Spare Water Pump Installation

[Ron Johnson]

A year ago I replaced my original water pump with a 2.8 gpm pump I had been carrying around as a spare. At the time the original pump leaked I opted to 'replace it' through extended warranty with a 5.7 gpm which I have not yet installed. I am actually happpy with the 2.8 however feel I should utilize the 5.7 if I can.

The 5.7 does not fit into the pump compartment so instead of changing the piping etc. I am contemplating just adding the 5.7 between the existng pump and the manifold. The flow would then be storage tank to existing pump to new pump to manifold [I think]. I will add the intellitec 15 amp controller for the 5.7 plus wire & switch it separately from the 2.8. This way I'd have the 2.8 as a 2nd [spare] water pump inline.

I fulltime so keep looking for ways to save myself from crises on the road if possible. For you more experienced fellows does this sound feasible? I don't know much about plumbing so am assuming that whichever pump is being used it can just pull or push the water through the other one? Thanks for any advice.

[Edward Buker]

Having a redundant pump available seems like a good idea for a full timer on the road. I would consider installing them in parallel with each other with a ball valve in series with each one on the inlet side. From a flow perspective you do not want any added restrictions which is what the pump would be if it was put in series. I'm not even sure if it would work at all that way depending on how the pump and check valve is designed.

Because drinking water systems in general should not have "dead legs" that are not used (gives places for microbes to grow) you should alternate the use of the pumps maybe once a month for a couple of minutes to keep the alternate pump leg flushed. Your proposal to be able to electrically switch and activate just the pump being used is the proper wiring method. Good luck with this, it is surely doable.

Later Ed

[Ron Johnson]

Thank you Edward I now have a better idea how I can go at this. Regarding the plumbing system on this coach I have never had the panel at the manifold taps off so am unsure of the routing. For the storage tank\pump system I am guessing the water is routed from the city water to the tank fill tap to the tank to the pump then back to the manifold? If bypassing the tank water then water would go from the city water fill to the manifold.

I am also installing an electronic water softener and the location apparently is relevent. Thanks in advance for any information.

[Edward Buker]

I believe that you can do the parallel pump modification right in the storage bay. I do not think that you will have to pull the manifold panel at all. The city water port would feed the manifold and the solenoid valve that fills the water tank. The pump output would also feed the manifold and the pump input side would be piped from an outlet at the base of the water tank. The pump is behind a cover in the storage bay along with the tank fill solenoid valve. I think your post had it right....

If possible I would try and plumb this all in without pulling the manifold panel. It is a really big pain in the butt to pull. I would consider adding the softener as an external affair (in the bay but not behind any panel) and feed it with an external hose coming in the normal water hose access fitting and then feed the normal city water inlet from the output of the softener. This may be a lot of effort for the gain. You are the best person to know if it this is all worth it.... All good men do need a project.....

Later Ed

[Ron Johnson]

Thank you again for the info. Another project I can do in warmer climes.

[Robert Mathis]

I would also install this as a parallel system. If you used a solenoid valve on the inlet side of the pumps, and a simple dual switch setup inside the bay to decide which pump should run, along with check valves on the outlet side of each pump, you would not have to disturb anything else in your water system, but would have excellent redundancy. I have a similar system on my water supply at my stick house. We have two deep wells with submersible pumps, one runs the house and yard irrigation, the other supplies water to the orange grove and pastures. They are cross-connected with a 2" gate valve so either can service both systems in case of a pump failure.