Shower Sump

[tlkenyon]

The shower sump would not turn off, and I took a look. I confess I had never looked at it while it was running. I saw water spraying out of the top of the pump connection to the discharge tubing. I took off the sump lid (another adventure) and removed the pump cartridge. There is indeed a weep hole in the very top of the pump discharge barb that matches a hole in the discharge tubing. It is real small, about the diameter of a pencil lead.

Is this right?

TK

 

[tlkenyon]

My original post makes a lot more sense with a photo. The weep hole is visible right next to the pump in the tubing. It matches a hole in the pump body. This cannot be right.....

 

[Red Raven]

Mine is the same. It sprays water straight up onto the lid. Makes no sense to me but it is definitely there by design. Maybe there to save the pump in a blockage situation or something.

BTW, I replaced those silly screws on the lid that are so hard to remove with stainless eye screws that can be removed by hand. I could no find stainless thumbscrews in that size. The eye screws work just as well.

Curt

 

[tlkenyon]

Thanks... at least I know now that it is supposed to be that way. Now I gotta tackle the "won't turn off" issue. We have never used the shower, so the only water that has been in the sump is incidental water and winterizing pink stuff.

Gonna get some eye screws on Monday. Probably only gonna replace three of the screws since the cover is not a watertight cover....the fourth screw was...interesting.

TK

 

[Red Raven]

If it won't turn off it is probably the sensor. Start by cleaning it really good with fresh water. Not sure what type of sensor is used. Keep us informed of what you find out.

 

[knotflying]

This seems to be a fairly common issue with the shower pump. I saved myself considerable heartache and cut the power wire feeding the pump and installed a spring loaded on/off rocker switch. Now when we shower we occasionally hold the switch down and pump the water out. Never have to worry about a stuck float again. If a miracle occurs and the float frees up I can still use the switch. This method of using the switch is often used on sailboats so why not have the same application on the tug? My project took about a half hour and I shed no blood. 😀

Mike Rizzo

 

[captstu]

I'm sure you agree the shower sump and sensor are difficult to access. On our R-25, they were buried under the hoses to the shower - and one hose came off the shower behind the wall when I foolishly had a mechanic work on the shower with the problems you described above.

Eventually, I bit the bullet (or the sump in this case), and cut it in half, removed it, and removed the pump and sensor.

In its place, I installed a pump protector (the screen thing you have in the air conditioner and generator lines) and a rule in-line 3/4" pump. This is not automatic so I installed a switch next to the head flush switch.

When the shower starts to fill, I turn on the pump for about 30 seconds and it pumps the shower floor dry.

Since it is a fact that shower sump systems eventually clog with dirt, hair and stuff, the protector is easily accessible immediately under the original access plate (unmodified). There is, however, ample room to work since the new pump is only very slightly larger than the hose.

It is quiet, the switch is lighted, and te positive control of the shower drain (rather than waiting for the slow shower sup to notice you are standing up to your toes in water) is very nice.

Easy 2 hour project, not very inexpensive, and it captures the best part of showers on boats we had in the past.

Rule makes an automatic switch, but that seemed like extra complication so I skipped it.