Arthur wrote: > Thanks for the reply Roger you have highlighted another possibility. > > I was wondering about the possibility of leaks somewhere, however when left > to its own devices the water pump doesn't switch itself on when left for > several hours, so the down-side of the pump doesn't seem to have water > leaks.
In that case I have severe doubts that you have a problem with the accumulator. >Could air be leaking out of the diaphragm in the Accumulator into the > system? The Jabsco documentation (I replaced the original Shure-flo pump > about four years ago) says I don't actually need an accumulator. If the accumulator diaphragm were perforated then the air the other side of the diaphragm would only infiltrate the system for so long before it became exhausted so I can't see that as being a problem. Couple that with the fact that the pump doesn't need to top up the pressure frequently and I just can't see that the accumulator is in any way defective. > On the tank side of the pump I can't see any leaks, there is just a short > run of pipe (about 18 inches) via the 'tee' piece to the sensor for the > water gauge and a main valve just next to the tank. There is no trace of > water > leaking from the pipework. The problem seems to have arisen since I > re-filled the water system this year back in April after the winter frost > precaution drain-down. It certainly sounds as though there is air gurgling in > the > heating coil of the Paloma - but there's no way of bleeding it as far as I > can see. This hasn't happened in previous years.I would have thought that by > now (4 months) any air would have been pushed out of the system, and > anyway, if the air is trapped in the hot water circuit, why are the cold > taps > affected? Both hot and cold systems will be affected because they have the same primary source....the pumped water from the water tank. I think that you have split a connection somewhere.....the clue is in 'since the de-winterising'. You are correct that if it is only the air that was introduced during the drain down then it should have gone by now.........but, if there is an air leak somewhere, more likely on the suction side of the pump, then it will continue ad infinitum. You won't necessarily see water leaking from the inlet supply pipework to the pump as it is only under the head (pressure) of the height of the water in the tank. However, any leak is subject to the suction of the pump. Have you any gaskets on the pump pumping chamber inlet side that could have been displaced by a freeze up? I'm not sure if you will be able to do this but one diagnosis method would be to introduce a section of clear plastic pipe after the pump. If you see bubbles in that pipe when the pump is running then you have a definite problem up to and including the pump. > > Any suggestions (BTW I don't have a colorifier in the system). Good luck ;-)) Roger
