Suggestions for water pump manufacturers? ShurFlo and FloJet don't last.

[daveola]

I've been full-timing in my bus for a number of years, and my water pumps seem to last on average about two years.

Unfortunately I've been sticking with 24V VSD (variable speed) hi-capacity (5+gpm) pumps, so that means I'm throwing away $250 every 2 years to deal with this (not to mention not having water until the replacement shows up).

My pump just died, so I found a 115V pump that was only 3GPM and not variable speed which I bought as a stopgap.  I was actually really surprised with how well it worked, 3GPM seems to be a decent shower and the pressure switch in it seems to work just fine even without an accumulator tank (I think it helps that some of my plumbing is hose instead of pipe, which means that it can actually hold some pressure a bit like an accumulator tank).

So now I want to get another pump and I'm trying to avoid ShurFlo since they barely last.  I know that at least one of the pumps that died was also FloJet - and I know that those are generally considered to be long lasting - though they don't seem to survive my bus.

Any thoughts on other options?  So far I have only found "Aquatec" as a possible contender, but it looks like they are meant for more intermittent use, which makes me wonder about their reliability long-term.

[TomC]

As the Shurflo factory rep said at an RV show, if you want rock solid reliability, stick with the old fashioned mechanical on/off pressure switch. My first set of Shurflo pumps (2 of them) lasted 15 years. I bought the same model again. Granted they don't produce the pressure of the electronic pumps, but at least they continue to work. Good Luck, TomC

[daveola]

As the Shurflo factory rep said at an RV show, if you want rock solid reliability, stick with the old fashioned mechanical on/off pressure switch.

How can I tell which pumps have the mechanical switch?

And I don't think this is fully the reason why some of my pumps have failed - most of them have fried the motors near as I can tell.

[Jon]

The problem is there seems to be a huge gap between the $100 Shurflo type water pumps and the next most common pump, the Headhunter at about $1000.

I've never seen a suitable alternate priced between the two.

[Nick Badame Refrig/ACC]

Hi Dave,

I have had the same trouble as you over the years with Sureflo..

Last December I took a shot with this pump. {Seaflo}
http://www.ebay.com/itm/191276494631?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

So far, it's just as powerful as the 5.7 and at $99 it's less then half of the 5.7

Nick-

[luvrbus]

I find those pumps have a short life span if mounted in a vertical postion

[rip]

I been using a Aqua Jet RV pump for over 13 years with good results.It's a 12volt 5.3 gpm variable speed.I am on my second pump with seven years of fulltiming and the others years I travel about 6 months a year.
   
 

[luvrbus]

If you mount 1 vertical the pump part needs to in the upwards position I get 10 years from 1 also lol the 1st last only 18 months because I mounted it wrong,it's best to mount the pump in a  horizontal position.

Daveola the Shurflo 2088 is the old proven mechanical diaphragm pump you can tie 2 together for more volume and pressure if need as TomC said they are bullet proof and inexpensive you can buy those at Tractor Suppy or Northern Tool for 70 bucks even cheaper on the E place or Amazon       

[Iceni John]

Like Tom and others have found, the good ol' 2088 is still the most reliable SHURflo pump made.   Even the SHURflo reps says their newer variable-speed pumps are not reliable.   I have two 2088 pumps on a slide-out tray, and each pump is on a quick-disconnect mounting plate so I could remove it in less than a minute with no tools.   Each pump is set to 45 PSI, the same pressure as my Watts regulator, and only one is sufficient for washing down my solar panels.   Just don't forget to use strainers upstream of the pumps to catch any particles that could harm the diaphragms or check valves.

John

[daveola]

If it's mounted horizontally, is the intake or outlet supposed to be on the bottom?  Or is it supposed to have them on the same level?  Because I don't think I have room to mount the pump as such.

[daveola]

From the ShurFlo manual:

"The pump can be mounted in any position. However, if mounting the pump vertically the pump head should be in
the down position so that in the event of a leak, fluid will not enter the motor."

This horizontal mounting suggestion is the first I've heard of it - is there a reason for it?

[eagle19952]

From the ShurFlo manual:

"The pump can be mounted in any position. However, if mounting the pump vertically the pump head should be in
the down position so that in the event of a leak, fluid will not enter the motor."

This horizontal mounting suggestion is the first I've heard of it - is there a reason for it?

don't know. but mine is horizontal and has been for ever 

[daveola]

Anyone use Aquatec or Seaflo?

There's an Aquatec at 6gpm! for $150 and a Seaflo 3gpm for about $70, both at 115VAC.

[LuckyChow]

There's a Seaflo 24 volt on Amazon.  The price is definitely right.  However, there are only 2 reviews and both are one-star terrible.  I'm needing a new pump so I'm gonna give one a try.    

[luvrbus]

The do need to mounted with the pump down sorry I paid no attention to my post anyway if you take 1 apart that has been mounted in the vertical position you can see where the armature has wore a grove in the end plate and shorted out