A/c not pumping water

[rickasbury]

Got across the lake and into my slip- perfect conditions but a tad out of practice...anywho...a/c which always fires right up did, but no water pumping and shuts off-; I pulled the intake trap near the the thru hull and well...pretty nasty. I swear I checked it "recently" - only in the water a hand full of times over the last 4 years- but for about 3 months I was in a marina and there was just slime running from the boat side drain- still pumped water. Our water is hot and is "healthy".

So, I pulled the pick up filter off and cleaned it a second time- I opened the thru hull- I figured water would come thru a pretty good rate? It is a hole in the boat- closed it back up, tried again- turned the filter while it was trying to run to burp it- maybe I did not do it long enough but water was coming out at the strainer.
Should I try to back pressure back thru the thru hull or does water not poor through with the thru hull open and the intake strainer filter off?

I can't remember which of the holes on the side is the a/c- should I back pressure a hose thru the system? Shop vac and suck? What about in front of the intake strainer filter- can I back flow/suck thru there to clear it?
It sounds like everything is working, compressor kicks on and makes all the normal noises- no water - kicks the compressor out.

 

[mr 88]

I would remove the hose that goes from the strainer to the AC pump off ,at the pump . Open the valve and make sure water is flowing out . If so ,hook it back up and try it . That's the way I've primed it when having a issue with water not flowing at the beginning of the year . My pump is below the waterline , so there is always water pressured into the pump ,once it's bled of air .

 

[alldodge]

shop vac

 

[rickasbury]

shop vac

I think I will I pull the strainer and shop vac thru the thru hull- does seem to me that water should be coming in at a good rate- I will pull the line off the pump on the strainer side and suck out the pump. I'm sure what ever was growing in the strainer was also pulled into the system and may have the pump clogged up. There maybe an additional strainer in the pump? Different areas have different problems- I'm 99.9% fresh water, alge was what had grown in the strainer. I will shop vac the thru hulls above the water line and see if I can pull crap through that way- I know zip about a/c , should I be able to push water through the system in reverse without obstruction or hurting anything?

 

[alldodge]

I would put the shop vac on the exit port. It should be able to pull water thru strainer, thru pump, thru AC and out

 

[FunInDuhSun]

What alldodge said.
i was losing A/C prime frequently, so I added a T in the intake line with a hose connection and shutoff valve. When prime is lost I turn A/C off and hook a water hose up, pinch the discharge line, and turn water on for 20 seconds. It will backflush and remove any air in the A/C system. Shut off the hose, close the valve, and open the discharge. Turn on A/C and you’re good to go!

 

[rickasbury]

What alldodge said.
i was losing A/C prime frequently, so I added a T in the intake line with a hose connection and shutoff valve. When prime is lost I turn A/C off and hook a water hose up, pinch the discharge line, and turn water on for 20 seconds. It will backflush and remove any air in the A/C system. Shut off the hose, close the valve, and open the discharge. Turn on A/C and you’re good to go!

That is a really good idea- so if I do that, will the water come out the above water line thru hull? I really think mud dauber or something have gotten up in there. I wish I knew the hose size- I'm sure everything will be closed...if that would flush water ever is in the system out the thru hull or, if indeed it's airlocked- i can feel the pump operating, water is in the strainer- I tried to pull the a/c side hose but just could not get a hold of it without dropping the pump....I got a couple of turns on it and water was there so it seems it's making it through the pump- the exit line from the a/c I can see but I'd have to start pulling it apart to get to it.
Tomorrow I'm going so see if I can add the t- but I need to know, will that back flush out the side of the boat?

 

[FunInDuhSun]

I just pinch the discharge line with vice grips, and yes, some water will get past it and exit the higher thru hull.

 

[rickasbury]

I just pinch the discharge line with vice grips, and yes, some water will get past it and exit the higher thru hull.

Not sure I understand the answer- the box stores don't have the T materials- don't want to use metal. Everything else closed for the 4th. I want to see water coming out and through the a/c system.

I pulled the hose off the pump- water came straight through- turned it on and got a shower so, seems good there. The only thing I can think to look at now is the discharge line from the a/c- either its blocked up in the passages of the heat exchanger or in the discharge line- which I still don't know for sure which one it is. I'll have to remove a large panel to be able to pull the a/c out a bit I'm afraid to be able to get to any lines. Can't think of anything else to check- one of the thru hulls I used plastic tubing as a snake and it ran into some crud- I think it may be the a/c. If I can get the hose off the top of the a/c and run it, will see if it's making it through the unit or not. I guess that's the process.

 

[FunInDuhSun]

I used a plastic T and shut-off valve from Home Depot with hose clamps. Garden hose adapter at the end, simple.
The marine A/C system is not self- priming so if the water lines get any air inside it won’t work. My setup simply removes any air.

 

[rickasbury]

Got it fixed- something was lodged between the above waterline thru hull and the a/c unit- got that out and water be flowing- thanks for the help.