Skip to main content ↑ ↓
Topic: Water Leak (Read 359 times) previous topic - next topic

Water Leak

I have a water leak somewhere, and I have yet to figure out where it might be. 
The symptoms are:  When under pressure from city hookup, or water pump pressure tank, the leak occurs.  When pressure is relieved from the system, the leak stops.  The water is leaking from under the black and grey tanks.  The water bay area around pump, pressure tank, and manifold is dry.  The main water feed line runs under the grey and black tanks to the water bay.

Any ideas on this would be welcomed.
Thanks,
Mike
Mike Brady
'97 U320 SE. #5137
'13 Honda Fit
Willow Springs, MO

Re: Water Leak

Reply #1 –
On our 97 u270 I was having the same symptoms and removed part of the fiberglass panel in the wet bay and on the back side of the water entry the leak was where the nut screwed on. Replaced the fitting which came with a new cone washer and no more leaks. Probably could have just replaced the washer, but I had the new fitting and the tools to replace the old one.
previous 1984 35 ft ORED 250 HP 3208 Cat       
previous 1998 40 ft U295 CAI 325 hp Cummins
previous 2003 40 Ft u320 build #6140 450 Cummins M11.                                                         
1999 Mazda Miata
Ron, Nancy, Tipper the cat, Max The dog
1997 U 270 36 ft build number 5174 8.3 Cummins

Re: Water Leak

Reply #2 –
Nope.  No leaking around the entry point.  Seems to be coming from under grey water tank.  Coach has a slight down lean to the left side.
Mike
Mike Brady
'97 U320 SE. #5137
'13 Honda Fit
Willow Springs, MO

Re: Water Leak

Reply #3 –
Quote from: Yetch –
Nope.  No leaking around the entry point.  Seems to be coming from under grey water tank.  Coach has a slight down lean to the left side.
Mike
Have friend with 96 U295 same issue, ended up being a crack in the tank.
Hans & Marjet
1995 U300 "Ben" (#4719)
3176B Cat,4060HD,Jake
SKP#139131
Motorcade#17579
2006 Honda Element (towed)

Re: Water Leak

Reply #4 –
If there is a crack in the tank, it seems to me that it would be leaking continuously, rather than only when pressured up.
Mike
Mike Brady
'97 U320 SE. #5137
'13 Honda Fit
Willow Springs, MO

Re: Water Leak

Reply #5 –
Mike, as your only seeing the leak when under pump or city pressure, that eliminates the tank or fill lines leaking as they are not under pressure. Your also not seeing water around the pump, pressure tank and manifold, so those areas could be eliminated too.
That only leaves pressurized lines, fixtures, or the water heater.  You didn't say what area you are seeing the water.
Your best bet is going to be letting everything dry out, then hook up to city water and monitor everything to find the first sight of water. At least then you'll know the area. 
Has the coach been exposed to any freezing weather?  It's possible that you could have a hairline crack in a line or fitting that only leaks under pressure.
I found this out on my previous coach when the shop doing work insured me that the coach would be left inside a heated shop. They ended up putting it outside on a 20 degree night.  I found 3 split pipes pretty easy, but it took ever a year to find I had a toilet flush valve with a small crack. It too only leaked under pressure, and would leak down into the basement.
Wish I could be more help, but tracing lines looking for leaks is gonna be about your only choice.  Maybe one of those water/air leak noise detectors would work, but I've never used one and can't attest to their success.
Mark & Bev
2001 U295 36' Slide
Cummins ISC 8.3 350HP
Build #5802
Jeep Wrangler Toad

Re: Water Leak

Reply #6 –
The water is coming from under the grey tank on the left side in the bay where the water hook up is, as the coach has a slight lean to the left encouraging the flow in that direction.  As I have removed the panel in order to view the plumbing of the waste water tanks, and also the water lines around in this area, I can see that the primary input line runs under the waste waster tanks to the pump area on the right side of the coach.
Mike
Mike Brady
'97 U320 SE. #5137
'13 Honda Fit
Willow Springs, MO

Re: Water Leak

Reply #7 –
Mike,

I had helped on a coach same as yours and mine that had a mouse eat a hole in that supply line that runs under the black/grey tank. If you determine that this is your problem here is our fix.
What we finally did was remove the vanity covers off the area around the fill/dump area. We cut the copper crimp off the line that goes under the tank at the 90* and tied a kite string to the line. Go to the passengers side and do the same thing. You will find that the PEX line will pull out one side or the other and the kite string will follow. Doing this will allow you to pull in a new PEX line. This job isn't as bad as one might think as you don't need to remove the tanks.

Mike
Pamela & Mike 97 U 320

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

Re: Water Leak

Reply #8 –
Mike,
I believe you are correct about my problem.  I found a dead mouse in the compartment with the manifold.  I am able to take an obstructed view with a flashlight of the line running under the tanks from a small opening where the line comes out on the right side.  I did notice a tie wrap securing the line to a piece of lumber (2"x2") that also goes under the tanks.  Just to be sure, I thought I would turn all of the outlet valves on the manifold off to see if the leak still persists.  And thanks for confirming that the main feed line can be replaced as you mentioned.
Mike
Mike Brady
'97 U320 SE. #5137
'13 Honda Fit
Willow Springs, MO