Unit down! I need a MEDIC!

[BeyondBlessed]

1-16-07 10:45 AM PROBLEM SOLVED! YAY! THANKS TO ALL WHO POSTED! Jodie



Or a good mechanic. This is the first day that I have had to cancel appointments due to mechanical problems. I can't get any fresh water from my hose! It just sputters and dribbles.

Called Wag'n tails, tried all the usual stuff, checked the filter, replaced the pump head, checked the pump, even tried "sucking the hose" (BLECH!) to clear air from the line. Pumps working, no water.

My husband thinks we're losing compression somewhere from frozen pipes last night. I would be MOST appreciative if anyone has any suggestions. It's a BAD, BAD week to be down.

I'm so bummed.

[OnTheSpot]

I feel your pain! I've been down twice since buying a van and it's no fun at all. I was down today and will be down tomorrow due to ice. Haven't had the water problem (yet, it's 8 degress tonight). Wish I could tell you how to fix your problem, hope you're up soon. Do you have heaters in you van when it gets below freezing?

[Fur Elite]

It does sound to me like a seal problem, without a proper seal pressure can't be maintained to pull the water through. Unscrew each connection to the water pump and look in there. I am pretty sure there are rubber sealer /diaphragm washer like things, also make sure the connections themselves are tight...even just a little loose can cause the seal to be imperfect. Check the seal on the water filter cup. Is this cup filling with water when you turn on the water? Look for leaks around the cup, check the cup for any blockage. I had a similar problem with my supersudser once after changing the pump, and it was because one of the little rubber seals inside the connection had come off and wan't inside sealing the thing anymore. If there is a crack or leak in any of your connections or hoses it could cause the loss of seal. If this just happened after ice i would hazard a guess that something with water in it froze, expanded and possibly cracked or created a breach in a seal. You will probably be able to find such place when, as you are trying to pump water, you find where water is leaking out. So possibly to find the leak by locking the sprayer in the spray position and then trace the water line from the tank to the pump to the sprayer. There isn't a chance your water is frozen or something like that is there?

[BeyondBlessed]

Thank you, Jennifer.

I have a heater, now. I live in Phoenix. We have had fluke freezing weather. None of my mobile groomer friends have ever seen anything like this either. When we go to orientations on our units, we listen for words like..."air conditioner" and "circulating fans". Guess I should have paid closer attention to the "winterization" part.

My husband has been great tonight. He's staying home from work with me tomorrow so that we can get on this. "Don't worry, Honey. We'll fix it"

Awwww.....I guess it's not so bad.

[plushpuppy]

Ouch,
Check all your pipes the culprit is there somewhere, Good Luck
I loosing appointments because of our crazy weather, rain, snow, ice wind you name it we've gotten it

[sim groomer]

you don't mention water going to the pump. Start at the beginning of the chain, Water in tank, water going to pump, water going to both water heater and your water valve. You mentioned water pump head replacement, or did you change water pump? Is there a water drain valve? Is there a valve that shuts so you can pull the water pump? Can you see all your water lines, are any pinched?

[ferret]

Try a small kitchen sink plunger...

Or a good mechanic. This is the first day that I have had to cancel appointments due to mechanical problems. I can't get any fresh water from my hose! It just sputters and dribbles.

Called Wag'n tails, tried all the usual stuff, checked the filter, replaced the pump head, checked the pump, even tried "sucking the hose" (BLECH!) to clear air from the line. Pumps working, no water.

My husband thinks we're losing compression somewhere from frozen pipes last night. I would be MOST appreciative if anyone has any suggestions. It's a BAD, BAD week to be down.

I'm so bummed.

I have to drain my water pump the best I can every night. So, in the morning I never have any pressure until I use my small kitchen sink plunger over the drain for my bathing beauty. This helps force the air out of the line without sucking on the end of the hose, yuck, I know what you mean. I put some water in the tub. turn on the bathing hose, then start plunging till the water and shampoo come out of the hose. Works every time for me.

[Doug]

medic

Hope your hubby is real skinny there is not much room in there to work.It will be your hubby who needs the medic when he is done.
Just a thought more like a brian fart,if you can visually chase the water lines from the pump back to the tank you should be able to see air bubbles from the point where it leaks air into the line or hear it sucking air. Gonna be a lot of bad launguage comming from your drive way.
Hopefully it is not a leak at the clean tank connection itself.

[Kim in SD]

Sorry to hear about your pump problem. I've been down once since I've started a year ago. Funny how us Mobile groomers become, mechanics, plumbers, electricians.

[katydid]

It sounds like an ice block in between the tank and pump. Put the ceramic heater down on the floor near the line from the tank to the pump and run your HV hose down there using one motor.

[BeyondBlessed]

Hurray! It's FIXED!

Thanks to all who advised us! As Doug mentioned, there were a few "off-color" remarks within range of the driveway, but my wonderfully talented and infinitely patient husband took the whole thing apart, checked the valves, and reconnected everything. "Something" must have come loose,because now.....
IT WORKS! Praise the Lord!

Man, I was sweating it. I'm not slow at all right now. I lost $400 yesterday and was looking at losing $500 today, with 7 new dogs within the next 2 days.

I'm happy to say that I'm OFF TO WORK!

Jodie

[furrybestjob]

I'm glad that everything worked out for you. Sometimes the smallest things can wreak such havoc on us. Well, if something like that happens again, you'll husband will be able to fix it in no time.

[bow_wow_wheels]

ROFLOL Doug---so true!

[jbates]

wHERE IN AZ ARE YOU? i HAD A HEATER FROM oDYSSEY, GUESS i CAN SAY i HAVE ONE. {sCOOOZ} I'M TYPING BADLY i'M TIRED. aFTER MY "fREEZING IN aRIZONA POST i THOUGHT i WOULD HAVE FROZEN STUFF TODAY. i WAS COLD AT NOON AND AFTER 12.30 i TURNED THE ROOF FAN ON. i'D HEATED THE VAN FOR A BIT FOR MALTESE. THE OTHER DOG A BIG SHELTIE MORE lASSY LIKE TOOK A WHILE TO DRY. mESA, GIRL.bUSINESS NAME? dO i KNOW YOU? aRE YOU WITH APPGA?

[BeyondBlessed]

wHERE IN AZ ARE YOU? i HAD A HEATER FROM oDYSSEY, GUESS i CAN SAY i HAVE ONE. {sCOOOZ} I'M TYPING BADLY i'M TIRED. aFTER MY "fREEZING IN aRIZONA POST i THOUGHT i WOULD HAVE FROZEN STUFF TODAY. i WAS COLD AT NOON AND AFTER 12.30 i TURNED THE ROOF FAN ON. i'D HEATED THE VAN FOR A BIT FOR MALTESE. THE OTHER DOG A BIG SHELTIE MORE lASSY LIKE TOOK A WHILE TO DRY. mESA, GIRL.bUSINESS NAME? dO i KNOW YOU? aRE YOU WITH APPGA?

It was an expensive lesson (timewise) for me. I'll re-coup the income from rescheduling, so it wasn't as bad as it could have been. No money out for parts. Just my husband's time taking everything apart and tracking down the problem.

I'm sure that we haven't met yet. I work mostly Scottsdale, P.V and East Phoenix. Once a week I'll get to Peoria, Avondale or Goodyear. I've recently joined APPGA, am a member of the AMGA and NDGAA. My husband is a web developer so he's working on my site, too. It would be finished by now if I weren't so "particular". (Not the word HE used) Guess I'm going to have to add him to payroll and start cutting him a check!