Foretravel Owners' Forum For owners and Fans of Foretravel Motorcoaches September 11, 2025 ...

Mystery water leak

July 07, 2023, 11:04:10 pm

Hello,
Just wondering if anyone has any insight into an issue I am having. We are in the process of replacing the floor, so I have bare plywood floors in the rig right now. It rained today and I was in there and the plywood is soaking wet coming from under the kitchen cabinets. It's not coming from the ceiling. It is apparent to me that the leak is on the left side of the rig, as it is sitting slightly tilted to the right in our driveway. Can this leak possibly be coming from around the furnace? That is the only thing on the left side of the rig outside of the kitchen.

Thanks
Kevin

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Re: Mystery water leak

Reply #1 – July 07, 2023, 11:21:15 pm

You might look in the back of the refrigerator, remove the outside cover and look and see if it is sealed where the refrigerator floor meets the sidewall.

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Re: Mystery water leak

Reply #2 – July 07, 2023, 11:53:19 pm

Where is your water pump? That could be the source.

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Re: Mystery water leak

Reply #3 – July 08, 2023, 06:34:58 am

The refrigerator is on the opposite side of the coach and there is no water on the floor on that side.

Also, it's not on onboard water leak. It only happens when it rains and the coach is currently sitting in the driveway with no water in the tank and no electricity.

Thanks
Kevin

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Re: Mystery water leak

Reply #4 – July 08, 2023, 09:39:06 am

If you suspect the furnace, seal around it with blue non-permanent tape and run water from a hose over the area. 

Remove the tape and repeat.  If it goes from no leak to leak............

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Re: Mystery water leak

Reply #5 – July 09, 2023, 07:46:40 am

I may try that Brett. The problem is that it is a seeping leak, so not apparent right away. Not sure how much water it takes or how long it takes to reach a point where I can see it, as it has to seep under the cabinets.

Kevin

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Re: Mystery water leak

Reply #6 – July 09, 2023, 10:23:19 am

Leak around the kitchen window might be a source. 

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Re: Mystery water leak

Reply #7 – July 09, 2023, 10:35:01 am

There can be multiple reasons why you have a leak. First get on roof and check around fan and ac for entry points. Then look closely at the trim strip at floor line on outside and make sure all along the top of it has an unbroken line of caulking because this is screwed to the plywood flooring and check all trim screws are tight. I used to take them out and put a dab of caulking in hole and then replace the screws. Water does get in them and is fed into plywood. Next check window seal that is above sink, any leaks? Take off fridge outside cover and see if evidence of water getting past cover. It will stain or rot the plywood under sink. Lastely take out the flooring in undersink cabinet and check the drain piping and cap of fitting that is for back flushing that line. Check with a flashlite for evidence on ply flooring for possible clues. I had the same 2000 295 and over the years found a couple of small leaks by doing these checks.
Johnh

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Re: Mystery water leak

Reply #8 – July 09, 2023, 10:59:22 am

Concerning potential leaks at the windows:

Not a bad idea (as posted on another thread yesterday) to remove the inside trim strip (vinyl) around the window and LIGHTLY torque the screws-- main thing is to insure that torque on the screws/clamping pressure between inner and outer window frame is the same around the whole window. You should see a continuous line of caulk between the outer window frame and the fiberglass side of the coach.  If excessive, use a cheap (i.e. fast food restaurant) plastic knife to trim.  I would NOT use any solvent that could degrade the caulk.

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Re: Mystery water leak

Reply #9 – July 09, 2023, 01:31:02 pm

One thing that John didn't mention that I will add while on the roof.  Look close at the sewer vent pipe penetration for a good seal between the pipe and roof. You will have to take off that cover thing to see this area. I had a coach that had a hole in that sealer and the water ran down the outside of the pipe and came out where you describe.

Mike

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Re: Mystery water leak

Reply #10 – July 09, 2023, 08:10:12 pm

On our 03, I found the side marker light on the driver side under the driver window was leaking. The light that lets other drivers know that you have the turn signal.

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Re: Mystery water leak

Reply #11 – July 18, 2023, 11:50:22 pm

Mystery solved. Thanks to the advice of using a hose to isolate where it might be coming it. The leak was around the furnace, just as I had suspected but was unable to verify until using the hose on it. Sometimes the simplest of problems seem to be hard to solve. I guess just because it was so intermittent. It would only leak when rain was hitting that side of the coach. If it came straight down, or from a different side, no leak.

Anyway, I took the frame around the furnace apart. Like 8 screws or something. It had butyl tape around the inside for a seal. I never did figure out exactly where the water was getting in. I just cleaned the old stuff off and it came off fairly easily. Then I used a lot of silicone on it and put it back together. Won't be as easy to get apart next time, but hopefully won't leak either. Don't trust the tape now, and besides I didn't have any.

Thanks for the help. Every problem has a logical cause. Gotta remember that when the frustration sets in!

Kevin

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