Community Forums

GeezerViz · 03-26-2019, 07:41 PM

After staying in a RV park with bad water (lots of minerals) I decided to completely drain the fresh water tank and refill with good clean water. So I hooked up the hose in the wet bay and went inside because I knew it would take a while. After a while I heard water hitting the concrete. I went outside and water was pouring off the roof. Uggg.. I hooked up the hose to the black tank flush out instead of city water inlet. I have read here where people had floods inside the coach, so I looked everywhere and all was dry until water started dripping out one of the ceiling lights above the bed. I pulled down the light and about two cups of water came out. What the heck! I know when it rains I don't have a leak, so why would water come out of the light? Am I just screwed now and will have a mold issue?

**Spdracr39** · 03-26-2019, 07:59 PM

Well city water has chemicals in it that will help keep it from molding but since it came from the black tank ...... Best bet is to open it up and let everything dry with good ventilation. All you can do is hope for the best.

Finance · 03-26-2019, 08:22 PM

Further investigation of the vent plumbing for the waste tank is called for. That should have just pushed water out the roof vent, not inside the ceiling. Could be you stressed the plumbing and it broke the sealant around the roof penetration. Or the installer may have a pipe coupling above the ceiling with no glue.

chaps2018 · 03-26-2019, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Finance

...Or the installer may have a pipe coupling above the ceiling with no glue.

My money is on this one! Likely a coupling not sealed. It is never expected to hold water not to mention pressure. (Gravity in this case).

GeezerViz · 03-26-2019, 09:08 PM

Also, now I have almost no water pressure. Any tips on what I need to do to get pressure back?

GeezerViz · 03-26-2019, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeezerViz

Also, now I have almost no water pressure. Any tips on what I need to do to get pressure back?

Never mind. The city fill valve was in the wrong position. Put it back to vertical and now the pressure is fine.

brobox · 03-27-2019, 05:10 AM

Mike, I am so sorry to hear of that error. However, you are not the first that has happened to. Just a suggestion to prevent it in the future would be to hard plumb the water connections with shut off valves in line. I did the 14 and it really helps having to turn valves to do what you want with the water. Not knowing the Insignia water bay setup, this is a photo for example that I took off of the "show us your mod" post. There are lots of posts with ideas of what others have done. I still need to do the 19 before I make a mistake. When back flushing the black tank, set your phone timer. My tank takes 14 minutes at 55 PSI of water pressure for 89% full, then watch the remainder.

If you are staying in parks with bad hard water are you using a portable water softener? They really help with problems down the road with plumbing fixtures, toilet valves and having to flush the tank not to mention the shower glass water spots.

Water in the ceiling: remove the light fixture(s) and and get a fan up there.. Putting one of the chairs or a ladder on the bed and get the fan as close as possible to the opening. Remove another light to get circulation in the ceiling. Hope all works out well.

Johnontheroad · 03-27-2019, 07:21 AM

Chuck shows a neat way to route the water lines into the coach. Just for comparison, here is how I did my Classic.

brobox · 03-27-2019, 09:00 AM

Another nice one John. Key thing is having to turn the valves to make a decision where the water is going. Mine was even simpler with a faucet Y and a backflow valve.

Yours is much nicer than mine was. It was quick worked well so I never changed it.

Ljwt330 · 03-27-2019, 09:15 AM

There is a label near the tank flush port on my 2004 Alpine which states to always have the drain valve open when using the tank flush. Apparently that is not SOP for a lot of people. I suspect the warning label is there for exactly the reasons given by the OP. Perhaps other manufacturers do not put on the label, the label has been removed, or they simply don't consider it an issue. I know my previous MH did not have the warning label.

Regardless, I sometime close the valve for a short period to get a good surge of water for the flush, but I never leave the wet bay area when the flush is being used.

Rollin101 · 03-27-2019, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ljwt330

There is a label near the tank flush port on my 2004 Alpine which states to always have the drain valve open when using the tank flush. Apparently that is not SOP for a lot of people. I suspect the warning label is there for exactly the reasons given by the OP. Perhaps other manufacturers do not put on the label, the label has been removed, or they simply don't consider it an issue. I know my previous MH did not have the warning label.

Regardless, I sometime close the valve for a short period to get a good surge of water for the flush, but I never leave the wet bay area when the flush is being used.

Every RV I’ve owned had that cautionary statement next to black tank flush, but I like most have closed it and forgotten about it, if only temporarily.

Saltydog44 · 03-27-2019, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ljwt330

but I never leave the wet bay area when the flush is being used.

Having learned that the hard way - twice - A stool to sit on and a phone with games on it are effective for passing the time without getting distracted by some other "To Do"

Provided of course the games aren't too engrossing......

DW always makes sure I have the phone.....