My water pump quit working and I can't drain water tank

[bigsallysmom]

View attachment 19840
View attachment 19840
I filled then emptied the 9 gallon tank in a series of pumps because it took 5 minutes.  It worked fine then.  I filled it with fresh water and added bleach.  Let it sit for a day.  When I tried to pump it out it worked for one second then quit. 

I've checked the fuses.  I've reset the breakers.  I've lovingly tapped the pump with a hammer.  I've cussed.  

I disconnected the red and yellow lines going to the pump and stuck the prongs on the voltage tester into them.  It reads zero.  After I turn on the pump switch (doesn't pump) it reads over 13 volts. 

I ran an extension cord to the house and let it charge the old house battery to over 13.  The pump still doesn't work.  The pump looks like it has been there for a long time.  Any troubleshooting things I can try?

I need the water out of the tank.  I looked for the water tank drain.  Found it but I can't get it to work.  It's a type of valve I've never seen before.  I turn it and nothing happens.  There is a small silver U shaped clip on the side (yellow arrow in photo).  Do I have to pull this clip out?  If so, do I then pull out or push in?

If I can't get the pump or valve to work my only other thing to do is cut a hole in the top of the tank and add a deck port and pump it out with a wet dry vac.  Would prefer not to do that.

I'm guessing I'll need to replace the pump?

 

[highdesertranger]

a couple of things,

on that drain valve can you pull up on the piece that the green arrow is pointing. it appears that if you pull up it would start to drain then that top piece would flip over to hold it open. try it.

also I don't see one in the picture but is there a strainer/filter on the inlet line to the pump? there should be. these strainer/filters need to be cleaned every so often as algae will build upon the screen and block the flow of water to the pump. if there is not one there then yes the pump has probably given up the ghost. highdesertranger

 

[bigsallysmom]

I'll do that. Your are saying there may be a filter / screen in front of the pump? I'll check that after I get the water out.
Thx.

 

[eDJ_]

If you put bleach in the water and allowed it to sit for awhile it may have soaked loose a small piece of mineral deposit that got sucked into the pump and jammed it on starting the pump.   Since the pump only ran a second before stopping it may just be jammed.  That may require pulling down the impeller housing if it has such and cleaning it out.  

Your pump should have some kind of filter or strainer on it's intake.  But if it has been awhile since it was cleaned out there may be deposits built up in the tank. 

Just my guess.

 

[MrNoodly]

Why doesn't the tank have a valve or plug on the bottom to drain it?

 

[highdesertranger]

there are several types of pre-filters/strainer if you have a older RV look at this,

https://yourfulltimervliving.com/rv-resources/rv-water-pump-troubleshooting-clean-the-screen

mine is the older type. note it doesn't have to be right on the pump like they show it can be anywhere on the intake line.

the newer type look like these,

https://www.amazon.com/Flojet-01740014A-Pump-Strainer/dp/B004A2WRKU

https://www.amazon.com/SHURFLO-255-313-Twist-Pipe-Strainer/dp/B000V2W0GE

if you don't have a pre-filter/strainer, you need one. it's good to put a shut off valve on before the filter/strainer this makes serving both the filter/strainer and the water pump a lot easier. highdesertranger

 

[bigsallysmom]

Yes, I definitely need a cutoff and a filter before the pump.

 

[bigsallysmom]

Again thanks HDR. I was able to lift the drain valve which I needed to use when the pump quit working. It drained at snail speed but at least it drained.
dDJ I will take it apart and see if that is what stopped it from working. sure would like to save money by putting it back in.

 

[highdesertranger]

good to hear. good luck with the pump. highdesertranger