Very low water flowing from faucets when on city water

[MnG KY]

1 On city water with plenty of pressure at spigot. A trickle of water at faucets and toilet but plenty of water at outside faucet.

2. Fresh water tank 100% . Water pump can't produce any flow at faucets or toilet. 

Both city water and fresh water tank  worked fine yesterday. 

Any ideas??

Hull 1171 Ellite II

 

[AlbertNTerri]

Disconnect the hose from the outside (or at least shut off the water source), shut off the pump, get some towels and look under the curb side bed at the pump (where the valves are to change configuration for boondocking etc.) On the inlet side of the pump is a clear plastic cup-like structure that has a screen filter, unscrew the filter cap (clear plastic cup) and see if you have debris in the screen that need to be cleared. Put the towels down to catch the water that comes out when you unscrew the filter cover. Clean it and then put it back together, it doesn't need to be more than finger-tight.  If that doesn't fix it then I'd call OTT in the morning. It may also be related to the back-flow valve which is on the inside of the line right after where you hook up the water hose (on the street side. If that's the issue than it should be under warranty and you'll want to open a service ticket. 

[MnG KY]

8 hours ago, AlbertNTerri said:

Disconnect the hose from the outside (or at least shut off the water source), shut off the pump, get some towels and look under the curb side bed at the pump (where the valves are to change configuration for boondocking etc.) On the inlet side of the pump is a clear plastic cup-like structure that has a screen filter, unscrew the filter cap (clear plastic cup) and see if you have debris in the screen that need to be cleared. Put the towels down to catch the water that comes out when you unscrew the filter cover. Clean it and then put it back together, it doesn't need to be more than finger-tight.  If that doesn't fix it then I'd call OTT in the morning. It may also be related to the back-flow valve which is on the inside of the line right after where you hook up the water hose (on the street side. If that's the issue than it should be under warranty and you'll want to open a service ticket. 

When we have checked the filter ..no debris. Now no water even getting to the filter. Opened a ticket last night and waiting waterlessky to hear from OTT. It's a mystery!  Thanks for the advice!

[John E Davies]

Is the water pump running all the time when turned on? If so it is airlocked. You need to get water into its inlet hose. The easy fast way is to close the faucet valve and open the tank fill valve. This is from Hull 218, your arrangement may look different. 
 

 

This creates an open loop path for the water - tank to pump to tank. It allows the system to bleed out any air by releasing the bubbles into the tank. If that doesn’t do the trick, remove the inlet hose at the tee fitting and manually pour in some water and reconnect it. If that doesn’t do it, your pump has failed.

Because the Ollie tank is so long, and the water is literally sucked out close the rear, it often gets air in that hose when traveling with a partially full tank (as the water sloshes around). This may not be related to your problem, but you need to know how to fix the airlock if it doesn’t correct itself by opening the sink faucets.

Changing the pump is simple but does require making two crimped wire connections.

John Davies

Spokane WA

 

[mossemi]

Are your water supply valves under the curbside bed in the correct positions?

Do you have cold water at the outside shower while connected to the City water inlet?

Mossey

The following is from the OTT LEII owners manual.

 

[MAX Burner]

FYI:  We had a similar condition where there was 35-40psi at the spigot, the water pump would run when a sink valve was open (so we knew it wasn't air locked), but flow was weak (if any) from the toilet, showers, bath/kitchen sinks.  We went around to each point of usage and cleaned out debris which had accumulated at the mesh screens - including the one at the rear of the toilet.  The debris appeared to be a white substance possibly calcification from a water line on the downstream side of the water pump.  Don't know for sure.  Anyhow, after removing the blockages - we no longer have "low-flow sadness." 

[BigTexas]

+1 to Max Burner's description.  Had the same problem.  One day is fine the next day all the faucets and toilet have barely a trickle.  Had to clean out all the screens.  Found a white calcified substance in all of them.  After that all was well.  Note: there is often a screen located at the connection to the flexible hose that feeds the shower head and kitchen faucet head. I never found any in the actual valve assembly.  

I assumed all this calcification came from the water heater but the mystery to me was how it got into all the cold water lines. 

