Surging house water pumps

[Pete Masterson]

If you don't have an 'accumulator tank' then add one to the plumbing. (The accumulator tank is approximately 1/2 filled with air and has a rubber bladder separating the air part from the water part. You adjust the air pressure in the tank, and when a faucet is open, then the accumulator gives the first push to the water. The pump cycles on and will repressurize the accumulator. The tank evens out the water flow and removes stress from the pumps.

Example: <http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/ite...-tank/2290>

If you already have an accumulator tank, it may not have enough air in the air side (there's a schrader valve on the end of most accumulator tanks to allow adjusting the air pressure -- usually to about 35-40psi or so...)

Or, you can switch to a multi-speed pump like the Shurflo Extreme™ Series Smart Sensor™ 5.7 variable speed pump. I replaced the two leaking pumps on my coach with one of these and was very happy with the results. I no longer needed the accumulator tank, which simplified the plumbing. Note you must use a high-volume strainer-filter screen with this pump.

<http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/ite...pump/24425>

CampingWorld links included only for identification purposes. There are many other sources that may offer these products at substantially lower prices. There is no particular reason to use a Shurflo brand accumulator tank. Any brand of reasonable quality will do. Size of 1 to 2 gallon capacity will do.

Pete Masterson

(former) '95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42

El Sobrante CA

"aeonix1@mac.com"

On Nov 11, 2009, at 5:28 PM, davisgr wrote:

What can I do stop my house water pumps from "surging"; runs for a couple of seconds, hesitates a moment, runs for a couple of seconds, etc.? Both pumps are new. One does it worse than the other, depending on the load being put on it. I have tried running all faucets at once for a while. I have tried opening the faucet valve located in the same compartment and draining water from there.

Rick Davis
1993 WLSA
Loudon, TN
(at HWH in Iowa tonight-getting colder!)