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Water pump
What Is the most reliable water pump?
We have a Headhunter toilet so that might narrow the field. We presently have a Headhunter Mach 5 and after several Mach 5 (warranteed) replacements, we are exploring other options.
Any recommendation are welcome.
Jim
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41 Replies
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Is this a headhunter water pump?
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Yes Jeff it is.
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What does that mean, Bob? If you turn on the switch the pump runs, but will not stop running? Or it runs, cycles off, but but will not cycle back on?
There can be several causes for the various scenarios. A pump that will not cycle off, but builds pressure until you turn it off is going to cause some serious damage so if that is the case be very cautious. A pump that runs but will not build enough pressure to turn off is less dangerous, but could be a defective check valve or a serious leak not yet visible.
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If I am reading this correctly the pump runs fine until you shut the faucet off, come back later and no water without turning the pump off and then back on….If this is correct, the pump could be going into a fault mode. If there is a small leak the pump senses a small demand and will go into a error mode. On the pump itself it will have a red error light on. So by turning off and back on you have reset the pump and therefore it functions. Also you could have a pump that is failing which could be the board on it…
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Sorry for not being more clearer if I turn the pump on and dont turn the water on right away i have to cycle the switch again. For an example if i turn the pump on and go to take a shower if i wait more than 2 minutes i have to cycle the switch again before i get water pressure. Jeff i did have a leak at the pump but i have fixed that problem. I will look and see if I have any lights on at the pumo.Maybe I’m not using the system correctly should I wait and go to the bathroom and then turn the pump on or should that not matter. I know I should not leave pump on after using water source.
Bob
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If you are using the coach and it is not in storage, or you are going to be away from the coach all day it is not a bad idea to shut the pump off. However if you are with the coach leave the pump on all the time.
I would turn the pump on and then go out to the bay and watch it and see if it tries to run in short cycles and then goes into alarm. It could be going into alarm right away, or not going into alarm at all however when you turn the faucet back on you are not getting any water…
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Bob,
My headhunter will sometimes get air and continue to try to build pressure until it error’s out. The solution for me is to shut the pump off, releave all the pressure by opening a faucet, turn all faucets to the open position and then turn the pump back on. This gets rid of the air in the system per the Headhunter folks. This only happens to mine if I shut the pump off while traveling, it some how gets air in the system, but I have no leaks.
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It could be the pressue switch as well. It is located on top of the pump under the top cover. Headhunter is proud of them.
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Ok I opened all the faucets and turned pump on and ran the water for a few minutes. It still after sitting idle for 5 minutes does not come on and the red alarm light is on. If I cycle the switch everything works fine until it sits idle again. The only place I see a leak is at my Aqua hot system and I would call it more like a seaping than a leak. Also to answer your question Jeff it does not try to run in short cycles.
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It seems like a good time to state that if you end up needing a new pump, Headhunter has a good program for owners of failed pumps. If you send them the silver sticker off ypur current pump, they will sell you a new one for about half price. Not a bad program. Last time I did it, it was on a 10 year old pump. I hope that program remains in place.
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Jim, I may regret saying this, but my headhunter pump has been reliable. I would want to investigate why your pump life spans are so short.
Having said that there are options if you want to get a little creative. The headhunter toilet is an excellent choice but it needs a very high pressure, high volume flow for a short period of time. The pump is ideal because as soon as the flushing of the toilet drops system pressure the pump responds and provides around 8 GPM at a pressure likely in excess of 40 PSI.
A substitute for the pump is an accumulator tank with a large outlet in the 3/4″ range or more with sufficient volume to handle a flush cycle. I have an approximately 1 gallon accumulator directly in line with the toilet flush valve and with all pumps turned off it will deliver enough volume of water at sufficient pressure to complete a toilet flush cycle. I installed the accumulator tank because I have a low volume 1.3 GPM 60 PSI back up water pump just in case the Headhunter pump should fail.
In your situation I would suggest you install an accumulator and a small Shurflo type back up pump, but also get Headhunter on the job helping you find out why you are having premature pump failures.
It took me a couple of days of messing around to get the project of a back up pump done, but since there is no downside I think you will agree it is worth the effort.
Shurflo accumulator whose water line tees in directly in line with the Headhunter flush valve.
Shurflo pump mounted in parallel lines to the Headhunter Mach 5.
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Jon, surely thats not some off colored brass you are using on the Liberty plumbing and water system is it. Please tell me it’s just some type of a shadow with the photo..
Bill S.
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Since you have had several replaced I would check the incoming line to the pump ,I think that Headhunter requires at least a 1″line.
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Brass and copper, an offset to the polished white plastic. It apparently was selected by the designer to provide a certain decor to the water side.
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Only a Liberty can have a designer decor on the water side along with a wasre tank that only lasts 5yrs. Geo.
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