12 Volt Water Pumps

Let’s talk 12V water pumps.

Has your pump started to make funny noises, turns on and off frequently even when you’re not using it, or simply stopped working altogether?

Here is a checklist to help you get started in diagnosing the problem:

• Check to see it has power, is it switched on, is the fuse blown, has a breaker tripped?
• Is the pump hot to the touch or cold?
• Can you hear it running when turning the tap on?
• Check your water levels – seems obvious but sometimes we forget!
• Can you see any visible leaks around the connections to and from the pump?
• Is there a filter present, is it clogged up with debris?
• Does it only play up when plugged into mains or when off-grid too?

Now that you’ve worked your way through some scenarios to better identify the problem, let’s examine some of the common causes of pump failure:

• Age, like most things it depends on what sort of life the pump has had (run time, water quality, vibrations, location, temperature) they do have a limited lifespan
• Water quality, does your pump have a pre-filter fitted and have you been using an inline filtering system. Water quality around Australia varies significantly so this can be a common issue
• Have you replaced or cleaned your water filters recently?
• Do you have a pressure limiting valve fitted?
• Has it suddenly occurred in one location, are other suffering the same problems?

Based on the above, there is a good chance you have been able to narrow down the issue. In terms of what we see coming through the shop the most common cause of failures resulting in the need to fit new pumps is as follows and in rough order of frequency:

• High water pressure, causing failure of pressure valves
• Restricted water flow due to clogged or non-existent water filters
• Pump failure due to age and conditions.

If you’re not competent in replacing your water pump yourself, find a reputable caravan repair shop to undertake the work for you. They should as part of the process discuss filtering with you and perform a pressure test on your pressure reduction valve to ensure the most likely causes are removed to keep your new pump in great condition for years to come!

If you have questions; please reach out to us at sales@revotek.com.au or via our online enquiry form: https://bit.ly/42uEqYQ