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Topic: First Major Renovation Completed (W/Before After Pics) - Plumbing Under Bed (Read 1092 times) previous topic - next topic

First Major Renovation Completed (W/Before After Pics) - Plumbing Under Bed

So... one of the first things on my list for Coach livability was fixing a huge massive leak from the fresh water tank. Everything in the house worked fine on city water. No leaks anywhere. But every time I'd go to fill up the water tank... it'd all just pour out on the ground. So, I figured the tank was cracked and I'd get it all fixed up when I got it home.

Well, I got it home and started investigating. Pulled out the bed. Took off the mattress board so I could see everything. Hooked up water and started checking for leaks. Found it pretty quick... You can see in my first two images... there is a blue dial way in the back left in the dark. In picture one... that dial is open. In picture 2... that dial is closed.

That's right... the tank drain. Lol. It was open. So I traveled with it for 1500 miles and couldn't figure out how to use the fresh water tank because the tank drain was open.

Please, feel free to lavish the praise on for having accomplished this very difficult first major renovation item to check off my list.

√ - Fix Massive Fresh Water Tank Leak - Done!

On a more serious note. I did actually re-plumb everything under the the bed from the cold water line into the tank and around the water pump.

It was all Janky. There was some sort of random filler hose with a  valve cut into the line between the water fill valve and the tank. Just had a hose that went nowhere. No connections for it. Just a hose long enough to run outside the under side of the bed. Presumably for filling up buckets or some such thing.

There was also another little tiny value before the tank water filler value that ran a bit of 1/4" tube up into a big 3" PVP air-tight pill-shaped tube filled with nothing. No idea what the 3" PVP nothing-ness tube was for.

Anyways. I removed all of the extraneous (obviously aftermarket) stuff from under there. And re-did all the leaking/dripping fixtures with brand new ones. Looks nice now.... and no Leaks or drips from the water system under the bed.

Boom... Second item checked off the renovation lists. All in a days work.

√ - Fix drips from fresh water lines for tank filling and water pump usage (bonus - remove janky aftermarket stuff)

The third image you can see the random valve with the filler hose that leads to no-where. And you can see the 3" PVP pill shaped thing. That's the tube of nothingness. You couldn't even fill it with water. Opening the value would try to put water in said tube of nothing ness. But it was an air-tight little tube. With the filler hose hooked on the bottom. So trying to force fill it from that direction would creation pressure in the tube. Wouldn't fill. Can't figure out what in the world it was for. No one I talked to could come up with any ideas. So it's out. Unless one of you all has a clue as to it's purpose. I can put it back if necessary.

Fourth image is the all new plumbing pipes and fixtures around the water pump and the tank. Isn't it beautiful?

Had to move the water pump mounts about 1/2 and inch to towards to butt of the coach to get the new fixtures in.

Finally got to fill the fresh water tank. All the electronics for checking the levels work. It doesn't leak anymore (yay drain valves that close!). The fixtures don't drip anymore. And the water pump works!

So, the coach plumbing is now 100%. I think. Still haven't got a total grasp on the water heater. Sometimes it makes super hot water. Sometimes it's luke warm. No idea why that is. Assuming it's an issue of ignorance and not broken-ness though.


Husband & Wife Team. 3 Kids. 8 yo boy, 4 yo girl, 19 mth girl. Mostly Finished Renovating 1986 Grand Villa 3300 GVF SBI for a multi year trip around the country with the kids.

Re: First Major Renovation Completed (W/Before After Pics) - Plumbing Under Bed

Reply #1 –
Great start! " There can be no success without the accomplishment of the necessary"
'The strength of the effort is the measure of the result'
1995 U320SE
40'
#4740
#17648

Re: First Major Renovation Completed (W/Before After Pics) - Plumbing Under Bed

Reply #2 –
The white tank was being used as a homemade volume tank.  Without an internal diaphragm (like the factory made ones) the success of these were minimal.

Pamela & Mike
Pamela & Mike 97 U 320

"It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters."

Re: First Major Renovation Completed (W/Before After Pics) - Plumbing Under Bed

Reply #3 –
Quote from: Pamela & Mike –
The white tank was being used as a homemade volume tank.  Without an internal diaphragm (like the factory made ones) the success of these were minimal.
To expand on Mike's comment, most of our coaches came with a factory installed "pressure tank".  It's a small (usually 1 to 2 gallon) tank (often painted blue) that connects into your cold water pipes somewhere in the coach.  Doesn't matter where, but usually found near the water pump.  Has a diaphragm inside - divides the tank in half.  You pressurize one side with air pressure through a Schrader valve.  Water fills the other side through a threaded fitting.  Helps smooth out the operation of your water pump.  For more info, see this thread:

Water Pump Accumulator Tank
1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"

Re: First Major Renovation Completed (W/Before After Pics) - Plumbing Under Bed

Reply #4 –
Quote from: AKATheAlchemist –

Still haven't got a total grasp on the water heater. Sometimes it makes super hot water. Sometimes it's luke warm. No idea why that is. Assuming it's an issue of ignorance and not broken-ness though.
When you get time, identify the type/manufacturer of your water heater, or just open the exterior access door and take photos of it.  Start a new thread and post the photos.  Soon as we know what model it is, we'll point you in the correct "trouble shooting" direction.  With water heaters, it's usually something pretty simple!
1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"
 

Re: First Major Renovation Completed (W/Before After Pics) - Plumbing Under Bed

Reply #5 –
Quote from: AKATheAlchemist –
...There was some sort of random filler hose with a  valve cut into the line between the water fill valve and the tank. Just had a hose that went nowhere. No connections for it. Just a hose long enough to run outside the under side of the bed. Presumably for filling up buckets or some such thing.
So I think I know what that hose was for:  Winterizing
You put that hose in a gallon jug of anti-freeze, turn the valve and the water pump will suck the antifreeze and pump throughout the coach.  Not a big deal.  You won't need to winterize until after your full-timing trip.  Without it you will just need to add anti-freeze to the tank and pump it.  The valve and hose is supposed to save you some antifreeze - but it's cheap anyway.

Unless otherwise advised by other owners of your model coach, you do need to look to see how well the plumbing (fresh, grey and black) is protected from freezing.  You might need to add some insulation, heaters, or heat tape on any exposed plumbing.  You might think you can just avoid freezing conditions but that's a huge limitation on travel plans and freaky weather can happen almost anywhere.  Frozen plumbing can be a major challenge to repair and it happens when you least want to work on it.
John Fitzgerald
1991 U300 (SAI) Side Aisle Island Bed 40'
Detroit 6V92 with Allison Retarder
Meridian (Boise), Idaho