Seeking advice for me waterworks!!

[Hector_Hippy]

Hi all, I am hoping some of you knowledgeable folk out there can help me with my water works!!

We have a 2018 Adria 670 SL, which like most Adrias, pre 2021, suffers from the dreaded leaks from the Reich system that Adria use. I have had a few ( beside the boiler, and in the bathroom; hot feed which had no insert…) which were easily sorted by replacing the joints with John Guest ones.

Basically we have had a very noisy pump since we bought the motorhome and I have no idea whether the pump is banjaxed or not. Therefore I have bought a Shurflo replacement and intend replacing all the joints with JG ones.

Adjacent to the pump there is a flask-like chamber fitted, which I assume has some sort of pressure equalising function. Doesn’t that sound knowledgeable!!(read it on one of the MHF threads!)

1) Is the purpose of this flask for pressure equalisation, why is it needed, how does it work and can it be dispensed with?

2) What is the connection at the bottom of the flask and can this be reused?

3) Before the flask there is a lever which I think is an on/off valve of some sort?

4) Will this JG valve do the same job?

5) As a matter of interest, what is the normal position for this lever - up or down?


6) The connection from the pump to the valve looks unnecessarily complex and I can only assume that it is to reduce the height as the pump is raised. (also had a leak from there which was resolved by tightening the joint!)
7) Is there a more straight forward solution to this?

8) I can see that the connection attached to the pump is a 15mm to12mm reducer what is the proper description for this? 15mm to 12mm reducing elbow??
9 )Is there a JG equivalent
10) If there is, any idea who stocks it?

If I sound in anyway knowledgeable, it is from what I have picked up on this very useful forum, so please be assured I am a complete novice when it comes to plumbing!! I have made an attempt at compiling a list of parts that I will require and hope that someone can validate for me:

a) the 2 x 15mm to 12mm reducers to attach to the pump. (new pump also has 15mm fittings)
b) isolation valve thing if suitable
c) 4 x stem elbow
d) 1 x T joint

I have searched eBay etc for the pump 15mm - 12mm elbow joints but cannot find them! I have been on JG's own site also to no avail.


Thanks in advance

Hector and Hippy

 

[rb62]

The 'lever' is a drain tap for draining the system down so best not to remove it

 

[Hector_Hippy]

The 'lever' is a drain tap for draining the system down so best not to remove it

View attachment 716587

Many Thanks

Is this compatible with JG fittings?

Hector

 

[rb62]

Many Thanks

Is this compatible with JG fittings?

Hector

It's a Reich part

 

[Lenny HB]

The flask is an accumulator (there is another name for it as well) it damps out any pulsing that you sometimes get with pressure pumps. There are two types one that just has a feed in and an outlet the better ones have a valve where you pressurise them with an air pump.

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[IRHP]

Many Thanks

Is this compatible with JG fittings?

Hector

It only has 2 x 12mm pipes going into so doesn't need to be compatible with any other fittings as said it's a drain valve, if you look under the Van you will see the drain pipe. You should have used it during winter. Lift the lever to drain. It's compatible with 12mm pipe which would work the same with JG or Reich fittings.

 

[ontheroadagain]

If you are only changing the pump to a Shurflo because it is noisy, you may be disappointed as the new pump will likely be the same. (Lilie pumps are made by Shurflo so you already have a Shurflo) Also, the noise is good as it will alert you if you have a leak. I would keep the new pump as a spare, buy a selection of John Guest fittings and leave it all alone until it leaks. There is a good chance it may never leak as most of the Adria leaks seem to happen on the hot pipes.

 

[Hector_Hippy]

It only has 2 x 12mm pipes going into so doesn't need to be compatible with any other fittings as said it's a drain valve, if you look under the Van you will see the drain pipe. You should have used it during winter. Lift the lever to drain. It's compatible with 12mm pipe which would work the same with JG or Reich fittings.

Thanks for this.

I had no idea this was a drain plug as I used the frost plug attached to the Alde boiler and the empty setting on the water tank thinking they drained the system. Now I know I'll probably use both!

I also keep the van hooked up and heating on at 5c. Easy (apart from thee expense!) as it is kept on the drive.

Given the issues I, and others, have been having with the Reich fittings, do you know if there is a JG equivalent?

Hector

 

[Hector_Hippy]

The flask is an accumulator (there is another name for it as well) it damps out any pulsing that you sometimes get with pressure pumps. There are two types one that just has a feed in and an outlet the better ones have a valve where you pressurise them with an air pump.

