Loud fresh water pump (video)

[Steve91T]

This is for our new to us Marine Trader. Any ideas why it’s so loud? Seems to work ok.

https://youtu.be/92WCcAa-06Y

 

[Comodave]

Is it a vibration? If you touch it can you feel it vibrate? If so I would mount it on a soft mount such as two pieces of hose. Bolt the pump to the hose and then screw the hose to the boat. That may help since it looks like the water connections are hose and not hard pipe which can transmit vibration.

 

[Steve91T]

Is it a vibration? If you touch it can you feel it vibrate? If so I would mount it on a soft mount such as two pieces of hose. Bolt the pump to the hose and then screw the hose to the boat. That may help since it looks like the water connections are hose and not hard pipe which can transmit vibration.

It does vibrate but not that much. I mean it’s louder than all 3 engines!

Actually all I have to do is unbolt it and hold it while it runs...that tell me if it’s the mount or not.

Good idea about the hose.

 

[Comodave]

Unbolting it should tell the tale. I suppose it could be a bad pump but I would start with the easy stuff first.

 

[Tator]

What is that gray item mounted between the hose and the pump head?

Tator

 

[deblen]

Not familiar with that "variable speed" pump.
It appears to be a FloJet that has been modified by Jabsco with the addition of an electronic motor speed control.

I can hear it changing speed in your video.
Is there something downstream from it that makes it change speed? / Len

 

[Comodave]

What is that gray item mounted between the hose and the pump head?

Tator

Is it a strainer?

I had a variable speed pump in one boat that made groaning sounds. Very loud and annoying. I returned it and put in a conventional pump. Noise went away. I didn’t think about variable speed...

 

[johnma]

If your strainer is on the suction side, it looks like your suction line is smaller than your pressure line. If so, you are hearing cavitation. Jump up a size on your suction line. I realize that both of your pump ports are the same size, but you will have a certain pressure loss per foot of hose for a given diameter. Suction should always be larger than pressure. Also, make sure the vent for your tank is clear. For every gallon of water you remove from the tank, 231 cu/in of air must go into the tank. If the air can't get in, you cavitate.
John

 

[O C Diver]

While I can't address that exact model, those pumps usually come with rubber isolation mounts that plug into the holes in the pump base and then the screws go through the rubber isolating the screws from the pump base. I had to retrofit the AC raw water pump on my boat because the village idiot who installed it, hard mounted it. Made a big difference!

If you look at the pump on the left, you will see the rubber isolation mounts. The pump on the right is my AC raw water pump. While relocating the 2 pumps I added the isolation to the AC pump.



The pump strainer is designed to be mounted to the pump and doesn't contribute to the noise.

Ted

 

[Steve91T]

Fixed! So here what I have found. If we run the water tank try, it takes forever for the air to wire it’s way out of the system. All that noise was just air. Yesterday I noticed I couldn’t hear the pump anymore and we had great water presssure. I guess it’s just how this system is.

 

[Steve91T]

Here’s the video

 

[Steve91T]

I don’t know why I can’t upload videos on here.

Here’s the YouTube video.

https://youtu.be/FZjjNZrbw5I

 

[High Wire]

Your pump dripped from the left side during that short video.

 

[Steve91T]

Your pump dripped from the left side during that short video.

Ha you’re right. It sure did. And a few hours later it got loud for no apparent reason. But pressure was good. So idk. Maybe it’s dying.

 

[jimL]

I would have a spare water pump on board. When we purchased our trawler 3 yrs ago, knowing the original water pump was over 10 yrs old, we purchased a replacement. We needed it this year on our summer cruise, as we were glad we had the spare.

Jim

 

[catalinajack]

I would have a spare water pump on board. When we purchased our trawler 3 yrs ago, knowing the original water pump was over 10 yrs old, we purchased a replacement. We needed it this year on our summer cruise, as we were glad we had the spare.

Jim

Here's an alternative but not one many might choose. I hated that small, groaning 12V pump we had. Tried two different manufacturers. And, yes, mine sat on rubber isolaters. Plus, pressure variation was very annoying. I replaced with a Grundfos AC pump similar to a shallow well pump and no need of a accumulator tank. Lots of constant higher pressure and volume. Very happy. However, it is large.