TROUBLE W/USING FRESH WATER TANK

[OpaRon]

I don't remember having this problem before and am wondering if I'm doing something wrong. We are No. Georgia and it's getting well below freezing for a few nights. So, I filled the fresh water tank, turned off the water at the spigot and drained the water hose. But, when I turn on the water pump, it sends water out of the fresh water inlet. The only way I seem to be able to use the water pump is to reconnect the hose and close the in-line cutoff I have just after the Watts pressure regulator. (I assume the water just backs up to the cutoff, but then I fear that short hose will freeze and burst.)

I've had the coach for over 3 years and don't ever remember having this problem. Is there something I should be closing off just to use the fresh water and pump?

[Nathan Focht]

Just behind the screen on the inlet there is a white valve that prevents the back flow. It sounds like it is not seating correctly. You can remove the screen and try to seat it manually. You can also go to an RV store and look for a blow-out plug. It is a small screw in plug with an air plug. You can use it to close the inlet until you can get it fixed.

Plug

[OpaRon]

Nathan,
Thanks for the quick comeback and I apologize for now anwsering you sooner - got sick and just didn't do any internet for a couple of days. You solution sounded so easy! I've since gone out to try again and the problem didn't happen, so I'm guessing it was a fluke, or just a sign that the back flow valve is getting weak or wearing out.

[GaryKD]

Hi Ron,
Sorry to hear you were sick. Come on down to Florida. The Chamber of Commerce doesn't allow snow birds to get sick! The valve is getting weak and needs to be replaced. It will continue to pour water out the fill connection until the valve closes. Right now it is an irritant to you. Soon it will not close at all. That's what happened to me.

As a temp solution you can get a very short piece of drinking water hose (CW sells them, only a foot or two long) On the female end you can buy or make a plug with PVC parts. If the valve does not close, you can always connect the male end to the coach fitting. Or you can do what Nathan posted.

[OpaRon]

Gary,

Thanks for the additional "quick fix" options. For some reason, valves getting weak just never occurred to me. I actually have one of those foot long hose pieces. I have quick female connect fittings on both the fresh water and sewage rinse inlets, which should make it easier to make a quick fix.

BTW my sickness turns out to be Meniere's Disease (middle ear problem) and causes me some dizziness and nausea.