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Brown or rusty water

July 24, 2018, 08:18:50 pm

Friend of mine has a 99' U320 40' with Aqua Hot.  His water is brown or maybe rusty and he has eliminated outside water sources as the issue.  We were "brainstorming" what could be the cause and thought the forum could probably figure it out.  What do you all think?

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Re: Brown or rusty water

Reply #1 – July 24, 2018, 08:42:52 pm

Aqua Hot in 99 had no cross contamination possible.  If it is drinking water out of the small spigot then replace the filter under the sink. Check your accumulator tank, open the cap on the valve stem (look like one on a tire) and press it in.  Air should come out.  If it is water then it needs to be replaced.  Otherwise drain the tank and all the water lines and sanitize the tank and all the lines.

This is a heavy handed method.
http://beamalarm.com/foretravel-links/PDF/Sanitize%20Fresh%20Water%20Tank.pdf

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Re: Brown or rusty water

Reply #2 – July 24, 2018, 08:46:11 pm

Is it bot h the hot and the cold?  If it is both I would guess that the bladder in the metal pressure tank is ruptured.

Jason

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Re: Brown or rusty water

Reply #3 – July 24, 2018, 10:56:41 pm

The accumulator is between the pump and the distibution manifold.  If both hot and cold are rusty, that might be the cause.

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Re: Brown or rusty water

Reply #4 – July 25, 2018, 01:40:20 pm

do all coaches have this accumulator?? I haven't noticed one on mine. does it work so small amounts of water cand be used without the pump coming on? a friend has something like that on his SOB

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Re: Brown or rusty water

Reply #5 – July 25, 2018, 03:54:05 pm

I believe that we all had them from the factory, some folks removed them.

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Re: Brown or rusty water

Reply #6 – July 25, 2018, 03:59:55 pm

The accumulator should be next to the water pump in you manifold bay.  Mine is blue ... the size of a gallon water jug.

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Re: Brown or rusty water

Reply #7 – July 25, 2018, 04:02:00 pm

Look for the blue tank next to your pressure water pump.

As already mentioned, remove the cap and press on the valve stem.  If water comes out, the bladder has ruptured and it needs to be replaced.

If air or nothing comes out, check PSI.  It should be two PSI below cut in PSI for your water pump with the system depressurized.  So, for many of the older pumps 23 PSI.  A bicycle pump or regular air check works fine.

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Re: Brown or rusty water

Reply #8 – July 25, 2018, 04:09:07 pm

Thanks for the replies.  Just a quick update on his coach.  It's actually a 98' U320 40' and the brown water is only coming from the hot side.

Glen

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Re: Brown or rusty water

Reply #9 – July 25, 2018, 07:03:43 pm

Time to flush everything out.  Put a load of vinegar in the hot lines and let it sit for a while and then flush the lines.  You can use the water pump to suck in a 5 gal bucket of water and vinegar mix while the hot water line drain near the AH is open until it comes out. Close the drain line and then open the faucets one at a time until vingar water comes out then close them.  Finally the hot water line drain near the water pump.  Let the vinegar mix sit for a few hours and then flush everything with fresh water.
 For more info search for Vinegar Flush.

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