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Topic: Strange water Leak above main bay drivers side on U270 (Read 792 times) previous topic - next topic

Strange water Leak above main bay drivers side on U270

There is no explaining the water leak we experienced this morning (for the 2nd time).  With almost empty gray and black water tanks and while DW was in the shower I heard a faint water sound (and thought nothing of it).  Later I noticed water under the port side of our 1997 U270 and found it was leaking around the floor/skin seam directly above the main and dump service doors and into things stored in the main bay maybe about 5 gallons worth of water judging by what I cleaned up and the water under the coach) .  The previous night we closed the grey water dump valve so we could disconnect the hose and close the bay door because the of threat of a freeze (29F).  The tank was empty so we know it didn't overflow and when we reconnected it to the sites sewage dump hole there was a little water in the tank from our showers.

So the question is how did the shower water end up leaking into the main bay when the grey water tank was not full.  How could this be intermittent?  Note that we are pretty much stationary here at Redstone in Huntsville.......and will be for a long time to come due to working here. A quick check of under the kitchen sink and the shower stall (at least the part I could see after removing the metal vent) revealed nothing wet.  Anyone have any ideas?  the shower doesn't back up but could it be overflowing somewhere I cant get to and leaking above the bay doors?  A bit perplexed here in Huntsville.
Carl and Kathleen
Killeen Texas
1997 U270

Re: Strange water Leak above main bay drivers side on U270

Reply #1 –
Leak at beltline?

How much is in your fresh water tank?  If full, any chance your fresh fill valve is leaking through?

If it seems like shower water, possible leak at base of shower, possible leak in ABS plumbing between shower and grey tank.  I seem to recall more than one member has had a leak at the tailpiece of the shower drain under the shower pan.

Shower Leak

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: Strange water Leak above main bay drivers side on U270

Reply #2 –
Fresh water tank is full but we are using the sites water regulated to 40 psi thru a hose....seemed like the water that leak happened right after the shower was used......so guess I need to look at the tailpipe....as this only has happened twice (and the first time was just drips I think a couple weeks ago) it does seem strange.
Carl and Kathleen
Killeen Texas
1997 U270

Re: Strange water Leak above main bay drivers side on U270

Reply #3 –
Check the fill valve under the sink. I had a similar problem and the fill valve was the cause.
It is a pain to get to the valve. Rather than replacing it, I chose to remove and installed direct fill to the tank.
1997 U270 36'
Build #5115
2014 Jeep Rubicon towed
1972 Boston Whaler 16'
Charlie

Re: Strange water Leak above main bay drivers side on U270

Reply #4 –
Last year we found water leaking into our utility bay. I removed the upper interior panel of the utility bay and found water leaking from above. It was the result of a broken seal at the base of the toilet. If that is not the problem with your leak, removing the panel may allow you to visibly inspect the interior plumbing located in that area.

Bob
2000 U270
Winter: Texas Rio Grande Valley or Foley, AL
Summer: The Gardens RV Community of Crossville, TN
2000 40 FT U270, Xtreme FBP
2017 C-Max Towed

Re: Strange water Leak above main bay drivers side on U270

Reply #5 –
Be sure to dry the basement, or you will have bulkhead issues.
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: Strange water Leak above main bay drivers side on U270

Reply #6 –
Quote from: Carl Cox –
Fresh water tank is full but we are using the sites water regulated to 40 psi thru a hose....seemed like the water that leak happened right after the shower was used......

It's still possible the fill valve is leaking through....  you might try using a little of the tank water then seeing if it fills back up on it's own as well as monitoring the tank overflow.
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: Strange water Leak above main bay drivers side on U270

Reply #7 –
Turn off shore water.
Use tank water/open tank drain and use until down to 1/2 tank.

Turn on shore water.

If tank water level rises, the "likely suspects" are:  fill valve or the check valve in the water pump.

