Low fresh water pressure...any ideas/suggestions?

Nick70

Nick70

Active Member
Apr 20, 2016
206
New England
Boat Info
2006 Searay 260 DA 496 mag
RAYMARINE stuff.
Engines
496 Magnum
Bravo III
2009 sundancer 330
I noticed the pump would sometimes turn on while hooked up to water.
Turned the pump off and saw yes, the flow is definitely low.
Hose and connection are good..no kinks, properly connected.
I'm thinking unless I'm ready to rip out all the pex lines, it's just something we are going to accept.
But, any words of wisdom are appreciated.
Thanks
 
First of all when connected to dock water you should have your fresh water pump turned off. If the water pressure is then low you may have a problem with the fresh water regulator where you connect you dock hose. It is designed to reduce the incoming city water pressure to a lower pressure that your boat is designed for. Usually designed for 35 to 50 psi. How is the water pressure when disconnected from dock water with the pump turned on?
 
hottoddie said:
First of all when connected to dock water you should have your fresh water pump turned off. If the water pressure is then low you may have a problem with the fresh water regulator where you connect you dock hose. It is designed to reduce the incoming city water pressure to a lower pressure that your boat is designed for. Usually designed for 35 to 50 psi. How is the water pressure when disconnected from dock water with the pump turned on?
Click to expand...
It's acceptable. Enough to take a shower but not a nice full stream.
Now though, with the dock water hooked up, it's not enough by itself. I need to turn the pump on as well.
 
Nick70 said:
It's acceptable. Enough to take a shower but not a nice full stream.
Now though, with the dock water hooked up, it's not enough by itself. I need to turn the pump on as well.
Click to expand...

Something is a miss.

Check other water sources on your dock and see if they are the same. If they have more pressure the valve at you slip might be broken..... or at least needing adjusted.

The valve at my slip broke internally the other day and when they replaced it I had so much pressure compared to the old one it's great.

Now the pump in the boat should give you acceptable water pressure all by itself. If low check to make sure the screen filter is clean and then go from there.
 
Nick70 said:
2009 sundancer 330
I noticed the pump would sometimes turn on while hooked up to water.
Turned the pump off and saw yes, the flow is definitely low.
Hose and connection are good..no kinks, properly connected.
I'm thinking unless I'm ready to rip out all the pex lines, it's just something we are going to accept.
But, any words of wisdom are appreciated.
Thanks
Click to expand...


Apologies in advance if this question is too obvious...when was the last time you cleaned that little freshwater screen filter by the water pump?

The screen filter is inside the do-hickey, often incorrectly referred to as a thingamabob, as pictured below.

You remove the do-hickey by unscrewing it just like you unscrew a garden hose. With the do-hickey in your hand, you twist the two ends in opposite direction to open, lefty losey. Now, inside the do-hickey is the screen filter. Take it out and wash it off. Re-install, give the water system a try then let us know your results.

I remove my do-hickey then clean my screen filter anually.
0E139588-6CA4-43AF-8A12-832E54266344.jpeg
 
Last edited:
iBoat Skipper Doug said:
Apologies in advance if this question is too obvious...when was the last time you cleaned that little freshwater screen filter by by the water pump?

The screen filter is inside the do-hickey, often incorrectly referred to as a thingamabob, as pictured below.

You remove the do-hickey by unscrewing it just like you unscrew a garden hose. With the do-hickey in your hand, you twist the two ends in opposite direction to open, lefty loosely. Now, inside the do-hickey is the screen filter. Take it out and wash it off. Re-install, give the water system a try then let us know your results.

I remove my do-hickey then clean my screen filter anually.
View attachment 59187
Click to expand...
I wasn't even aware of that filter! Thanks..now to locate it on my set up, and do you know if it filters both dock and water from the tank?
 
CFB957F4-1AAB-4C70-825B-405DFA09A7D7.jpeg
Nick70 said:
I wasn't even aware of that filter! Thanks..now to locate it on my set up, and do you know if it filters both dock and water from the tank?
Click to expand...

Please look in your engine compartment where I added the yellow circle. The do-hickey should have a blue line attached to it on one side and the water pump labeled “E” in this photo on the other side.

All your fresh water runs through this filter, doesn’t matter if you are connected to on-shore water or not.

Please take a photo, before and after and share it here so other people can learn.

I’m crossing my fingers that cleaning this small filter resolves the issues you describe. I think it will.

Oh, disconnect from shore water, turn off your fresh water pump, and open a sink faucet before you remove the do-hickey. That or wear a swimsuit as you are doing this task because you will get wet if you do not eliminate the water pressure before you begin.
 
Last edited:
Nick70 said:
I noticed the pump would sometimes turn on while hooked up to water.
Click to expand...
If I'm not mistaken, you should have your pump off when hooked to shore water. If the pump is on it will use the water in your tank. I believe cleaning the do-hickey filter is going to fix your problem though. We also clean all of the faucet screens and shower head at least once a season. Good luck.
 
where is this filter? ive never had good water pressure in the shower with city water hooked up or the pump on. i know on the pump there is that little clear plastic screw on top with small silver screen in there. but ive never seen this plastic device pictured above. ive even pulled all the guts out of the faucet in shower and it got a little better but not good by any means.
 
IMG_1181.JPG
After minor frustration..Success!!
I located the filter easy enough. Shut off the pump/shore water. Opened a faucet to release remaining pressure.
Unscrewed it, cleaned it, put it back on.
I failed to notice there was an O ring in there though..so while I blasted the filter with a hose I must have lost the O ring too.
Took a minute to figure it out. I thought I had to bleed the whole system..scratching my head.
Got a replacement O ring from auto parts store.
Water pressure is much better.
Here's a pic of the filter.
 
yea i cleaned that one out still no luck. i would say i have a bad regulator but my pressure is the same whether on the pump or the water hookup so i dont think thats the problem. i was thinking about replacing the whole faucet in the bathroom.
 
I was having H2O issues too. The faucets and shower head have a screen too that had debris that once I cleaned up, big and improvement.
 
Yea I have cleaned this one, but that clear plastic thingy in the first pic on the thread, I’ve never seen that. I’ve pulled all the screens out of my shower head and pressure still sucks
 
As mentioned, you shouldn’t run the 12 volt pump along with shore water. There’s a check valve (or should be) that diverts the pump supplied water to the faucets and keeps the shore water from putting pressure to the outgoing side of the pump.

By running the pump and shore water at the same time, you might have damaged the pump.
 
Nah no luck for me, I’m contemplating buying a new faucet. I just hate to start replacing parts without knowing
 
iBoat Skipper Doug said:
Apologies in advance if this question is too obvious...when was the last time you cleaned that little freshwater screen filter by the water pump?

The screen filter is inside the do-hickey, often incorrectly referred to as a thingamabob, as pictured below.

You remove the do-hickey by unscrewing it just like you unscrew a garden hose. With the do-hickey in your hand, you twist the two ends in opposite direction to open, lefty losey. Now, inside the do-hickey is the screen filter. Take it out and wash it off. Re-install, give the water system a try then let us know your results.

I remove my do-hickey then clean my screen filter anually.
View attachment 59187
Click to expand...
Question in response to this - our water filter is definitely cleaned. But when it's installed, the water pressure is awful. When we remove it, it works perfectly. Suggestions?
 
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