Upgrading my water pump

[Cockers]

good evening all,
Looking at upgrading the water pump in my 2004 Autotrail as the pressure in the shower and the sink tap seems to have dropped, can I just put a new more powerful one in or will this create complications. Any help greatly received.

 

[TheBig1]

you shouldnt increase the pressure too much as joints pop apart. if the pump is a shureflow one, the a service kit would improve pressure unless you have a scaling problem

 

[Cockers]

Not sure what make it is, I'll have a rummage around under the bed in the morning, I think because it's 11 years old it must be getting a bit tired, that's if it's the original one.

 

[glastry]

Have you checked the filters?
Sometimes they gather enough stuff to slow the flow!
Usually easy to locate and clean

 

[Cockers]

Any idea where the filter is

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[DuxDeluxe]

Any idea where the filter is

Should be on the suction side of the pump (makes sense) - all mine have been. My system also benefited hugely from fitting an accumulator on the discharge side. Shurflo ones expensive, Fiamma one is about £24 and easy to fit if you don't have one.

 

[glastry]

I mean the small mesh filters usually located in the the sink tap itself and in the hot and cold inlets in the shower mixer valve.Also as Cocker's said you need to check to see if there is an inline filter.

 

[mitzimad]

The limiting factor of how high the presure can be is usually the water heater which will have a max presure after which it will split or blow seals

 

[markh]

Correct, if your existing pump is, for instance 20psi, don't put a 30psi pump in, I carry a spare pump, just in case and when I tried it out (it takes only a few minutes to swap) I was surprised how noisy it was compared to to oe pump

 

[Cockers]

Hi gents, thanks for all the advice I will pop the pump out this week and see if I can get a replacement, and keep the old on as a spare. I'm always worried it will stop working whilst we are away. like your idea Markh

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[sallylillian]

Hi gents, thanks for all the advice I will pop the pump out this week and see if I can get a replacement, and keep the old on as a spare. I'm always worried it will stop working whilst we are away. like your idea Markh

And get a service kit for it, gasket, diaphram, etc change them and its a ready for service pump. Try ASAP supplies for the service kit, and even the pump.

 

[Cockers]

Thanks for the advice. I must say this forum is brilliant, really looking forward to meeting some of you at future events

 

[Calypso a go go]

Paying absolutely no attention to PSI, I replaced mine with one of the four chamber higher delivery pumps, and blew my water heater valve and taps clean off. After I had sussed it out, I kept the pump, but fitted a pressure regulator valve. After a small adjustment to the grub screw on front of pump, it pumps as soon as I open tap and stops as soon as I close it, within a couple of seconds max. With a little alteration, I could now run mains water pressure in too.

 

[Geo]

Paying absolutely no attention to PSI, I replaced mine with one of the four chamber higher delivery pumps, and blew my water heater valve and taps clean off. After I had sussed it out, I kept the pump, but fitted a pressure regulator valve. After a small adjustment to the grub screw on front of pump, it pumps as soon as I open tap and stops as soon as I close it, within a couple of seconds max. With a little alteration, I could now run mains water pressure in too.

So long as you know UK water pressure is circa 44psi above most Mo Ho systems, an American RV is rated at 45psi but most RVers still use a pressure reg when piped in to mains
a blown joint makes one hell of a mess very quickly at mains pressuer
Golden rule, finished with water or going out "PUMP OFF" or RVs Mains tap "OFF2

 

[funflair]

If you update the flow rate of the pump not the pressure it will give you more perceived pressure at the taps and shower head, But after saying all that if it has been OK for 12 years I would go with the suggestions above of a service kit, assuming it is a serviceable pump. Or if it's a replacement just go with the same, after all higher flow at the taps and shower just means more trips with the watering can.

Martin

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[TerryL]

It is possible to alter the pressure on a Shurflow pump, but for the reasons stated above, caution is required. Due to the age, I would agree that it is more likely a tired/punctured diaphragm and a service kit is the way to go.

I replaced the pump, thinking it was on it's last legs, only to find no difference whatsoever, so I mounted the old one next to the replacement as a spare (luckily I've got room for it). Also fitted an accumulator which stopped the system "burping" during the night when pressure very slowly dropped and also smoothed out the pump outflow.