[MAX Burner]

It might be caused by hard water drying out in the PEX after winterization - we don't winterize, but it could have been from a PO's efforts to winterize.

[John E Davies]

If you use a water softener at home, and always fill the trailer tank from that source, especially for long term storage, those white hard water deposits will clear out on their own throughout the entire system, in a few months, and never return. When you are on the road, you must use whatever sources are available, just drain and refill the tank with the good stuff when you get back home, and flush out the pipes and water heater. Otherwise you need to do vinegar flushes every two years.

This is a great reason to invest in a softener at home, it cleans out your home pipes and gets rid of spots in your shower, plus you can tee into that supply and wash the Ollie and your cars with it. It’s a win win win …. win situation. 😉 

https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/environment/water/factsheet/softening.html#:~:text=Advantages of home water softening,%2C bathtubs%2C and washing machines.

John Davies

Spokane WA

[MAX Burner]

We've been filling our tanks with soft water from the house since we obtained the Oliver last March.  As @John E Daviesmentioned, I'm thinking the soft water may have 

43 minutes ago, John E Davies said:

those white hard water deposits will clear out on their own throughout the entire system, in a few months, and never return.

dislodged the hard water deposits (over the past months) down stream from the pump and clogged the faucet screens.

[BBL]

4 hours ago, MAX Burner said:

We went around to each point of usage and cleaned out debris which had accumulated at the mesh screens - including the one at the rear of the toilet.

I learned this from having an AS! It works...

BL

[MnG KY]

5 hours ago, John E Davies said:

Is the water pump running all the time when turned on? If so it is airlocked. You need to get water into its inlet hose. The easy fast way is to close the faucet valve and open the tank fill valve. This is from Hull 218, your arrangement may look different. 
 

 

This creates an open loop path for the water - tank to pump to tank. It allows the system to bleed out any air by releasing the bubbles into the tank. If that doesn’t do the trick, remove the inlet hose at the tee fitting and manually pour in some water and reconnect it. If that doesn’t do it, your pump has failed.

Because the Ollie tank is so long, and the water is literally sucked out close the rear, it often gets air in that hose when traveling with a partially full tank (as the water sloshes around). This may not be related to your problem, but you need to know how to fix the airlock if it doesn’t correct itself by opening the sink faucets.

Changing the pump is simple but does require making two crimped wire connections.

John Davies

Spokane WA

 

Thanks will try to prime pump as you suggested.  Not sure that will help the no flow on city water but the pump/fresh water tank needs to work too!

[MnG KY]

5 hours ago, mossemi said:

Are your water supply valves under the curbside bed in the correct positions?

Do you have cold water at the outside shower while connected to the City water inlet?

Mossey

The following is from the OTT LEII owners manual.

 

Yes..we checked and rechecked the water supply valves numerous times yesterday. 

And Yes we have cold water at the shower. 

Any ideas about what is happening?

[MnG KY]

6 hours ago, John E Davies said:

Is the water pump running all the time when turned on? If so it is airlocked. You need to get water into its inlet hose. The easy fast way is to close the faucet valve and open the tank fill valve. This is from Hull 218, your arrangement may look different. 
 

 

This creates an open loop path for the water - tank to pump to tank. It allows the system to bleed out any air by releasing the bubbles into the tank. If that doesn’t do the trick, remove the inlet hose at the tee fitting and manually pour in some water and reconnect it. If that doesn’t do it, your pump has failed.

Because the Ollie tank is so long, and the water is literally sucked out close the rear, it often gets air in that hose when traveling with a partially full tank (as the water sloshes around). This may not be related to your problem, but you need to know how to fix the airlock if it doesn’t correct itself by opening the sink faucets.

Changing the pump is simple but does require making two crimped wire connections.

