democracy is the worst form of government. Except for all the rest"
Winston Churchill 1948
TAC - NJ 18
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10-31-2021, 06:25 AM
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#16
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Site Team
2009 25' FB International
2018 27' Globetrotter
Tavares
, Florida
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 3,654
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Quote:
Originally Posted by stevejones
We haven't connected to city water for over two years and about 20K miles of towing. We just use the fresh water tank and the water pump. If you're using your fresh water tank I don't think the check valve comes into play but I'll take your word for it that it could fail. To me the check valve business is a bad design. Why not just have a valve that you turn by hand somewhere?
We started out using city water hookup, but twice had the check valve fail, even with water filtering (two stage Clear Source, not the blue cucumber), and replaced the pump twice under warranty. After that we quit using city water hookup altogether and only use the fresh water tank and the water pump. We installed an Intelligent RV Water Pump Controller which improved the pump's performance dramatically and cut WAY down on pump noise. We always fill before we leave a place so that when we arrive we start out with a tank of good water in case there is a water problem at our destination. We double filter water going into the tank with the Clear Source, use an RV On The Go water softener if the water is hard, and also have a Seagull II water filter installed in our galley for drinking and cooking water so our drinking water is triple filtered and always tastes great. Because we always use the water pump our water pressure is always the same. So far since starting this practice, there have been no pump or check valve failures.
If we put the trailer in storage for a while we sanitize the system when we use it again but otherwise don't have to ever do this since we are constantly using the fresh water system and the water is, well, fresh and reliable. We've only had to winterize once and when we did, we didn't use antifreeze in the water lines, just the drains. So those chemicals never touched our water lines.
This system works well for us. I just have to fill the fresh water tank all the time. But that's just a trailer chore, no big deal.
Steve
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I've never heard of an Intelligent RV Water Pump Controller. What is it and what does it do?
Thanks!
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01-31-2022, 03:22 PM
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#17
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1 Rivet Member
Currently Looking...
Wildwood
, Missouri
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by The Colonel
This happens a lot. You can try the recommendations here or do what I and many others did and put an inline check valve at the pump. That'll fix it. I always filter city water coming into AS and this still happened. I tried cleaning pump a couple of times and even bought another pump. The check valve fixed my problem and only took a few minuters to install where the pump is.
SharkBite U2008-0000LFA 1/2 inch x 1/2 inch Brass Check Valve, Push-to-Connect, Copper, PEX, CPVC
by Amazon.com
Learn more: https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B00506ET...ing=UTF8&psc=1
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Would you happen to have a picture of your installation of the check valve. I believe I should put it into the line where the winterizing shutoff and the filter goes into the pump. Please let me know as I don’t want to make a mistake on placement. 27’ GT 2020. Thank you.
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01-31-2022, 03:52 PM
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#18
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Rivet Master
2015 25' Flying Cloud
Schaumburg
, Illinois
Join Date: Jun 2020
Posts: 630
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hans627
I've never heard of an Intelligent RV Water Pump Controller. What is it and what does it do?
Thanks!
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Small company (I think), IRVWPC, and they have a very clever idea, and a well made product. Its a micro controller to manage when the pump runs, much smoother end result, and much quieter too, than the simple on-off pressure switch in the default case. I have one in use with my 25' Flying Cloud, it did result in a dramatic reduction in pump noise, and is advertised to reduce wear and tear on the pump (I believe it will indeed do that, but only time will tell). Here is a link to their product .... https://www.irvwpc.com
There are other threads on this forum with experience using that controller too, you can probably search for IRVPWC or similar to get more background.
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10-03-2022, 05:37 PM
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#19
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3 Rivet Member
2017 25' Flying Cloud
Westminster
, Life is good in South Carolina
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 100
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Can the pump winterizing valve be used to stop this issue?
Just had this issue (FW tank filling when hooked to city water at the campground) happen to my 2017 25'FC.
Since earlier this year I had installed the Camco 37463 3-Way By-Pass Valve Replacement valve
I assume that turning the valve to bypass would prevent the freswater tank from filling if the check valve has failed. Correct?
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10-03-2022, 06:50 PM
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#20
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Rivet Master
1988 32' Excella
Robbinsville
, New Jersey
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 3,116
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Fjord F-150
Just had this issue (FW tank filling when hooked to city water at the campground) happen to my 2017 25'FC.
Since earlier this year I had installed the Camco 37463 3-Way By-Pass Valve Replacement valve
I assume that turning the valve to bypass would prevent the freswater tank from filling if the check valve has failed. Correct?
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Well yes, the problem is all the water will then come out of the winterizing hose into your trailer.
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