17' Series Water mains/tanks issue

Roadhouse · Dec 19, 2022

Hey all. Been a bit quiet on the boards for a while but finally back out in the van for an extended trip around southern Aus.

A question re mains water and tank filling on our 17.56.2

Connected the van to mains via the drinking water hose and a while later had water overflowing out of the enclosure where the connection are.

Usual culprit is too high pressure so hose has popped off a bit. Had a look this time and water was coming out of water tank filler neck which I thought was strange as aren’t the mains and tank systems separate? I mean they both go to taps but thought attaching to mains shouldn’t fill up the tanks?

pic shows mains connected and overflow was coming from right side filler neck.

Maybe a dodgy one way valve or similar?
TIA

jazzeddie1234 · Dec 19, 2022

First suspect is the non return valve inside your water pump which often sticks open. If its a surflo and you are handy with a screwdriver there are about 8 ish screws on the pump housing to undo, and that allows the pump to split in half. The valve is in the bit that comes off

2:08 minutes in he checks the valve

Drover · Dec 19, 2022

and the quick fix is to fit your spare Guest NRV in the pump outlet line, arrow pointing away from pump so the mains doesn't flow into the pump...
Be a bit of sand or drill swirl in there I would say.

Roadhouse · Dec 22, 2022

As an aside, who would put the pump strainer in this spot? Can’t even unscrew the cup without taking off that shield… at least it’s on the inlet line so should be thankful!

jazzeddie1234 · Dec 23, 2022

Is the pump mounted under the floor - or is the filter separate from the pump? Haven't seen that before unless someone moved it. Anyway that filter looks pretty dirty.

Roadhouse · Dec 25, 2022

jazzeddie1234 said:
Is the pump mounted under the floor - or is the filter separate from the pump? Haven't seen that before unless someone moved it. Anyway that filter looks pretty dirty.

Pump is under the lounge seat inside and this filter is not too far from the tanks before the line goes up into the floor to meet the pump. Stupid spot but the way they have mounted pump inside the van doesn’t leave much room for filter on the inlet line inside the van. Or the extra NRV on the outlet side.

Haven’t put the extra NRV in yet but the issue seems to have resolved itself for now. Fingers crossed.

Drover · Dec 25, 2022

They do it all in such a lazy way, I would be putting all those joiners underneath along with the tap. with just lines to and from pump and HWS, keeping all those joins underneath, over 10 possible van flood points that I can see, something that not needed at all... I redid my 14.44 pump connections ended up moving something like 13 or so joiners from inside van, ended up going over the whole system, took out bends and joins, pressure improved quite a bit and came away with plenty of spare joiners and some pipe.

rfox · Monday at 3:41 PM

I think I want to do what your did Drover. But I can't summon up the energy. I'lllivee with running from tank via pump. 14.44-5. Rodney.

Drover · 2025-12-16T08:49:30+1100

rfox said:
I think I want to do what your did Drover. But I can't summon up the energy. I'lllivee with running from tank via pump. 14.44-5. Rodney.

So if its tank overflowing when your connected to mains then the really easy camp site fix is to just turn the tank taps to OFF then water can't leak from pump ... turn power to pump off as well as you don't want it to run dry when you disconnect mains and forget to turn the tanks ON again ..
A flush of the pump lines, filter and valve can sometimes be all thats needed to clear a small obstruction..

If when off grid and water comes out of the mains connection when you operate the pump, the camp fix is to attach your hose to it and plug the other end into the draw bar tap, turned off, then its just acting like a big cap, the junky NRV on the connector is stuffed or it may be an inline job in which case just replace with a guest NRV...

Drover · 2025-12-16T12:18:26+1100

@rfox , I forgot to add check the lines from tank to pump and pump to first join for a NRV fitted inline, they can sometimes be fitted, if so there's a good chance its stuffed and is the cause of the reverse flow .... a guest one is just a black/grey small tube affair with an arrow on it others can be bulky brass/plastic affairs.

17' Series Water mains/tanks issue

Roadhouse

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jazzeddie1234

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Drover

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Roadhouse

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jazzeddie1234

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Roadhouse

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Drover

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rfox

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Drover

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Drover

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