Airlock in waster system on arrival.

[DaveHobson]

We’ve recently started motorhoming with a 2018 Bailey Advance. When we arrive on site, we have trouble getting water from the taps - the pump runs, but no water. The solution is to remove the shower head (furthest from the pump) and suck until water comes through, then all taps work. So I’m assuming it’s an airlock. Easily resolved, but a bit of a nuisance. Any suggestions as to how to prevent it happening?
Dave.

 

[Figaro]

The pump should have sufficient power to push the water through without the assistance from you.
Is it a submersible pump, I'd be inclined to test it's working correctly.
I think if it's wired incorrectly, (reversed polarity) it'll have reduced flow so maybe worth checking that.

 

[Podney]

Sometimes it helps if you turn the tap on the shower from hot to cold to hot to cold etc. No idea why,but it works for me.

You certainly shouldnt need to suck it.

 

[Badknee]

It might be a one way valve that’s failed allowing water to drain back into the water tank?

 

[Stealaway]

Could the hot water tank be empty and you are waiting for that to fill?

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[tonka]

Are you leaving the pump running long enough to build pressure before opening a tap ??
My method is fill water, close all taps, turn pump on and leave running a short while. Then I open taps one at a time to expel the air.

 

[DaveHobson]

The pump should have sufficient power to push the water through without the assistance from you.
Is it a submersible pump, I'd be inclined to test it's working correctly.
I think if it's wired incorrectly, (reversed polarity) it'll have reduced flow so maybe worth checking that.

It is a submersible. It seems fine once water is flowing - good flow - but I’ll check it. Thanks.

Sometimes it helps if you turn the tap on the shower from hot to cold to hot to cold etc. No idea why,but it works for me.

You certainly shouldnt need to suck it.

Thanks, I’ll try that.

 

[DaveHobson]

It might be a one way valve that’s failed allowing water to drain back into the water tank?

Hmm, could be. It certainly seems that the system’s empty.

 

[DaveHobson]

Could the hot water tank be empty and you are waiting for that to fill?

No, we’re not draining the hot between trips. (At least not until the weather gets colder.)

 

[DaveHobson]

Are you leaving the pump running long enough to build pressure before opening a tap ??
My method is fill water, close all taps, turn pump on and leave running a short while. Then I open taps one at a time to expel the air.

Good question - how long should it take? We don’t like to leave it more than a few seconds, for fear of damaging it.

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[Arnside037]

I have exactly the same issue on a 2020 Bailey. Same solution. Tried all the suggestions but to no avail. Without the suck the airlock out palaver, i found over filling the water tank got rid of the air lock and keeping it 25% full stoped it from happening but the problem will return of course after the winter drain down.

 

[2657]

I have found that after using the heater overnight, which heats the hot water tank, after everything cools there is air in the system
I put this down to the cooled hot water having contracted.