Water Pump Vomits water out of faucets!

[thoreaulycra]

Hi Everyone,

I am new to the Airstream lifestyle and I recently just moved into my Airstream Argosy 1975 24' trailer.

Among other quirks I discovered, the water pump is now sputting and seems to almost vomit (forgive the crude description) water out in big spurts and struggles to get the spurts out. It wasn't doing this before, but I've had a couple of weird issues with this pump, this is the latest.

is this something that I can fix or is it time to invest in a new pump? (although this one is brand new only a few months old).

Thank you!

[ROBERT CROSS]

Sounds like air trapped in the lines, not familiar with your model but when we got our Classic the WP was the first thing to fail.(on our first trip). I had to prime the new one after install. Hope thats all it is.

[SteveH]

The water pumps are nothing more than some diaphrams (the older model just one diaphram) and check valves, and if some foreign mater gets stuck in one of the check valves, the result will be simular to what you discribe. Almost all of them can be disassembled and checked, and this is what you may want to do in the effort to save replacing it again. I would also check to see if there is a filter installed before the pump, and if there isn't, I'd put one in there. Good luck.

[dwightdi]

If it sputers, it usually means there is an air leak on the vacuum side of the pump. Check by tightening all the hose clamps and seals on the filters you have before the pump. If it is old pump with the non-direct drive motor with the pulley, think about replacing it with a FlowTec, or equivalent, direct drive one for about $70 and you will be much happier with the reduced noise and improved performance. It takes about 15 mins. to install the new one. Make sure you have a flexible hose connected to inlet and outlet to assure even less noise.

[Janets Husband]

Originally Posted by thoreaulycra

Hi Everyone,

I am new to the Airstream lifestyle and I recently just moved into my Airstream Argosy 1975 24' trailer.

Among other quirks I discovered, the water pump is now sputting and seems to almost vomit (forgive the crude description) water out in big spurts and struggles to get the spurts out. It wasn't doing this before, but I've had a couple of weird issues with this pump, this is the latest.

is this something that I can fix or is it time to invest in a new pump? (although this one is brand new only a few months old).

Thank you!

Great visual image.
The pump should prime with no problems due to the placement of the tank and pump. I would check all of the clamps and make sure you're not sucking air. The third thing is the pump is 33 years old if it is the original. Probably time for a new one.

[buffaloman]

all good advice, burping is air in the line that is locked at a high point until the water pressure builds to overcome the blockage. So firts look for high points in lines, etc. If the piping is copper you wont see thru it but if it is PEX colored whte you might take a strong light and look for bloackges. If you have a leak in the inlet side of the pump, it will continue to have air. Have you tired hooking shore water and looking for leaks?

Good luck