John Davies

Spokane WA

 

Pump primed as suggested. Now we have water from the fresh water holding tank but still no pressure when city water is connected?? Waiting g to hear from PTT

[MnG KY]

6 hours ago, MAX Burner said:

FYI:  We had a similar condition where there was 35-40psi at the spigot, the water pump would run when a sink valve was open (so we knew it wasn't air locked), but flow was weak (if any) from the toilet, showers, bath/kitchen sinks.  We went around to each point of usage and cleaned out debris which had accumulated at the mesh screens - including the one at the rear of the toilet.  The debris appeared to be a white substance possibly calcification from a water line on the downstream side of the water pump.  Don't know for sure.  Anyhow, after removing the blockages - we no longer have "low-flow sadness." 

Checked all points of usage and sorry to say, but no debris 

[SeaDawg]

You should not have the pump turned on with city water connection. (See @mossemi post.)

When we get airlock in the cabin cold springwater  system, we turn only one cold faucet at a time. It starts slow, then goes on. Trickle eventually turns to a stream.

It may fill your greywater, so be careful there. You can leave grey water valve open, not black, if on full hookups, connected to septic.

If you've truly checked screens, and have no debris, airlock is the most  likely culprit.  Especially if you've always used softened water, heretofore. 

[dewdev]

If you have been connecting to the City Water Connections at campgrounds that have hard water you may need to do a vinegar flush as john Davies mentioned to clear the water lines.

FYI, I believe this is something that OTT does as part of their yearly maintance service.

[MnG KY]

2 minutes ago, MnG KY said:

Pump primed as suggested. Now we have water from the fresh water holding tank but still no pressure when city water is connected?? Waiting g to hear from PTT

 

[SeaDawg]

Are you sure you are  connected to city connection, or filling the tank?

City water supplies its own pressure, from the tap.

From the tank, the pump must create the pressure.

On city water, the pump should not be engaged, and should not run.

[MnG KY]

End of story... reprised the pump and have plenty of pressure at all outlets when using fresh water tank. 

City water still a trickle. OTT suggested getting a winterization hand pump and doing a vinegar flush thru city water inlet. This will have to wait until we get back to civilization (or find a hand pump to borrow). May try pouring vinegar into a hose   hooked to city inlet then force it thru with city water pressure. We'll see. 

Thank all for suggestion!

[SeaDawg]

If that is working,  I suggest, til you "get back to civilization,: that you simply work from the tank, as we do.

 Change up the incoming source to tank fill. Can't leave it running 24/7, or you'll have a huge mud puddle under the trailer. Fill the tank til overflow starts, and turn off water supply.

Good luck.

 

[Frank C]

1 hour ago, MnG KY said:

End of story... reprised the pump and have plenty of pressure at all outlets when using fresh water tank. 

City water still a trickle. OTT suggested getting a winterization hand pump and doing a vinegar flush thru city water inlet. This will have to wait until we get back to civilization (or find a hand pump to borrow). May try pouring vinegar into a hose   hooked to city inlet then force it thru with city water pressure. We'll see. 

Thank all for suggestion!

There are one way check valves on each of the inlets (fresh tank fill inlet and city water inlet).   That check valve on the city inlet may be bad, or it may be clogged from contaminants or calcium buildup.  Unfortunately it’s only accessible by removing the floor in the basement storage area.  

 

[dewdev]

When I bought my Ollie used, it came with a winterizing hand pump but I am not sure if the previous owner bought it or Oliver provided it.

Never-the-less, a hand pump is easy to buy at RV shop stores or on Amazon.

[SeaDawg]

46 minutes ago, dewdev said:

When I bought my Ollie, it came with a hand pump. Not sure if that is true for the 2022 year Olllies.

A hand pump is easy to buy at any trailer repair shop store or on Amazon.

What kind of hand pump? I'm curious. 

We have a manual foot pump in our sailboat,  for the kitchen sink, only. Backup system. Only used it a few times, other than testing, annually. 

Nice feature, though. 

Oh, you probably mean a hand pump for winterizing?

[dewdev]

16 hours ago, SeaDawg said:

What kind of hand pump? I'm curious. 

We have a manual foot pump in our sailboat,  for the kitchen sink, only. Backup system. Only used it a few times, other than testing, annually. 

Nice feature, though. 

Oh, you probably mean a hand pump for winterizing?

Yes, I meant a winterizing hand pump.

Mine is a Camco brand which can be found on Amazon.