Community Forums

mike_b42 · 05-16-2022, 09:42 AM

After a normal winter here in Colorado, I am getting ready to use the RV again. Yesterday I filled it with water, and I noticed that some water was dripping out. I thought I had spilled some during filling, but this morning there was still a puddle under the RV, and the RV was down ot 2/3 full. I looked into the tank compartment, and there is water in there.
I had drained all the water in fall with pressurized air, but perhaps that was not enough. I checked around the access port to the tank and pump, and there is water on the floor, which I think it makes it way out and drips to the ground from various places.
When looking into the compartment, I can see the pump to the left, and the tank to the right (with some plumbing in between. Just feeling around the parts, the floor is wettest to the left of the pump, and just damp where the tank is, so I thin think it is actually not the tank, but either the pump or some plumbing attached to the pump.
I also felt around the drain valve for the tank, and it seems dry.
What is the best way to check this?

Kahoona · 05-21-2022, 01:49 PM

Bummer! I know the feeling. I would empty the tank all of the way. Leave the compartment open stuff rags under anything that could retain water and put one or two fans in there. Hopefully the next day you will have it all the way dry if not repeat as needed. Take some pictures and post here if you can. Do what you can to get clear access and good line of sight. Remove panels that might give you any other angle. Remove the if you can with the hoses still attached and look at the fittings.

Add water a gallon at a time watching for the drip. Follow any wet spots upward to the origin. Use rags. Once you have it take out whatever is leaking or, if it is the tank see if you can partly disconnect it to get to the leak. Hoses and pumps can be replaced. The tank is your call. They can be patched. I have patched grey tanks. The patch may be toxic though so you may need to replace. Good luck and let us know how it turns out.

Redsand · 05-24-2022, 06:16 PM

Bummer X2.
I have an 05 Four Winds or Thor (take your pick) and from your description it's very similar to my layout. Fill and city connections on left side rear and a small access panel left rear. When open you can view the pump the tank and the fill hoses. If you're saying that is where the leak is I agree with last post to dry everything and add a few gallons at a time and watch. A PIA for sure but a little patience here will show where the leak is. You didn't mention if your pump was on so it could also be a leak only under pressure. Hopefully only a hose fitting.

Hittntheroad · 05-24-2022, 06:32 PM

Take the inlet and outlet pipes off of the pump. Also the plastic strainer if it has one. It’s possible some water got left inside the plastic housing and froze and busted it. Does it leak when you turn on the pump?I always remove both pipes from the and run the pump for a few seconds to make sure all the water is out.

THenne1713 · 05-24-2022, 11:04 PM

Dry it all out w/ rags and spread some newspaper; it will display wet quickly; leak around pump/ pump fittings is quite likely. USE NO TOOLS on plastic fittings, they seal w/ rubber washers and plastics BREAK if tools used/ over-tightened. ONLY YOU can find the leak. p.s. Had my rig 4 yrs when I had similar issue last year, turned out to be a broken plastic elbow at tank for Tank VENT, that some idiot (PO or Tech?) had packed some type of soft putty around, instead of replacing the $1.25 part? I took the opportunity to also replace my FILL HOSE and VENT HOSE, and ordered a new city water BOX for my now 22yo rig. Fill and vent both showed mold issues, and do not properly bleach sanitize easily.

THenne1713 · 05-24-2022, 11:07 PM

TIDBIT: (THIS is when) it would be NICE to have VALVE between tank/pump to do pump/ piping repairs without dumping FWT? But YES, cracked fitting possible, if not just loose. If loose, tighten by hand.