I've noticed water in the bottom of my fridge. It's fresh water, and it seems to be there after a rain. It's not from condensation as it's there after the fridge has been off. Any thoughts?
It's seems to me that it's unlikely to be rain water in the fridge.
As mentioned in the "Bilge Pump to Sink" discussion the fridge drain is attached to the sink drain. A goodly amount of fresh water in the sink like when washing dishes, "CAN" back up and enter the fridge.
Look at the fridge drain hose, take the storage box, below the stove, off, and you can get to the foot pump and the fridge drain hose. I suspect food material is in your foot pump valves, holding them open. This allows water (melted ice for example) that you thought you pumped out but stayed in the drain hose, to re-enter the fridge. Also look at the route of the fridge drain hose. Try to route it as high as you can get it so that sink water can't (easily) back up the drain and re-enter your fridge. Heeling the boat does change these plumbing issues and a loop in the drain hose mounted high under the counter top will have you mostly back-up free and happy.
Consider installing a water strainer between the fridge and the foot pump. This is my way of keeping those pesky grapes and cherry tomatoes out of the foot pump.
In cold climates, don't forget to put the "pink stuff" in the fridge drain. Learned that one from experience!
Yes, something in the foot pump makes sense since often I have to pump the foot pump a lot before it starts drawing water out of the fridge. Is there some way to fix this - take the pump apart? What do you think of installing a check valve in the line to prevent this in the future?
John, those Whale foot pumps are repairable, they sell kits for it. I'm pretty sure you have the Mark II pump. I've found it easier, but more costly, to simply replace the pump. When I took the old one apart a few years ago, there were all sorts of little "springs and things" inside that seemed to be a bear to get together properly, and I consider myself reasonably handy - woulda needed another two or three hands!:rolleyes:
As discussed in the other icebox/fridge discussion, if you you have a fridge, then it would make sense to eliminate that connection since sink water on your boat can get into the bottom of the fridge. If you use it as an icebox, then not so much. :cool:
I think the discussion was in answer to one of Capt. Sam's questions so you can find it.
From what I'm understanding from that link, Stu is suggesting leaving the pump where it is and replumbing it so that it pumps sea water into the sink. That's an idea, but I'm thinking that if somebody spills something in the fridge it would be a hassle to clean it out, especially if the fridge is full. I think I'll just replace the pump (once my knee gets better!) Is there any reason not to install a check valve after the pump so that sea or sink water can't back up into the fridge? Also, a second question: What do you think of routing the hose so that it goes up near the top of the underside of the sink so that the top of it is above sea level?
John,
If you re-route the fridge drain hose up to the underside of the countertop, you should also install an anti-siphon loop. A high loop alone won't cut it. I think it's been said in a different thread, but I re-plumbed the fridge drain to do directly into the bilge, WITH a valve. When I wanted to drain the sink, I opened the valve, and depending on the contents of the fridge, would also flush out the bilge. As it turned out, I hardly every did that. The foot pump was re-purposed into a fresh water pump, with a dedicated spout, which was HUGELY popular with the admiral.
It's seems to me that it's unlikely to be rain water in the fridge.
As mentioned in the "Bilge Pump to Sink" discussion the fridge drain is attached to the sink drain. A goodly amount of fresh water in the sink like when washing dishes, "CAN" back up and enter the fridge.
Look at the fridge drain hose, take the storage box, below the stove, off, and you can get to the foot pump and the fridge drain hose. I suspect food material is in your foot pump valves, holding them open. This allows water (melted ice for example) that you thought you pumped out but stayed in the drain hose, to re-enter the fridge. Also look at the route of the fridge drain hose. Try to route it as high as you can get it so that sink water can't (easily) back up the drain and re-enter your fridge. Heeling the boat does change these plumbing issues and a loop in the drain hose mounted high under the counter top will have you mostly back-up free and happy.
Consider installing a water strainer between the fridge and the foot pump. This is my way of keeping those pesky grapes and cherry tomatoes out of the foot pump.
In cold climates, don't forget to put the "pink stuff" in the fridge drain. Learned that one from experience!
[url]http://www.westmarine.com/buy/products/3925-raw-water-strainers.html[/url]
Bill Matley
Duncan Bay Boat Club
Cheboygan, Michigan
Lakes Huron, Michigan,
Canadian North Channel
"Spirit of Aloha" Hull #1252
Yes, something in the foot pump makes sense since often I have to pump the foot pump a lot before it starts drawing water out of the fridge. Is there some way to fix this - take the pump apart? What do you think of installing a check valve in the line to prevent this in the future?
SF Bay
1998 C36
John, those Whale foot pumps are repairable, they sell kits for it. I'm pretty sure you have the Mark II pump. I've found it easier, but more costly, to simply replace the pump. When I took the old one apart a few years ago, there were all sorts of little "springs and things" inside that seemed to be a bear to get together properly, and I consider myself reasonably handy - woulda needed another two or three hands!:rolleyes:
As discussed in the other icebox/fridge discussion, if you you have a fridge, then it would make sense to eliminate that connection since sink water on your boat can get into the bottom of the fridge. If you use it as an icebox, then not so much. :cool:
I think the discussion was in answer to one of Capt. Sam's questions so you can find it.
Here it is: [url]http://www.c36ia.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1601[/url]
Stu Jackson, C34IA Secretary, C34 #224, 1986, SR/FK, M25 engine, Rocna 10 (22#)
From what I'm understanding from that link, Stu is suggesting leaving the pump where it is and replumbing it so that it pumps sea water into the sink. That's an idea, but I'm thinking that if somebody spills something in the fridge it would be a hassle to clean it out, especially if the fridge is full. I think I'll just replace the pump (once my knee gets better!) Is there any reason not to install a check valve after the pump so that sea or sink water can't back up into the fridge? Also, a second question: What do you think of routing the hose so that it goes up near the top of the underside of the sink so that the top of it is above sea level?
SF Bay
1998 C36
John,
If you re-route the fridge drain hose up to the underside of the countertop, you should also install an anti-siphon loop. A high loop alone won't cut it. I think it's been said in a different thread, but I re-plumbed the fridge drain to do directly into the bilge, WITH a valve. When I wanted to drain the sink, I opened the valve, and depending on the contents of the fridge, would also flush out the bilge. As it turned out, I hardly every did that. The foot pump was re-purposed into a fresh water pump, with a dedicated spout, which was HUGELY popular with the admiral.
Tom Sokoloski
C36/375IA Past Commodore
Noank, CT