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Topic: Black water at kitchen sink (Read 841 times) previous topic - next topic

Black water at kitchen sink

We just got home with a 96 U295. We are busy cleaning, fixing, learning and have one curious thing occur (so far). When we turn on the kitchen faucet, very quickly the water stream runs black, like it has ink in it. Mostly cold side, but also on the hot side ( less so meaning not a s dark). It's like a slug of ink moving throughout the pipe. We do not have the black color showing up in the bathroom at the sink or toilet or shower. This was evident at the final negotiation and we thought running enough volume through the system would flush it out. Not so. Ideas as to where to start? Oh, this happens both on the pump and on city water.
Alan & Gerri Ortiz
1996 U295 36 ft.
"Rocinante"
Hartwell, Georgia
1999 Subaru Forester
Build No. 4957 Motorcader 17399

Re: Black water at kitchen sink

Reply #1 –
We had a similar problem when our under-counter drinking water filter wasn't working right.  The charcoal media in the ADC filter backed up and came out the kitchen faucet.
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

2000 U320 36' non-slide / WildEBeest Rescue
2003 U320

Re: Black water at kitchen sink

Reply #2 –
That's got to be it. We have an undercounter filter that seems to go to the insta hot?  I will have to find a Quick change filter and replace it! I like simple since on the way home we had to leave our coach in Tuscaloosa for about three weeks while they rebuilt the injector pump and replaced all the stuff from the fuel shut off solenoid, fuel shut off valve, governor, etc. Ouch! It's nice to have it home where we can become more familiar without thr pressure of being on the road.
Alan & Gerri Ortiz
1996 U295 36 ft.
"Rocinante"
Hartwell, Georgia
1999 Subaru Forester
Build No. 4957 Motorcader 17399

Re: Black water at kitchen sink

Reply #3 –
Quote from: Alan & Gerri Ortiz –
That's got to be it. We have an undercounter filter that seems to go to the insta hot?  I will have to find a Quick change filter and replace it!

If it's an Everpure ADC, Camping World sells them.  The coach originally would have had a diverter you could insert in place of the filter for use without a filter/winterization

Anti-Freeze Diverter - .89
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

2000 U320 36' non-slide / WildEBeest Rescue
2003 U320

Re: Black water at kitchen sink

Reply #4 –
I had this after the coach was stored in heated quarters during the winter.  It started with the toilet first then at the kitchen faucet.  Drained tank, sanitized it with bleach and drained again.  No problems since.  You may have to clean particles from the aerator.

Keith
Keith, Joyce & Smokey the Australian Cattle Dog
1995 U320 SE Extreme 40' WTBI Build # 4780, with a Honda CR-V hopefully still following behind.
Motorcade # 17030
FMCA # F422159

Re: Black water at kitchen sink

Reply #5 –
The under counter filter usually is not plumbed to the kitchen sink faucet. It should have it's own small faucet.
1998 U270 34'

Re: Black water at kitchen sink

Reply #6 –
Quote from: krush –
The under counter filter usually is not plumbed to the kitchen sink faucet. It should have it's own small faucet.

Correct, but its supply comes from the cold line going to the kitchen faucet (small diameter translucent line teed from the cold line PEX using a valve). 

Output of the filter is the filter faucet and (often) the icemaker.  If the water flow goes backwards for some reason (maybe a higher pressure at the icemaker) or something is wrong with the cartridge, the carbon in the filter cartridge migrates out of the filter and down the small line into the cold line going to the faucet.  In ours it was visible in the small line which appeared charcoal colored compared to the output of the filter (which was clear).
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

2000 U320 36' non-slide / WildEBeest Rescue
2003 U320

Re: Black water at kitchen sink

Reply #7 –
Quote from: krush –
The under counter filter usually is not plumbed to the kitchen sink faucet. It should have it's own small faucet.
Our coach has an under counter filter and it is plumbed to the kitchen  sink faucet. There is no small faucet.
Larry and Terry
Ex 2004 U270 36'

Re: Black water at kitchen sink

Reply #8 –
Sounds, from everyone's replies, that some creative plumbing changes have occurred over the years.  Both my 1990 and my 2002 were plumbed the same:  The Everpure filter was in line before the icemaker and the fresh water spigot and/or insta-hot...completely separate from the main kitchen water faucet. 

I inserted an Instahot between the filter and the fresh water spigot in the 2002 so I could have either hot or cold from the same place.  The 1990 had separate spigots for the instahot and the room temperature filtered water.

It would seem that some might like to run all the kitchen water through the everpure, but that filter wouldn't last nearly as long with that much flow.  I would also suspect the carbon in the filter migrating itself.  Time for a replacement! 
The selected media item is not currently available.Brad & Christine Slaughter
Was:  1990 U280 36'
Was:  2002 U270 36' (With a bathroom door) Build #5981
Is:  2021 Leisure Travel Van Wonder 24RL
2015 Jeep JKU, 2003 S10 QC 4x4 or 2017 C-Max
Lake Havasu City, AZ (or Gillette, WY)

Re: Black water at kitchen sink

Reply #9 –
Out setup is as Michelle describes. We have a small faucet on the sink that is fed by the filter, an ice maker and the source appears to be from the cold water supply to the kitchen sink faucet.

Also, newbie challenges, there has to be a sediment filter somewhere that filters input to the tank. I have extra filters, I have a potable water hose on a reel that disappears into the underside of the coach but I can't find the filter? Ideas?
Alan & Gerri Ortiz
1996 U295 36 ft.
"Rocinante"
Hartwell, Georgia
1999 Subaru Forester
Build No. 4957 Motorcader 17399

Re: Black water at kitchen sink

Reply #10 –
Quote from: Alan & Gerri Ortiz –
..................... there has to be a sediment filter somewhere that filters input to the tank. I have extra filters, I have a potable water hose on a reel that disappears into the underside of the coach but I can't find the filter? Ideas?...........................
I imagine that you have the extra filters but the previous owner has the filter housing that the extra filters install in.  The roughing and sediment filter is usually portable and is installed between the shore water source and the potable water hose on your coach, to keep both your potable water hose as well as all of the coach potable water plumbing and systems as clean as possible.
Neal
The selected media item is not currently available.
Neal (& Brenda) Pillsbury
'02 U320 SPEC, 4200, DGFE, Build #5984
'04 Gold Wing
'07 Featherlite 24'
'14 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit
MC #14494
Exeter, NH & LaBelle FL
Quality makes the Heart Soar long after Price is Forgotten

Re: Black water at kitchen sink

Reply #11 –
Quote from: Alan & Gerri Ortiz –
Also, newbie challenges, there has to be a sediment filter somewhere that filters input to the tank. I have extra filters, I have a potable water hose on a reel that disappears into the underside of the coach but I can't find the filter? Ideas?

I would guess the PO had an external water filter they used and those filters are leftover  (aka What Neal Said when he beat me to it ;)  ). 

We use a standard household filter housing ourselves as do many folks.  We filter close to the campground water supply and also use a portable water softener as needed (Travelsoft, from this site RV Water Filter Store: Standard Filter Canisters for Whole RV )
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

2000 U320 36' non-slide / WildEBeest Rescue
2003 U320
 

Re: Black water at kitchen sink

Reply #12 –
Ahhh that's explains the 12 inch length of potable water hose in my collection of things opinion the basement. Looks like a tRip to Home Depot today.

Thanks.
Alan & Gerri Ortiz
1996 U295 36 ft.
"Rocinante"
Hartwell, Georgia
1999 Subaru Forester
Build No. 4957 Motorcader 17399