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Pump running but no water from tap (air in system)

If you can hear the water pump running but no water comes out, there’s almost always air trapped in the lines. This commonly happens after the fresh water tank has run empty or right after a refill. The fix is to bleed the air out by running one or more taps until a steady stream returns.

Diagnostics & Steps to Resolve:

  1. Confirm power and water level
    a. Go to the main control panel and make sure the 12V house battery is ON
    b. Check the fresh water tank level—ensure there’s water in the tank
    c. If the tank is empty or very low, refill the fresh water tank, then continue

  2. Purge air at the nearest tap (cold side first)
    a. Open the kitchen cold tap fully
    b. Leave it open for up to 2 minutes—listen/feel for spurts of air and water
    c. When the flow becomes steady on cold, switch to hot and let it run until steady (take care if the water heater is on—water may be hot)

  3. Help the purge if flow hasn’t returned
    a. Turn the pump OFF at the control panel for 10 seconds, then turn it ON again
    b. Open two outlets at once (e.g., kitchen and bathroom cold taps) to push air through
    c. Set the shower to cold and open the shower mixer fully for 30–60 seconds to vent air, then close

  4. Recheck all outlets
    a. Close all taps, then reopen the kitchen cold to confirm a steady stream
    b. Repeat on hot (and the bathroom/shower) until both sides run smoothly without sputtering

  5. Still no water after ~5 minutes of purging
    a. Stop and do not dismantle plumbing, filters, or the pump—this can cause leaks or damage
    b. Call Wilderness On-Road Support on +64 9 255 5300 for help and next steps