Water Leak

Topic: Water Leak (Read 4464 times) previous topic - next topic

Water Leak

June 28, 2018, 09:32:50 am

We've been dry camping the last week and last nite I noticed the pump cycle every hour or so. This morning I see water where the fresh tank meets the floor. What I see might amount to a 1/4 to 1/2 cup. No evidence of water on the opposite side where the pump is located.

We leave today for full hookups until we arrive at Oregon for oil changes and I'll add this to their list. I assume this leak must originate somewhere in the tank or related plumbing so my thought is to drain that tank and use bottled water for the toilet and drink8ng while we're on the road. What's the likelihood that this leak would also affect full hookup water use?

Thanks

Re: Water Leak

Reply #1 – June 28, 2018, 09:42:12 am

Very likely it would leak more with hookups suggest only using the pump and turning it off after each use until leak solved.

Re: Water Leak

Reply #2 – June 28, 2018, 09:44:40 am

I agree. The fact that the pump is cycling when you are not using water suggests that the leak is in the "pressurized part" of the water system, not the tank.

Be sure to de-pressurize when not using water until you fix it-- your rear bulkhead will appreciate your efforts to keep water out of there.

Re: Water Leak

Reply #3 – June 28, 2018, 09:50:28 am

So you're suggesting staying on the tank and not drain and use city water hookups?

Re: Water Leak

Reply #4 – June 28, 2018, 10:10:08 am

Yes.

Because the pump cycles, that suggests that the leak is on the pressurized side of the water system. Shore water pressurizes the same pipes, but usually at higher pressure.

So, until you can locate and fix the leak, use the pump, but turn it off and open a faucet to depressurize it.

Re: Water Leak

Reply #5 – June 28, 2018, 10:12:30 am

Look closely at the fittings on the back of the water heater. And as others have said just use you pump, hooked to city will make it worse.

Re: Water Leak

Reply #6 – June 28, 2018, 10:13:30 am

And, keep rags/old towels in there to keep the basement dry until you do fix it.

Re: Water Leak

Reply #7 – June 28, 2018, 10:35:57 am

That small amount of water could be condensation, from filling the tank with cold water in a humid environment. Depending on where we are at, we try to avoid using the fresh water tank, if those conditions exist. Does your city water hose have a cap on it?

Re: Water Leak

Reply #8 – June 28, 2018, 10:47:12 am

Just a uggestion... because.. it happened to me.

Had a similar situation.. but did have water on pump side.. sitting in drive.. must have left the pump on...so I tipped to bay side it ran out and I dried it all with towels and hair dryer blowing through. Next day no drip on pump side or fittings

... but damp on bay side... checked fittings.. under pump pressure... nadda

shore pressure on....put down 3-4 folded paper towels in fron of bay pannel

That afternoon... just a little wet spot in the middle of paper towels..... the seat from the faucet had failed and I would get two or 3 drips every 10 to 15 minutes...PROBLEM SOLVED

Hope this helps

Re: Water Leak

Reply #9 – June 28, 2018, 10:49:17 am

Quote from: Wattalife54 – June 28, 2018, 10:35:57 am

That small amount of water could be condensation, from filling the tank with cold water in a humid environment. Depending on where we are at, we try to avoid using the fresh water tank, if those conditions exist. Does your city water hose have a cap on it?

Agreed, if water cold, dew point high you can get condensation.

BUT, that would not cause the pump to cycle when no demand.

Re: Water Leak

Reply #10 – June 28, 2018, 11:00:27 am

Possibly leaking fresh water check valve.

Re: Water Leak

Reply #11 – June 28, 2018, 12:25:56 pm

Took a look on the passenger side of the utility bay no water on the floor there, no water I could feel at the pipe fittings coming in and out of the pump nor in the area of the manifold.

Re: Water Leak

Reply #12 – June 28, 2018, 12:29:41 pm

Quote from: Wattalife54 – June 28, 2018, 11:00:27 am

Possibly leaking fresh water check valve.

Yes, another possibility, as it is on the "pressurized" side of the water system.

Re: Water Leak

Reply #13 – June 28, 2018, 12:42:02 pm

You definitely have a leak somewhere and you need to find it and repair it. Plumbing repair in an RV is not easy. Once you find the leak it can be very difficult to get at.
Good luck!

Re: Water Leak

Reply #14 – June 28, 2018, 12:49:23 pm

I'm assuming you checked the connections to the kitchen and bath faucets and toilet, but thought it worth mentioning.

Re: Water Leak

Reply #15 – June 28, 2018, 12:55:43 pm

Randy,
Do you have a water hose reel in your water tank compartment? If not and if your setup is like my 34' there is nothing to leak on that side of the compartment except the tank. Hard to believe that that would be the issue. On mine, the adjacent compartment has many of
the pressurized water line fittings on both sides: Behind the wet bay wall and behind the carpeted manifold cover on the other side. I would pull that carpeted cover and check and also the wet bay cover.
Good luck.
jor

Re: Water Leak

Reply #16 – June 28, 2018, 01:18:26 pm

Water has a odd way of showing up somewhere far away from the problem, it's called 'gravity'. This leak I saw on the other side of the coach, lucked out because I did not test the system with the on board pump, like I do now, every once in a while!

Thank goodness FT does NOT use pressboard!

Re: Water Leak

Reply #17 – June 28, 2018, 07:57:49 pm

Arrived in Needles California. Full hookups and 50 amp so tomorrow morning I'll tackle the leak. balmy 106 degrees but driver side will have shade in the morning.

I'm betting on a leak behind the panel in the utility bay. I'll pull the panel where the water faucet is located, pressurize the system and look. Haven't had that top panel off but it looks like running a razor on the caulk line and remove the screws. I understand all wiring in that area has enough slack to pull it away far enough to have a look behind.

Today there was no appearance of water on the driver side. I pulled the manifold cover and
Poked at each water connection,,,dry. I felt around the water pump and water heater...dry. Doesn't mean it's not leaking there, just that it wasn't wet when I checked.

In the meantime we'll use the pump sparingly and depressurize between uses. I've got a bunch of rags to sop up any wetness.

Other ideas welcome.

Randy

Re: Water Leak

Reply #18 – June 28, 2018, 11:17:11 pm

I notice a very slight filling of the toilet with the pump left on. Runs the pump about every 1/2 hr for 3 secs .

Re: Water Leak

Reply #19 – June 29, 2018, 12:12:21 am

At 106 in the desert, any slight leak won't show itself very long before it evaporates.

Re: Water Leak

Reply #20 – June 29, 2018, 12:32:53 am

Any possibility the leak is internal in the pump be itself? Leaking from the pressure side back to the tank side? That would cause the pump to cycle without any visible leak.

Re: Water Leak

Reply #21 – June 29, 2018, 09:51:26 am

Like Brett Wolfe said you have a leak on the pressurized side of the system, could be the pump or connections at the pump, the pressure tank if you have one, or some other fitting, maybe even the hot water tank. If you had an internal leak in the pump causing it to cycle you would not see any water. Keep looking and you will find it.

Re: Water Leak

Reply #22 – June 29, 2018, 01:09:43 pm

I pressurized the system this morning and could see no leaks from the driver side utility bay with the panel removed. I rechecked the passenger side and discovered that both the cold and hot water fittings to the water heater have a slow leak. It appears the gasket in the female connections has deteriorated.

So it's off to find a hardware store to get a socket large enough to remove the hot water tank drain and cone ? washers to replace those that have deteriorated.

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