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water leaks

So..have two water leaks that I can't see a source on..one is coming from the clean water tank area when you are hooked up to city water. It seems like perhaps some sort of overflow on the tank? The other leak comes from the aqua hot water heater area and leaks the most when the hot water is cooking. This leak drips from up above in the hot water heater area and fills the insulation beneath the tank as it drips down. Any ideas?
1994 U300

Re: water leaks

Reply #1
I just had Rudy Legett repair a similar sounding leak in my Aqua Hot. He can explain where to check better than I. He is a member and you can PM him or he frequently on line and will probably see this post and respond.
2002 U320 40Ft  MC # 15759
Coach # 5995
Previous coaches
2002 U320 coach  #5941
1996 U270 coach #4808

Re: water leaks

Reply #2
Quote from: davidaj link=msg=219047 date=
. Any ideas?
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You should include your coach info in your signature so members will know the model and year. Someone will have the same coach and will be better able to help.
Justin & Cathy Byrd
1995 U280 "Old Faithful"
36' Build #4673
C8.3 Cummins
Allison MD3060R 6 speed - retarder
Powertech 10KW  4cyl Kubota

Re: water leaks

Reply #3
Can't help with AquaHot - others more qualified.

On the fresh water leak.  If this happens when you are connected to shore water, and your fresh water tank is full, then you may have a malfunctioning "fill valve".  Water can leak past the valve, over-fill the tank, and it will come out the overflow vent.
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: water leaks

Reply #4
David,

I have sent you a message.
Rudy Legett
2003 U320 4010 ISM 450 hp
2001 U320 4220 ISM 450 hp
1995 U320 M11 400 hp
1990 Granvilla 300 hp 3208T
Aqua Hot Service Houston and Southeast Texas

Re: water leaks

Reply #5
Mine is leaking at the top joint of the Manabloc manifold. Well hidden. Have not found any repair info for the manifold....yet. But I do now have a spare water pump.
Dave W. (AKA Toyman )
'03, 270, 36', Build 6095, Pulling whatever I hook it to.

"Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened."
Dr Seuss

Re: water leaks

Reply #6
Want everyone to be aware that water leaks in the basement, particularly the wet bay are a LOT more critical on a Foretravel than SOB's.  These leaks are one of the primary causes of BULKHEAD FAILURE.

In fact, several years ago, Dianne and I had an agreed deal on a beautiful 2001 in FL, pending mechanical inspection.  Drove from Texas to pick it up. Two hours later, left for the drive back home-- a bad $.15 gasket on the shore water inlet had been leaking long enough that there was a mineral stalactite hanging from it.  The water had totally taken out the rear bulkhead.
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: water leaks

Reply #7
Brett,

Thanks!  Concerned about this.  We have been in sub-freezing temps for several weeks.  So we fill the fresh water tank and operate on the water pump.  Haven't wanted to buy heated hose, etc., knowing we don't want to be in this climate forever.

But we have seen water below the manifold block and the water pump, as well as under the reels on the driver's side of the coach.  Thanks for the heads-up.  We will have the bulkhead and bulkhead bolts checked in January when we have the coach in for other service.

The selected media item is not currently available.Richard & Susan Peck
____________________
1999 40' U320 "Bob Patrick"
(2000 4010 U320 WTFE Floor Plan, Single Slide)
Build #5567  |  MC #17522

Re: water leaks

Reply #8
But we have seen water...under the reels on the driver's side of the coach.
Water under the reels can be due to a malfunctioning back-flow preventer at your fresh water fill point.  The one-way valve gets blocked with trash or sediment, won't close completely.  Then you pressure water system with pump, and water flows out the fill connection.  If you can get to it, remove it and take it apart, clean it out, reassemble.  If inaccessible, you can put a cap (or a screw-on valve) on the fill connection to stop the leak.  As Brett says, Don't Tolerate Water Leaks! 
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: water leaks

Reply #9
I can't agree with Brett more. When I first got my coach it had a slow fresh water leak that showed itself in the wet bay under the battery tray. For a while I thought "fresh water, so what" . I fixed the leak and now years later I am faced with redoing the frame work under the wet bay and I'm sure as i get into it a major bulkhead repair. Never let anything leak is my take away...
Andy 1989 U300 40'

Re: water leaks

Reply #10
I do the paper towel test.  Put a sheet at where there might be a leak. If the towel gets wet then fix the problemi. Repeat.  Water leaks are the worst thing for your coach.  Don't wait.
Roger Engdahl and Susan Green
2001 U320 3610 #5879 (Home2) - 2014 Jeep Cherokee or 2018 F150
Hastings, MN

Re: water leaks

Reply #11
If a leak under or close to the pump it COULD be coming from the drain hole in bottom of pump and if so means you have some calcium or? under one or more of the round valve seals and you should take it apart (the pump) and gently lift and clean each one of the 4 pump valve glands and put it back together and you will be ok. Did this on this long trip and it has worked fine for last month or so and not a drop has dripped!!
JohnH
Coachless, now use aircraft. 2003 Ford Travelair TC280 class C. Super shape. Just for 1 yr .
1994 Ford E350 ClassC,total renovation inside and out. Now sold.
2000 U295  36' Cummins 350 c/w Banks Stinger, Resonator upgrade,Solar, LED lites.Residential fridge with slide out pantry. Build 5674. Sold
ex 92 GV 022C ored Cummins. Sold
ex 95 GV240 cat 3116. Sold
2017 Mini cooper s & 2016 land Rover LR2 HSE  LUX.
jhaygarth@aol.com    SKP #130098
treat everyone as you would like to be.

