What is that alarmthat sounds when shower is running

Pilot

Pilot

Active Member
May 7, 2009
296
Chesapeake Bay
Boat Info
2009 370 Searay DA
V Drives
Engines
Twin 8.1's
Has anyone had this problem? Whenever the shower is running for a short while there is an alarm that will go off for @ 5-10 seconds. It stops for a while, then does it again. It happens when the shower is being used. It is very annoying and I cant seem to track down what it is, other than assume it's the carbon monoxide alarm.

Thanks
 
It sounds like a high water in the mid bilge alarm. Check your shower sump box while you run water down the shower drain. Water must be overflowing the sump box and running into the mid bilge pump.
 
Thanks GL Pirate.

That would certainly make sense. It drains slow in the shower stall, I wonder why it would be overflowing if in fact it is.
Could it be a clogged bilge?
 
It could overflow for a number of reasons. Just turn on the shower and then watch your shower sump box to see why/if it is overflowing. One reason could be the line that runs out to your through hull is clogged. Another reason could be that your pump/switch in the box has failed. The other reason I could see being a problem is if your "check valve" has completely collapsed. I think once you do a little inspection, you will find out the cause. Keep us posted.
 
Probably just hair clogging it. I like to clean it out often and use my little shop vac to empty to funky water out when done. Put a bit of vinegar down the drain once in a while to keep it fresher.
 
Well the discharge pump seems to be the culprit. The float is sticking, plus when it does kick on it doesn't get a prime for suction unless you mess with it. I've cleaned it out and its still doing it, fills up the box with water, overflows and the mid bilge pump eventualy kicks in and sucks the overflow out. I'm thinking it may be time for a new pump, unless there's another fix?

Also, is it normal for the discharge line to be somewhat pressurized? If that black gasket the pump nozzle fits into comes loose or I take it off, a lot of water will come shooting in.

Thanks
 
Those pumps are notorious for failing. Been there done that. Especially if they are not cleaned routinely.

That back flow is not under pressure. Just gravity. Mine does the same thing if I take the valve out when I clean.
 
"Also, is it normal for the discharge line to be somewhat pressurized? If that black gasket the pump nozzle fits into comes loose or I take it off, a lot of water will come shooting in."


It sounds like your pump may be OK. You say it works when disconnect the pump from the gasket. You may have an obstruction up stream.

There is a rubber whale valve just after the pump. Remove it. If it looks deformed work some liquid soap through it. Replace the valve. Hook the pump back up and try to cycle some water through it.
 
Last edited:
Thanks, I checked and it wasn't clogged. After taking it apart again and cleaning and messing with it repeatedly I found that its the internal connection switch. The float works fine, but it isn't triggering the contacts to make the pump come on when the floats rises.
It will only work if you bang on it each time, and since its a closed unit you can't get inside to work on it. So,, I'll just buy another one. I have, after all, used the shower a good 6 or 7 times, so, its probably ready to be replaced anyway.

Thanks all for your responses!
 
The shower sump overboard discharge hose on my 2001 270DA was about 90% clogged by a dirt dauber wasp. This gave similar results to what you are seeing when my sump pump ran but the water was pumped out very slowly - slower than it was coming in from the shower.

The clog could not be easily seen on the outside of the boat. I CAREFULLY poked a welding rod in and out of the discharge hose until the dirt dauber clog was gone.

All is well now.
 
I am having the same problem here and getting the same alarm. I seem to remember the pump groaning as it cut on and someone was in the shower. I think I will just go with the whole box to be replaced for $120.

I did want to mention my Emergency Bilge had popped out of its casing from what I assuming was a wave I hit or something. So everytime the shower sump would overflow it would run back to the Emergency Bilge and then it would spray all over the place rather than pump it out of the line. More or less the water never went anywhere really and it starting coming on all the time within 1 day. Once it was snapped back in place it worked fine.

Just one more thing to check when the bells and alarms start going off!
 
Dick Whetstone said:
The shower sump overboard discharge hose on my 2001 270DA was about 90% clogged by a dirt dauber wasp. This gave similar results to what you are seeing when my sump pump ran but the water was pumped out very slowly - slower than it was coming in from the shower.

The clog could not be easily seen on the outside of the boat. I CAREFULLY poked a welding rod in and out of the discharge hose until the dirt dauber clog was gone.

All is well now.
Click to expand...


+1. Ditto the AC discharge, the bilge pump discharge and my 1 year old trumpet horns. Those effers were everywhere last winter.
 
Well, after a visit to West Marine and $79.00 later it's now working. Pretty easy to replace the pump, just needed to splice the wires and snap it in place.

Thanks all for your comments and input.
 
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