Shower Sum Pump

M

majmacv

New Member
Jun 3, 2009
28
Sacramento, CA
Boat Info
2001 410 DA
Engines
8.1 Horizon x 2 (V DR)
I'm probably posting in the wrong place, but i'm up against a time line and need help with fixing my inop shower sump pump on my 07 280 DA. it seems odd to have gone out this fast and i'm wondering if anyone else has had this happen and any advice on how to trouble-shoot ?
 
Is it completely dead or is it staying on and won't shut off? If it is dead and has no power then replace it or the components. If it stays on try cleaning it and squirt some Raritan CP in it every week.
 
I recently had an issue where the gunk in the sump jammed the float switch, you might want to find the manual actuator (it's a small plastic protuberance on the switch if you have the standard Rule switch) and see if the pump will come on when you push that down. If it does, a good shot of water under the float may fix it, at least it did in my case.
 
alnav said:
I recently had an issue where the gunk in the sump jammed the float switch, you might want to find the manual actuator (it's a small plastic protuberance on the switch if you have the standard Rule switch) and see if the pump will come on when you push that down. If it does, a good shot of water under the float may fix it, at least it did in my case.
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In my case as well.

Mine only gets used when the Admiral washes down the head. It was as dry as ash when I got it but had some "gunk" locking it up.
 
You might want to remove the entire sump from the boat and clean it out. My 330's sump was full of hair and that kept the float switch from operating normally. Once I cleaned the hair and gunk out it worked like a charm.

If the pump is dead and you have to replace it, it's not much more to replace the existing sump assembly with a larger one that can handle a higher flow of water. I eventually did do that with mine and I'm pleased with the results.
 
I've had a problem with my sump (float switch) too which I had to replace. I've noticed that the carpet in front of the sump is damp after I run the boat. I remove the trash can and the sump area has a little water but not alot. I can't figure out why the carpet is wet but I think it's coming form the sump. Anybody else have this issue?
 
Bucit said:
I've had a problem with my sump (float switch) too which I had to replace. I've noticed that the carpet in front of the sump is damp after I run the boat. I remove the trash can and the sump area has a little water but not alot. I can't figure out why the carpet is wet but I think it's coming form the sump. Anybody else have this issue?
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Has it rained recently?
 
Bucit said:
I've had a problem with my sump (float switch) too which I had to replace. I've noticed that the carpet in front of the sump is damp after I run the boat. I remove the trash can and the sump area has a little water but not alot. I can't figure out why the carpet is wet but I think it's coming form the sump. Anybody else have this issue?
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Could it be your fridge ice-box melting?

Btw, my pump also was stuck and wouldn't activate and once stuck where it simply wouldn't pump. Cleaning it fixed it. I'm now sure to clean and at least look at it once a week.

Anyone know if using a little bleach down the sink would harm any of the components?
 
We haven't had any rain lately. I keep the boat on a lift so I don't keep the fridge/freezer on. It's only on when we are on water for an extended period of time.
 
Bucit said:
I've had a problem with my sump (float switch) too which I had to replace. I've noticed that the carpet in front of the sump is damp after I run the boat. I remove the trash can and the sump area has a little water but not alot. I can't figure out why the carpet is wet but I think it's coming form the sump. Anybody else have this issue?
Click to expand...

Do you wash your boat?

Well, I had that same wet spot and here is what I did.

I had someone spray a hose at my oval side cabin windows as I was in the cabin looking at the window.

Water did come in. A lot. The water ran down behind the cabinets then out the bottom, getting the carpet wet just before the trash can compartment.

I had to tighten the screws for the little black knobs then I got in the habit of only turning them to the right, both to open and close the windows.
 
Bucit said:
We haven't had any rain lately. I keep the boat on a lift so I don't keep the fridge/freezer on. It's only on when we are on water for an extended period of time.
Click to expand...

It could be that its frosting up and then thawing out when you shut them down.
 
Presentationa dn Cicny Aqua,

Thansk, both good answers and possibilities. I'm in salt water so the boat is washed everytime I come home and the fridge is shut off also so the next time out I'll try and isolate the problem.
 
Leave the frig on and see if it gets wet... I had both water from ice, and leaks from unsealed snaps...
 
Cincy Aquaholic said:
Anyone know if using a little bleach down the sink would harm any of the components?
Click to expand...

This is one of those "damned if you do and damned if you don't" things. My boat has the kitchen sink drain into the sump... which is a BAD design. Milk, coke, tuna fish, cottage cheese, beer, wine, corn, bread and anything else that gets rinsed off a plate ends up in that thing to fester... and the smell is as bad as the holding tank if you don't keep up with it.

The issue with bleach is not hurting the pump or float but the rubber one-way check valves (whale valves) that are in line on the outbound hose. They keep the fluid from coming back into the sump box after the pump shuts off. Bleach will eat them up and then may cause the sump box to cycle every minute (pumps it up the hose, shuts off, hose drains back, pumps it up the hose, shuts off, etc etc). I just keep a couple extra whale valves on the boat and replace them once a year or so... price of having a sump box IMO.

I've had the float stick on mine several times. I've actually replaced the float twice. If you use bar soap in the shower or sink to wash, the stuff turns back into what looks like lard (well... it actually is...) and collects in the float and pump. So it dissolves when you wash up and reconstitutes itself in the sump box... collecting all the tuna fish, hair, cottage cheese, etc with it and forms into some living smelly organic substance with the consistency of bacon grease. I refuse to use "body wash"... I want bar soap... so it's another thing you just have to accept. Body wash just doesn't feel right... But that's probably just me. I'm sure the "northern Chesapeake Bay" guys just love the stuff.
 
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My shower sump float used to stick on occasion, now I send a bilge cleaner cocktail down my shower drain a couple times during the season. I dump it in full strength. It gets me by until I winterize, then I clean it.

Damn Gary, I can't imagine 2 week old tuna in that sump...even a cat would turn their nose at that one!
 
Yup....seems I never can get one that works very well either. We don't shower on the boat, as we have access to a private bathroom right at our dock. Just use it for teeth brushing and the AC condensation. I try and remember to flush it out each week, but it still gets gummed up at times. I have been using bilge cleaner and it does seem to help.
 
Stray Cat said:
Damn Gary, I can't imagine 2 week old tuna in that sump...even a cat would turn their nose at that one!
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One of my "cool mods" that I want to do is plumb the galley sink so it goes directly overboard via a thru hull on the side of the boat. I want to put a garbage disposal on it as well... that's what all the Vikings have in my marina... then people can dump crap down it all day.
 
Four Suns said:
The issue with bleach is not hurting the pump or float but the rubber one-way check valves (whale valves) that are in line on the outbound hose. They keep the fluid from coming back into the sump box after the pump shuts off. Bleach will eat them up and then may cause the sump box to cycle every minute (pumps it up the hose, shuts off, hose drains back, pumps it up the hose, shuts off, etc etc). I just keep a couple extra whale valves on the boat and replace them once a year or so... price of having a sump box IMO.
quote]

Gary,

Where do you find the whale valve? Is it accessed from the sump box? When I cleaned my sump box I run water through it and after the pump stops the water left in the hose runs back into it.
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