Sump pump

[rjcaudle]

Greetings all. I am new to sailing and just purchased a small boat.

Now I find that the sump pump in the bilge has stopped working. I have limited "fix it " skills and need some help on what to do next.


This is not the bilge pump but the smaller sump pump for the gray water that comes from the head. I can hear the sump pump go on when I flip the breaker but the basin does not drain. I guess it could be clogged, but I could not follow the exit hose very far as it exits the bilge.

Not even sure where it goes once it exits the bilge.

So, I would appreciate thoughts on what to do next, as I feeling stupid at this point.

rjc

[scottyt]

It could be lots of things, first i would pull the pump and put it in a bucket to see if it pumps. then you need to follow the hose to check for kinks, or blockages. make sure there is no check valve in the line as well.

most times shower sumps clog from hair, or soap scum make sure that it is not.

[MJBrown]

Are your sure you don't have a seacock that is closed? Try to trace the hose to the hull and then make sure the valve is in the open position. Which BTW is when the handle is in line with the thru hull valve.

[hellosailor]

Its a bit unclear. usually a small boat only has one bilge pump, and the water coming from the head is "black water", that is, sewage. If you have a shower in the head, the shower pan may have a separate pump and drain, and that would be gray water. Some boats run it into the bilge (a bad idea, it will stink and clog) while others pump it overboard, or into a holding tank.

there's no way to tell what you have until you reach in there and start tracing it out. If it is indeed gray water from a shower pan, the odds are that soap scum and hair have clogged it, and if it runs into the bilge, you'd want to re-route that into a blivet (flex tank) or overboard.

[eherlihy]

Assuming that this is the shower sump (grey water from the head [compartment]), and not the macerator (which is black water, or sewage); most of these pumps have a pre-filter which can be plugged with hair and algae, and other crud.

Follow the plumbing line back from the pump toward the head and you will find it. I have seen them look like clear inverted cups, and others that looked like a big fuse. Find the filter, figure out how to open it, and clean it out.

[oaklandsailor]

Sort of to the side, but I was cleaning my gray water sump not long ago and the plastic 'filter' got tossed out with some other things that day. It fits a Jabsco unit, is approx. 8 1/4 long and is a cylinder that is perforated. I can't seem to purchase just the filter -so far, at least- and am wondering if anyone out there can think of a useful alternative. The whole new replacement item is around $120-. If so, please share it.

MF

[rjcaudle]

This is indeed gray water which drains from the shower head and the frig into a small basin in the top of the bilge. If it overflows it would go right into the bilge.

Thanks for the suggestions. This weekend I shall follow the line and see if a cure is in store. I bet its a clogged strainer or the thru hull is closed.

b

[rjcaudle]

Well,

Continuing to try to find the reason my sump pump not working. Followed the line back from the sump, which goes to the aft cabin and then it looks like it leads to teh back of the cockpit.

Boat is a 34' Tartan.

I do not believe there is a thru hull fitting. Looks like it is pumped to an area below the cockpit and probably exits above the water line.

Strainer in front of the pump was nasty. Opened and cleaned that out, but still no water being pumped.

Pump makes noise but no effect on water in sump.

My next thought was to take down the hose at the sump itself and see if there is a clog there. Only other thing is maybe there is something wrong with the pump itself.

Any suggestions?

[PorFin]

Originally Posted by rjcaudle

Well,

Continuing to try to find the reason my sump pump not working. Followed the line back from the sump, which goes to the aft cabin and then it looks like it leads to teh back of the cockpit.

Boat is a 34' Tartan.

I do not believe there is a thru hull fitting. Looks like it is pumped to an area below the cockpit and probably exits above the water line.

Strainer in front of the pump was nasty. Opened and cleaned that out, but still no water being pumped.

Pump makes noise but no effect on water in sump.

My next thought was to take down the hose at the sump itself and see if there is a clog there. Only other thing is maybe there is something wrong with the pump itself.

Any suggestions?

Sometimes when taking shots in the dark, a little bit of light helps...

Can you determine the make and model of the pump? Knowing whether it's a diaphram pump or a centrifugal pump will make a difference in guessing probable causes.

A quick test you can run is to get two pieces of water hose the right diameter to fit the in and out ports, and stick the new temporary inlet hose in a container of water. Run the outlet hose back into the same bucket. Turn on the pump, and see if you get any circulation of water -- if yes, your pump works; if no, then you've isolated your fault.

While you've got the permanent hoses disconnected from the pump, try blowing on them. You shouldn't get any significant build up of pressure. If you do, you've got a blockage somewhere in the line.

[rjcaudle]

Thanks Porfin

I think its said diaphragm on the pump, but I will check.

Going to do just what u said and see if the pump works.

Thanks again.

rjc