Winterizing- Getting House Water Pump to Prime

[CaspersCruiser]

I took my 2012 R27 out of the water today. A couple days ago, I drained the house water tank via the galley and head faucets. I also drained the hot water tank. After those items were done, I took the strainer off the house water pump and took it home to clean the screen (the marina water system was already turned off).

Today, I reinstalled the strainer and poured four gallons of pink into the water tank, but could not get the house water pump to prime and send pink to the faucets. I put an additional gallon of pink into the water tank, but still no joy.

Earlier this year, on the recommendation of Richard in Ranger Tugs parts, I replaced the original house water pump with a Johnson Flow Master 5.0 Variable Speed pump in an attempt to alleviate surging in the house water system. The improvement was marginal. Here's the pump:

https://www.hodgesmarine.com/Johnson-Pu ... 29-103.htm

Anyway, does anybody else have one of these pumps? Do you have any advice on getting it to prime? It's possible that this is related to the removal and reinstallation of the strainer. I did remove it and reinstall to no avail. Do I need to put more pink into the tank? Any other ideas?

 

[Salty7]

Fill the strainer with some water and then attach it to the pump. I have the same pump and it likes something to prime it.

 

[CaspersCruiser]

Resolution: After verifying proper reinstallation of the strainer assembly I had removed for cleaning, I put an additional four gallons of pink into the water tank, the pump primed and sent pink to both hot and cold sides of galley and head faucets. We’re all winterized!

 

[knotflying]

That water heater takes a lot of antifreeze as well, After draining it you may want to bypass it and avoids having to fill it up with antifreeze. It also saves a lot of draining and cleaning out on recommissioning.

 

[Cessna172]

That water heater takes a lot of antifreeze as well, After draining it you may want to bypass it and avoids having to fill it up with antifreeze. It also saves a lot of draining and cleaning out on recommissioning.

Is there a valve that closes the fresh / cold water to the water heater?

Thanks,
Gary

 

[BB marine]

That water heater takes a lot of antifreeze as well, After draining it you may want to bypass it and avoids having to fill it up with antifreeze. It also saves a lot of draining and cleaning out on recommissioning.

Is there a valve that closes the fresh / cold water to the water heater?

Thanks,
Gary

There isn't a valve but you can install a hot water by pass valve kit. It by-passes the hot water tank and the cold water feed loops into the hot water line.https://www.etrailer.com/Accessories-an ... 3LFVP.html. As Mike said it saves on antifreeze and time once installed.