Thanks

It makes sense now

Hector

 

[Hector_Hippy]

If you are only changing the pump to a Shurflo because it is noisy, you may be disappointed as the new pump will likely be the same. (Lilie pumps are made by Shurflo so you already have a Shurflo) Also, the noise is good as it will alert you if you have a leak. I would keep the new pump as a spare, buy a selection of John Guest fittings and leave it all alone until it leaks. There is a good chance it may never leak as most of the Adria leaks seem to happen on the hot pipes.

Thanks for this

Yeah I can agree with what you say here. All the leaks we discovered so far were brought to our attention because of the noise of the water pump kicking in during the night! And indeed all on the hot water system.

The pump does make quite a racket though, is this normal? I can actually hear it from the outside

Hector

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[ontheroadagain]

Ours makes a racket too. You can also hear ours outside as it is located in the garage.

 

[Hector_Hippy]

Ours makes a racket too. You can also hear ours outside as it is located in the garage.

Ah! OK I thought we were the only ones! I have been hoping to come across another Adria Coral owner somewhere to ask them if there's is the same. So maybe it's a general Adria thing then?

Thanks

Hector

 

[mitzimad]

that tap is not a drain valve its a pressure release valve you need to keep it or risk splitting the boiler it can be used as a drain off but that isnt its primary purpose

 

[ontheroadagain]

The pump will vibrate when on. Make sure it, or any of the pipes are not vibrating against anything as this can also cause noise.

 

[ontheroadagain]

that tap is not a drain valve its a pressure release valve you need to keep it or risk splitting the boiler it can be used as a drain off but that isnt its primary purpose

We have one of those too. It is not pressure operated it is just a manual valve. The pressure relief valve is at the boiler.

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[Hector_Hippy]

that tap is not a drain valve its a pressure release valve you need to keep it or risk splitting the boiler it can be used as a drain off but that isnt its primary purpose

Thanks for this

Is this an automatic pressure release or does it require manual intervention?

So I have a Truma Frost Valve (I think that's what it's called) beside and connected to the Alde boiler. Is it possible that is what ontheroadagain is referring to?

Hector

 

[ontheroadagain]

I don’t know about Alde but with Truma there is a frost valve near the boiler. This will open automatically when the temperature drops close to freezing. It can also be opened manually.
The Truma also has a pressure relief valve which opens if the pressure gets too high. These are two separate valves and serve two different purposes.

 

[Cush]

John guest come in all the sizes you need. I have had to buy some 15 to 12 mm reducers as the truma equivalent dump valve is 12 mm but my pipes are 15. I think it looks complicated because it has to drop height from the pump to the valve and you can really only do it with right angles.
you can get pumps like the whale with 12 mm push fit fittings. I got my stuff from Camper Interiors. It’s a nice DIY job. I had to rig a new dump valve using 15mm JG fittings and semi rigid pipe from screwfix and an old washing machine pipe!

good luck
cush

 

[IRHP]

Thanks for this.

I had no idea this was a drain plug as I used the frost plug attached to the Alde boiler and the empty setting on the water tank thinking they drained the system. Now I know I'll probably use both!

I also keep the van hooked up and heating on at 5c. Easy (apart from thee expense!) as it is kept on the drive.

Given the issues I, and others, have been having with the Reich fittings, do you know if there is a JG equivalent?

Hector

Yes there us a JG Equivalent but I'd probably leave it. I have an Adria and had the same problems but always on the hot fittings. I've replaced others next yo the boiler that haven't leaked but there a load like yours next to the pump in the garage, all cold and none have leaked. https://camperinteriors.co.uk/products/truma-drain-valve-john-guest-12mm

 

[IRHP]

Mines very noisy too especially if in bed as it's almost below my head in the garage. We don't flush the toilet during the night

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[DerryW]

The flask is an accumulator (there is another name for it as well) it damps out any pulsing that you sometimes get with pressure pumps. There are two types one that just has a feed in and an outlet the better ones have a valve where you pressurise them with an air pump

I don’t know about Alde but with Truma there is a frost valve near the boiler. This will open automatically when the temperature drops close to freezing. It can also be opened manually.
The Truma also has a pressure relief valve which opens if the pressure gets too high. These are two separate valves and serve two different purposes.

It’s the same regardless of being Alde or Truma.

 

[MisterB]

At least I now know my pump is naturally noisy, I am also refraining from making any other comments on 'noisy' things in the motorhome....