Re: water leaks

Reply #12
Our overflow has leaked in the past.  That spa tubing they use for the overflow is kind of tough to seal.  I changed mine to a vinyl tubing and sent it through the floor instead of over the bulkhead.  Also used a pipe dope on the actual threaded bulkhead fitting.  Not too big of a job but kind of scary to drill through the floor.  The other leaks I've had are from the flojet water pumps.  Both of those leaked pretty close to each other.  Luckily I have water alarms and caught them all immediately.  These are fantastic and simple:

Battery-Operated Water Alarm-BWD-HWA - The Home Depot

Re: water leaks

Reply #13
Removed the water heater..it had a pin hole..replaced it and we're dry now. That leak had also migrated across the water tanks bay to the drivers side, so that is dry now also. Thanks again for help. On another subject..just a little totally confused on how twelve volt light circuits work in our 94 u300. For instance.. the three switches just inside the door. The one that runs the overhead florescent light has two spades like any normal switch that I'd be familiar with, but strangely..when you test for voltage when the bump rocker switch is off...it shows 13.6. However..when you bump the rocker switch to on..it simply drops to 13.3..begging the question..how can a switch be off with the overhead light dark and obviously off and the switch show power? Then..the middle switch which turns on the step and hall lights. That has two spades also and shows 13.6 volts when in the off position(I assume that means an open circuit like any other switch would). Then when you turn the lights on (and they all work fine)..the voltage goes to zero! These are not normal circuits to me. I'm sure there is a simple answer?
1994 U300

Re: water leaks

Reply #14
David,

Your bump rocker switch that is in question should be operating a relay that in turn operates the light. There should be another switch somewhere that operates the same light. ( a lot of coaches that switch is located over the sink)

Pamela & Mike
Pamela & Mike 97 U 320

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

Re: water leaks

Reply #15
Thanks Mike. I understand what you are talking about with the relay,  but looking for an answer to how you can have the volt meter probes actually on each terminal of the switch and see 13+ volts when the light that it operates is off..maybe the relay functions by making a closed circuit when power is interrupted temporarily with the rocker and breaks that same circuit with the rocker again? But also..the switch next to it shows a similar voltage reading when the light that it operates is off..and then when you turn that switch on..the light operates and turns on..but the voltage completely goes away. Anyway..strange circuits. Same thing in the bathroom..not your average switch that interrupts a ground or a live 12 volt line. There must be a panel with relays that these switches manage somehow..but ?
1994 U300

Re: water leaks

Reply #16
David,

There was a discussion several years ago on how those switches were wired along with a wiring diagram that shows how they are wired.  I will try to find that thread and post a link to it later today as I can't seem to find it right now.(I can find the thread for the water pump relay which works the same but not the one for the lights) As far as the relay location for the lights ours are not in one location, they  are hid in various locations in the coach.

Pamela & Mike

Here is a link to the water pump thread & wiring diagram scroll down a few post for the wiring diagram.2002 U270 Water pump switching/relay issue (LONG)
Pamela & Mike 97 U 320

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

Re: water leaks

Reply #17
A suggestion for all of us with relays that have several switches.  Find and record on your wiring info the location of each one you can while they still are working.  They will click when they work.  When they quit working you might be hard pressed to locate them. 

My galley relay is hidden behind a panel I did not realize was in the upper cabinet.  My bath relay is hidden under a TV shelf, and above our drawer unit.  I recorded the 3 way water pump switch location, and have forgotten where we found it.
Dave Cobb
Buckhorn Lake Resort The Club, #6202, Kerrville TX
check the map.  I do rent it out when I am traveling!
2001, U320, 36' #5887, in Kerrville, FT Club #17006, (7/23 to present)
2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee L, Summit, white
EX: 98 U295, 36' #5219, (mid door), (4/13-10/23)
EX: 93 U225, 36' (4/11 to 4/13)

Re: water leaks

Reply #18
A suggestion for all of us with relays that have several switches.  Find and record on your wiring info the location of each one you can while they still are working.  They will click when they work.  When they quit working you might be hard pressed to locate them. 

My galley relay is hidden behind a panel I did not realize was in the upper cabinet.  My bath relay is hidden under a TV shelf, and above our drawer unit.  I recorded the 3 way water pump switch location, and have forgotten where we found it.
might have been behind the panel in the storage bay, I found 2 there.
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: water leaks

Reply #19
Bill..thank you..send that diagram when you can and have time. It will help a lot.

David
1994 U300