How to Repair a Leaking Water Pump on an RV

By Kelsey Childress

How to Repair a Leaking Water Pump on an RV

Your RV water pump is designed to turn on when you run a faucet or flush a toilet. It pumps water into your RV's plumbing system and restores normal water pressure. If your water pump continues to run when water is not in use, you may have a leak. To solve this problem, you need to identify why the pump is leaking.

The two most common and easily fixed culprits are a broken check valve and cracked water lines. When the check valve is malfunctioning, it often causes water to flow into your RV's freshwater tank. If you notice the freshwater tank level is rising, your check valve is probably the problem.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Examine the Check Valve

Things You'll Need:

Check valve
Pocketknife
Plastic tubing or PVC pipe
PVC adhesive
Tubing or PVC fittings

Step 1

Turn the water off. Remove the old check valve from the tube or hose connecting it to the freshwater tank. You should be able to pull the valve off the hose with your hands.

Step 2

Disconnect the check valve from the water pump by pulling the valve with your hands.

Step 3

Insert the new check valve, with its directional arrow pointing toward the freshwater tank. It should fit right into the tubing or hose leading to your freshwater tank. Connect the other end of the check valve to your water pump. It should slip right on.

Look for Cracks in the Water Lines

Step 1

If the problem isn't the check valve, cracks are the next logical culprits. Follow all of the water lines going to and from the pump, and visually inspect them for cracks.

Step 2

If you think you've identified a line with a crack, place a bucket underneath the connection between the water line and the pump.

Step 3

Carefully loosen the water line connection from the pump, and see if water starts leaking out. If water comes out, you know that water is successfully being carried through the water line. If no water comes out, the water line may have a crack. The problem could also be a lack of suction. If you've ever run your pump with an empty water tank, suction may have been lost. You can re-establish it by filling the water line with water and then attaching it to the pump. Let the pump run for several minutes, and then test it again.

Step 4

If a line crack is the problem, fix it. First turn off the water pump. Cut out the cracked part of the water line with a pocketknife. Cut a section of plastic tubing to match the length of the damaged part you just cut out. Consult your RV store for the correct type of tubing.

Step 5

Patch up the water line with one fitting if you are using a plastic tube with lots of slack. If there is no slack, take two fittings, and attach one fitting to each end of the severed line. Insert the new plastic tubing section between the two fittings. Fasten the patch with PVC adhesive, and allow it to dry for 12 to 24 hours. Turn water pump back on and see if it works correctly.

About The Author

Kelsey Childress is a social media and search marketing specialist and also runs a freelance creative business that specializes in SEO Web content, social media marketing, and blogging. She has been writing for online and in-print publications for over six years and has a bachelor's degree in English literature and creative writing from Kansas State University.

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