08 Nimbus H2O leak

Topic: 08 Nimbus H2O leak (Read 1036 times) previous topic - next topic

08 Nimbus H2O leak

March 29, 2022, 08:16:20 pm

Hello all, I have a small water drip leak coming from an as yet undetermined location in the belly of the beast. I just spent a few hours removing the sheet stainless from the water cabinet to get to the hose reel and faucet area. It does not appear to be coming from there. Thought the 12v pump would be back there, wasn't. Does anyone know where the water pump is located? The water leak does not look like it's coming from any of the hose clamps around the maniblock area either. I'm amazed at the amount of hoses and hose clamps in this rig. Leak could be coming from anywhere. Just throwing stuff out there, and will continue digging as I can....thanks in advance...

Re: 08 Nimbus H2O leak

Reply #1 – March 30, 2022, 12:22:27 am

Keith, when does it leak? Only when the pump is running or even when it is not? This would indicate a pressure side or non-pressure side leak.

Do you see the water showing up somewhere? If so, perhaps shut all the taps in the manibloc and then start opening them individually and see which one brings the pump on (losing pressure) or the water appears.

Re: 08 Nimbus H2O leak

Reply #2 – March 30, 2022, 12:43:32 am

Re: 08 Nimbus H2O leak

Reply #3 – March 30, 2022, 01:12:13 am

Hey Keith, it seems to leak when we are hooked up to city water. It is a slow leak/drip as it takes a day or so for me to notice the bays getting wet. The bay where the maniblock and tank are at is where I notice it most. Almost like it's coming from underneath the tank. Then it gravitates to the next bay forward and then drips out next to the door. Mid door coach... No wet noticed from the areas above . I have drained the water tank completely and hopefully in the next couple days I will be able to hook up to water and diagnose further. Unfortunately I do not have anywhere convenient to hookup and work on this...I've got a month or so until next planned trip so I hope to find it by then...

Re: 08 Nimbus H2O leak

Reply #4 – March 30, 2022, 10:26:09 am

So it only happens when connected to external water, but not when running the pump from the tank while NOT connected to external water? If so, that my indicate that your leak is between the water inlet and the tank fill valve.

Re: 08 Nimbus H2O leak

Reply #5 – March 30, 2022, 10:59:08 am

I met up with Keith in Tucson a couple weeks ago and chatted about this. Part of the issue is how slow the leak is... it'd be a lot easier to find if it was more severe. He keeps it at a storage facility so it's hard to keep an eye on it as the puddle develops. Another issue is that most of the plumbing is BURRIED in the middle of the coach, behind a fiberglass wall that isn't easily removed. It's going to be a real PITA to get in there.

You might try strategically placing some moisture alarms in different areas of that bay and see which one goes off first: OUVOPO Water Leak Detectors 4 Packï¼Œ120dB Audio Alarm Sensorï¼ŒSensitive Leak.... That'll at least give you an idea of which side to start tearing into. I think it'll be easier to find if you catch it early, before the puddle builds and hides the trail.

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Re: 08 Nimbus H2O leak

Reply #6 – March 30, 2022, 11:18:19 am

I would start by turning off all the valves on a maniblock to isolate any lines going to fixtures. This should isolate it to the plumbing between the fill and the tank and fill and maniblock. If you have no leak in this state, then you can start turning on valves one at a time or several (ex. cut the problem in half, etc). I did this when I had a leak that was related to a single fixture.

It's also worth noting that many of us only operate off the tank and pump. We only use the water connection to fill the tank and never operate on city water pressure. Turn on the pump when you need it, turn it off when finished. The minimizes the opportunity for a leak to continue while you are gone. If your leak is on the fill side only this may allow you to do your trip without resolving. I added a second direct fill connection to the tank so I don't even use the water reel hose.

In any regard do not leave the city water faucet on when you are gone for more than a day.

Re: 08 Nimbus H2O leak

Reply #7 – March 30, 2022, 02:43:38 pm

Well, EUREKA!! To finding the pump that is...on my coach it is located on the ceiling of the second bay back from the mid-door entry. Bay just forward of Maniblock/ tank bay... the leak is not coming from the pump. How does this pump keep suction located above the tank level. That may be a stupid question, just thought pump would be on bay floor somewhere. I have managed to get all the stainless off of the water cabinet/hose reel/cord reel so I can see back there now.. I have hooked up to city water and left on for a couple hours, and no obvious leaking detected. The hose reel, which was another of my suspects, is fine. The outside faucet connections are good. No obvious previous leaks from dump valves. All pretty dusty in here, with no visible water trails... filled fresh tank to 1/2 and ran pump for about 15 minutes.. During this time I ran faucets inside and the shower to see if maybe drains might be leaking. Even soaked the fixtures in the shower thinking maybe was running behind shower down below when showering. Checked below numerous times during all this and nothing so far...leaving pressured up on city for now while I eat lunch and ponder..... thanks BPAL for the suggestions. I will tackle this avenue next..continuing to be open to any and all suggestions.

Re: 08 Nimbus H2O leak

Reply #8 – March 30, 2022, 03:13:45 pm

Check around the aquahot.

Re: 08 Nimbus H2O leak

Reply #9 – March 30, 2022, 04:34:15 pm

Keith, do you have a pressure regulator on your water input? I know these things are supposed to be rated for high pressure, but I use one of the 50psi regulators on my fill line, just in case.

If you turn everything off but leave the pump on, does it run for a few seconds every now and again? If so, that would indicate that the pressure is leaking down somewhere.

