T&T: Fresh water pressure loss

[Henry Dennig via Trawlers-and-Trawlering]

Hello,
I am trying to figure out a possible solution for our fresh water pressure in the galley. Today I measured the water output at the galley sink, the master shower and the guest head sink. The galley sink faucet puts out 0.50 gallons a minute. The master shower puts out 3.1 gallons a minute. The guest head sink puts out 2.7 gallons a minute.
Our boat has two water pumps - only one powered on at a time. A Sensor Max VSD 5.0 and a Sensor Max 14. Both are rated to output 5.0-5.7 gallons a minute.
My wife is certain the galley water problem is that the 15mm PEX plumbing has buildup of calcium or something. Tomorrow I am going to disconnect a PEX fitting in the engine room and measure the water flow as close to the pump as I can. Below the galley sink, there is a household shutoff valve on both the hot and cold water supplies. From the valves, the faucet is connected with flexible metal mesh supply lines that are maybe 3/8" - certainly smaller than the 15mm PEX lines to the valves.
Any recommendations?
Happy Holidays,

Henry J. Dennig

MTOA #4910, AGLC #8761
m/v Seven Tenths
lying Clearwater, FL
The cure for anything is salt water....sweat, tears or the sea




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[Frank Timpano via Trawlers-and-Trawlering]

Check the aerator on the faucet for debris. Amazing what a few small bits
can do


Sent with AquaMail for Android
http://www.aqua-mail.com

[TW Collins via Trawlers-and-Trawlering]

There is also likely a flow restrictor in the sink faucet that is
designed to restrict flow at normal household pressure of 75 psi as a
water saving measure. With the common lower pressure on boat F/W
systems, the restrictor can be removed.

Tom Collins - Misty Sea

[Sean Welsh via Trawlers-and-Trawlering]

On 12/06/2016 10:37 PM, Henry Dennig via Trawlers-and-Trawlering wrote:
> ... My wife is certain the galley water problem is that the 15mm PEX plumbing has buildup of calcium or something. Tomorrow I am going to disconnect a PEX fitting in the engine room and measure the water flow as close to the pump as I can. Below the galley sink, there is a household shutoff valve on both the hot and cold water supplies. From the valves, the faucet is connected with flexible metal mesh supply lines that are maybe 3/8" - certainly smaller than the 15mm PEX lines to the valves.

The PEX lines themselves are unlikely to have a buildup of minerals that
would cause this problem. Three most likely possibilities:

1. If the flow restriction affects both hot and cold water delivery, the
most likely issue is a mineral or debris buildup in the strainer/aerator
assembly at the end of the faucet. Remove, disassemble, and clean, as
mentioned by others.

2. If the restriction affects only hot or cold but not both, there is
possibly a buildup in the stop valve. Remove and replace.

3. Depending on faucet style and manufacturer, there may be a mineral or
debris buildup in the faucet valve itself. Whether this affects hot,
cold, or both depends on the faucet; single-handle models have
replaceable (or sometimes rebuildable) cartridges and the obstruction
could be before or after mixing.

An easy first step in diagnosis is to close the stops, remove the supply
lines from the faucet, then open each stop and measure flow from the
supply into a bucket.

HTH,

-Sean
m/y Vector
lying Vicksburg, Mississippi
http://OurOdyssey.BlogSpot.com

[Eric Thoman via Trawlers-and-Trawlering]

Before you take any plumbing apart, try a very simple (10 second) fix. Does
your galley sink have an aerator at the end of the spigot? Most kitchen
sinks do. Unscrew it and turn it around and rinse it out. Worth a try. I
see this all the time. I have been known to clean them out in public
restrooms...

Eric Thoman
Abyssinia

Hello,
I am trying to figure out a possible solution for our fresh water
pressure in the galley. Today I measured the water output at the galley
sink, the master shower and the guest head sink. The galley sink faucet
puts out 0.50 gallons a minute. The master shower puts out 3.1 gallons a
minute. The guest head sink puts out 2.7 gallons a minute.

[LAL via Trawlers-and-Trawlering]

Annually, I use a solution of citric acid and water to clean out all
of my aerators and shower heads. It gets rid of the white crud
buildup. This is the same chemical that one can buy to clean the scale
buildup in coffee makers. I use it so much I buy it by the pound. It
is food safe.

Lee
Turgutreis, Turkey

[Jim Healy via Trawlers-and-Trawlering]

Henry,

Is this a long standing problem or an emerging problem.

If long-standing, check the fittings for the faucet. some faucets come with anti-siphon valvelets stuck in the inlet fittings. The theory is, they stop backflow in the extremely remote chance of a system error. But, those valvelets will slow water flow dramatically. I made that "mistale" once, and the symptom was exactly as you describe. Very low flow at the new faucet fixture.

Jim

Peg and Jim Healy aboard Sanctuary, currently at Ft. Myers, FL
http://gilwellbear.wordpress.com <http://gilwellbear.wordpress.com/>
Monk 36 Hull #132
MMSI #367042570
AGLCA #3767
MTOA #3436

[Dick Allen via Trawlers-and-Trawlering]

Henry, I assume you checked the strainer/aerator on the end of the faucet. I
find that low flow generally means a clogged strainer.

Dick Allen
42' Bristol Trawler "Sunshine Girl"
Cape Coral Municipal Marina

> -----Original Message-----
Henry Dennig via Trawlers-and-
> Trawlering
> Subject: T&T: Fresh water pressure loss

>
> I am trying to figure out a possible solution for our fresh water
pressure in
> the galley.

[Steve Sipe via Trawlers-and-Trawlering]

Jim is on target. If the faucet is of the "pull out" hose variety, it
will almost assuredly be fitted with a backflow device of some sort,
usually located where the hose connects to the faucet body. You'll
typically find 3 stubs brazed to the faucet body, H/C supply and hose
out. Look there. Sometimes you can remove the guts of the backflow
device, it will look like a small cylinder with a spring check inside.
Be careful, it usually incorporates a gasket to seal the hose
connection, so if you get ham-fisted with modifications, you'll lose the
gasket function and the hose will leak. Don't load it with teflon tape,
it will still leak. These little buggers are a PITA, they also provide
flow restriction to comply with gov't regulations of how we use our
kitchen facilities. As installers, we would generally remove or modify
the restrictor if we had history on a particular model, it would save
the callback and head off a complaint! Felony plumbing crime. Never
charged. <G>

On 12/8/2016 8:59 AM, Jim Healy via Trawlers-and-Trawlering wrote:
> Henry,
>
> Is this a long standing problem or an emerging problem.
>
> If long-standing, check the fittings for the faucet. some faucets come with anti-siphon valvelets stuck in the inlet fittings. The theory is, they stop backflow in the extremely remote chance of a system error. But, those valvelets will slow water flow dramatically. I made that "mistale"
>

> --
> -------
> Steve Sipe
> MTOA #3962
> Solo 4303 /Maerin/
> Ortega Landing JAX