Adria Altea 432 - Water gushing out at inlet
First of all, I am new to caravaning having just brought our first caravan on Saturday, an Adria Altea 432 px. Pitched up last night, and I am struggling to get the water system working. The pump is a Crystal Maxi which plugs into an external inlet, and
I am supposed to drop it into the water barrel. Problem is, when I connect it, and the taps are switched on inside, although some water does come through the taps, water is gushing back out from the inlet where the hose connects to the side of the caravan.
At first, when I connected the pump, it started pumping straight away, even though no taps were on, this however then stopped. So far, this is all I really know about the issue, and all I know about water systems! Would really like some help and advice as
I really dont know what else to do. It is a 200 mile round trip back to the dealer where I brought it from, and being on a 2 week break, is not ideal. Could it be a pressure switch? (I have heard of these, but no idea where it is located) Or do I need a new
water pump or system? I am on EHU if that makes any difference. Any advice or help is much appreciated! Thanks in advance!
Comments
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Have you 'locked' the plump connector into ininlet? There are usually two little tabs top and bottom to hold the connector in. Mine often leaks if the bottom tab is not properly engaged. Is the 'O' ring on the connector present and in good condition?
If as you say the pump runs for a while when first connected even with no tap turned on then it does sound that you have a presuurised system which will have a pressure switch somewhere, but I don't think this anything to do with your problem.
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It does have the tabs, however when locked into place, I wouldnt say its a tight fit. Is it supposed to be a tight fit, or does the pressure from the system provide the seal?
The O ring on the connector is present and looks ok.
Are the newer systems any better from a sealing perspective?
Would adjustment on the pressure switch possibly be causing the water to gush out like that? I presume that is the switch near the water heater?
Sorry for all the questions, completely new to all this!
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Water should not be leaking at the inlet at all. It should need a fairly firm push when you plug it in. If you hold the connector in /wiggle it does this alter the leak? Any cracks in the plastic, either plug or socket?
The connector should be fine at the sorts of pressure involved. What can sometimes happen is that the non-return valve(s) stick, but then water seeps back into the aguaroll through the pump. In a pressurised system this would then result in constant pump cycling, which you would notice.
(note that I edited my first reply to comment on the pressure switch - reread if necessary).
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If water is getting to the taps but only in a low flow then the pressure switch is working.
Blowing back with the taps open back through the inlet means pressure is building but the water is not getting through.
Could be some blockage between the inlet and the pressure switch
It might be a call to the selling dealer for advice.
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Silly question I know but do you have an onboard water tank? We used to have one on an Adria we had years ago. If so, it's full to the brim and then back flowing up the pipe. Other than that I agree with others and trace the pipe under the seats and check
the jubilee clips.0 -
Have you "bled" the system. Normally you need to turn the pump on then open a tap to expell air form the system and get water into the boiler and up to all the taps. Do each tap in turn, it maybe that if you do not have a tap open you are trying to force
water in with nowehere to go. Once you have water to each tap and all turned off if it si pressurised the pump will run for a few seconds to set the pressure then stop until you use water.0 -
Have you read the
Caravan Club Guidelines on water pumps?It may just give you a clue as it does indicate some potential problem areas.
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If the van does have an oboard tank, there will be a diverter valve to allow selection of supply directly to the van, or to the onboard tank. What that looks like or how it is operated I don't know about Adria, but the valve will be inside and near the water
inlet0 -
You need to establish whether the water is leaking out at the connection between pump hose and van, or between the hose from the pump and the connector, which is what I think Molly'sMummy was getting at.
Have you a spare pump, or can you borrow one to try? (I have carried a spare pump for 10 years, on the basis that they are probably not very reliable - I have never needed it!)
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Thanks everyone for your help and responses! I have looked at it again a bit more closely and it is leaking between the hose connector and the connector plate on the side of the van. It does not seem to be sealing properly, and looking at the end of the
connector on the hose, a bit of plastic has borken off, as well as the tabs on the connector plate being very loose. The dealer has very kindly put some new parts in the post to me, so I will be able to switch these over and hopefully fix it, so should be
a simple solution afterall in the end!0