Re: 08 Nimbus H2O leak

Reply #10 – March 30, 2022, 08:27:36 pm

Ok.. so I was buttoning up the stainless encasing the water bay as I was sure the leak wasn't coming from that area, was about to give up for the day, and then... hallelujah, noticed a trickle of water coming from underneath the Oasis... upon further investigation, I found the water in and out fitting seeping on top of the Oasis unit. Was all crusted up like it had been doing this for awhile... took about 3 hours pressured up for it to get to the point of being noticeable. Took up on the fittings and hopefully that will get it. May have to replace the plastic fittings as there is not much take up left. Definitely did not want to strip them.... I want to thank everyone for their help and comments... Foretravel people are the best....

Re: 08 Nimbus H2O leak

Reply #11 – March 30, 2022, 10:02:24 pm

That looks like it is pipe thread and I would take it apart an ues pipe dope and put
it back together.

Re: 08 Nimbus H2O leak

Reply #12 – March 30, 2022, 10:12:08 pm

If possible, consider replacing it with a brass fitting. They seem to resist vibration and other problems a little better......

Re: 08 Nimbus H2O leak

Reply #13 – March 31, 2022, 08:25:02 am

And, by the mineral deposits, looks like it has been leaking for a LONG time.

Check structure below it for signs of rust jacking (beams more "pronounced", as rust expands steel).

Re: 08 Nimbus H2O leak

Reply #14 – April 06, 2022, 08:31:44 pm

OK... thought I would give you guys some more reading material regarding the leaking H2O on the Oasis..here's what I have done today. Cut the plastic ends off the PEX(nice and straight), went and bought a couple 1/2 x 1/2 shark bite fittings, took a wire bottle brush and cleaned up the threads on the Oasis. They cleaned up nice, no rough edges or burrs I could feel. New fitting seemed to screw in fine for test. Wrapped threads in Teflon tape, installed. Tightened to snug and pressured up water system with 12v pump, and....seeping from thread's continues. No leaking from the PEX connections. Tightened fittings some more, very tight, and leak continues. Took all apart, cleaned it all up again, put more tape than last time and leaking still. Went to store bought some dope, not marijuana, even though taking that up for calming purposes, has crossed my mind lately (not really), doped up fittings, screwed together, and ..... seeping from threads resume after about 5 minutes of pressure. Cleaned it all up, tried again, and same result.....WTF....

So now I'm thinking maybe the threads on the Oasis are galled, or worn somehow, from something. Next move is to remove the galvanized cover off the distribution unit on the back of this unit and see what's in there as far as maybe fittings to replace. Oasis has not been much help as they say it is a coach manufacturing issue. I sent them pictures, and that's what they said...many different manufacturers hookup units differently... OK... can't get it into a shop for about a month or so, made appointment with a high end coach repair guy... only works on Prevost, Newell, Foretravel, etc... he is mobile but booked for a month. Secured a spot with him in case I can't fix it by then... I will keep plugging along... I mean what could I do.. make it leak. 😆😆...anyway just thought I would give you guys some comic relief from someone who really don't know what he's doing...

Re: 08 Nimbus H2O leak

Reply #15 – April 06, 2022, 09:13:00 pm

I might try and tap it a little more. From your picture it looks like you could go deeper with
the tap. That would clean up the threads. Also try a different pipe dope and I haven't had
pipe dope fail on me but with Teflon tape I have had lost of failures.

Re: 08 Nimbus H2O leak

Reply #16 – April 06, 2022, 10:18:32 pm

Agree with old guy, if nothing else it will clean those threads up some. BTW, what's the material of the fitting that has the female threads? That your screwing the new brass fitting into? Looks like steel to me.

Re: 08 Nimbus H2O leak

Reply #17 – April 06, 2022, 10:49:20 pm

Fittings on Oasis are steel..is there a problem going brass to steel? So not knowing about taps, do I need 1/2 NPT tap or? ....

Re: 08 Nimbus H2O leak

Reply #18 – April 06, 2022, 10:52:07 pm

Keith, where are you hanging your hat these days? Any chance you are anywhere near these guys? These are the guys that serviced my Aqua-Hot in Quartzsite.

De Gerald Services

Re: 08 Nimbus H2O leak

Reply #19 – April 06, 2022, 10:53:48 pm

The female fitting could have some wear but I would think either the tape or the dope should seal it..... I think as you do that the female fitting might need replacing. Might try using pipe dope and also Teflon tape...... Let it sit a couple of hours.

Re: 08 Nimbus H2O leak

Reply #20 – April 06, 2022, 11:04:45 pm

Going to be a few days before I can get back up in there...I'll take all suggestions and keep posting updates....

Re: 08 Nimbus H2O leak

Reply #21 – April 06, 2022, 11:12:49 pm

Keith, currently at home in Sun City West, AZ. Coach in covered storage facility a couple miles away.

Re: 08 Nimbus H2O leak

Reply #22 – April 06, 2022, 11:23:16 pm

Yes it is pipe thread. Brass is put into steel all the time.

Re: 08 Nimbus H2O leak

Reply #23 – April 07, 2022, 07:32:14 am

Keith,

Is the leak on both the hot and cold side?
What/how are you holding a back up wench on the hot line?
You may just need to get to the back side of that panel so you can get a back up wrench in there so you can hold the fitting. It doesn't look like there is enough sticking out to get a wrench on from the pics.

Mike

Re: 08 Nimbus H2O leak

Reply #24 – April 07, 2022, 08:02:38 am

Mike, was leaking from both originally. Looks like I may have got the hot stopped. But I'm sure more will be revealed as I continue the quest. Was able to get a crescent on the cold female, but cannot hold the hot. Of course the cold female would want to back off during my multiple disassemble sessions. The hot female did not move. That's why I'm curious now as to what is inside the box... The hardest part of this whole thing is the access. Laying in the bay on my side and only reaching with one arm. I'm pretty persistent though...I will not let something so apparently simple win...

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