Again, with the structure of a Foretravel, this is more than just a nuisance-- it can damage the structure of the coach.
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: Strange water Leak above main bay drivers side on U270

Reply #8 –
Carl,

If John K misses this post you might P/M him as he had a similar problem and it was found to be the horizonal drain line from the shower going under the vanity had cracked. Seems like he had to take the vanity mostly apart to just get to the leak.  Once he found the leak he had to cut out a section and clamp in a new piece of pipe as there wasn't enough room to use a standard glue fitting.  I have looked for the pics that he had of this project but are  unable to find them at this time but will post them if I can round up the pics.
https://www.foreforums.com/index.php?action=profile;u=1084

Mike
Pamela & Mike 97 U 320

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

Found the leakt....Re: Strange water Leak above main bay drivers side on U270

Reply #9 –
After several hours of looking I eventually found the leak under the vanity where it joins the pipe from the bathroom sink in a T fitting that is cracked and leaks visible water when the shower or back sink is on.  So.....what to do...its a glued fitting and all black plastic ....I might be able to get to it part of it if I pull the residential fridge and cut out the panel under it.....or maybe as suggested cut out the T fitting and hoseclamp in a new section in that ties the sink with the shower drain.  All this is very constrained inside the bottom rightt corner of the vanity at the wall.  What fun!  More when I make some progress.

Thanks to all for suggestions.  BTW...we are full timers so the pumbing did not freeze....not sure why it cracked other than its old.
Carl and Kathleen
Killeen Texas
1997 U270

Re: Strange water Leak above main bay drivers side on U270

Reply #10 –
i had a leak in that location, and was able to build a new section on my work bench
and then re-connect using shark bite fittings

Re: Strange water Leak above main bay drivers side on U270

Reply #11 –
Quote from: wayne m –
i had a leak in that location, and was able to build a new section on my work bench
and then re-connect using shark bite fittings
Shark bite for ABS?
1999 40 ft. U-320 wtfe build 5563 Chuck & Lynda's "Rollin' Inn"  2030 watts solar
prev. mh's 71 GMC 5 yrs. 73 Pace Setter 1 yr. 78 Vogue 5 yrs 81 FTX 40ft all electric 18 yrs. 1996 Monaco Signature 3 yrs.
2014 Grand Cherokee Overland
Dream as if you will live forever. Live as if you will die today.  James Dean

Re: Strange water Leak above main bay drivers side on U270

Reply #12 –
Quote from: Carl Cox –
After several hours of looking I eventually found the leak under the vanity where it joins the pipe from the bathroom sink in a T fitting that is cracked and leaks visible water when the shower or back sink is on.  So.....what to do...its a glued fitting and all black plastic ....I might be able to get to it part of it if I pull the residential fridge and cut out the panel under it.....or maybe as suggested cut out the T fitting and hoseclamp in a new section in that ties the sink with the shower drain.  All this is very constrained inside the bottom rightt corner of the vanity at the wall.  What fun!  More when I make some progress.

Thanks to all for suggestions.  BTW...we are full timers so the pumbing did not freeze....not sure why it cracked other than its old.

2 part epoxy over the crack should hold fine, since there is no pressure on that pipe.  JB Weld is holding fine on our gen radiator neck - and that is under pressure.
Dan - Full timing since 2009
2003 U320 40' Tag 2 slide

Re: Strange water Leak above main bay drivers side on U270

Reply #13 –
Last Night I sprayed the fitting with white Flexseal and will put another thick coat on tonight...looks good so far.  The T fitting is cracked is several places on close inspection and the back of the fitting is against the wall so it seemed like the spray has the best chance of coating the entire fitting.

The reason for the fitting's failure was partly that it rests against the bedroom heater duct and must get hot when the furnace is on...causing embrittlement.  Thanks to Bruce Beane and this forum for never-ending support and advice on all things Foretravel.

Carl and Kathleen
Huntsville AL
Carl and Kathleen
Killeen Texas
1997 U270
 

Re: Strange water Leak above main bay drivers side on U270

Reply #14 –
Hey hope it works Carl. They guy on the commercials says it holds his boat to gather. 😎😎
Bruce, Linda, and Macy
Zoey RIP 1/20/19
1999 U295 40' build #5400
2017 silver Jeep Wrangler, 1260 watts of solar on top
Moving around the country