Gots a leak

[PharmGeek]

Boondocking for first time this weekend

Noticed my water tank sensor kept showing a bit less then a bit less.,..had a very small leak from drain plug - will fix that momentarily as I have extra plug and the white tape...at that point I had half a tank - cut on hot water bypass as I thought it would not have caused this as I was loosing even without water pump on

Still kept going down

Checked the crappy FE tank valve - it appears that a leak is coming from behind that valve - the valve has a plastic white base and drops of water slowly percolate from there....

Guidance please

It won't greatly affect the boondocking per se - it may not totally run out by tomorrow AM when we leave - we have bottled water so ok there -


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[PharmGeek]

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[F450Harley]

Don't do anything otherwise you stand the risk of losing the entire water left in your tank. Just enjoy the half tank that way you won't have to run in the bush for #2, especially your family. Have tank valve replaced by Camping World (cheaper & cost effective) anytime you run across one. I'm sure you don't carry gorilla tape otherwise cut a piece and tape the valve opening to reduce the rate of drip till you get home - OR - just put a container under the drip and reuse the collected water for shower or flushing. Enjoy and how is the new EU700 is holding ...

[Wayne&Sam]

I think that valve handle be closed at 3:00 and 9:00 and open at 12:00 and 6:00. It Looks like it might be just a tad open.

[Panama Red]

We're gonna need some pliers and a set of 30 weight ball bearings...

-Red

[PharmGeek]

Ima wait and fiddle with it when I get home tomorrow

Joshua - the generator is amazing


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[KJRitchie]

Do you have to cut an access hatch to get at the clamps behind the valve. Saw a 2015 Airstream video and they are still using these stupid valves. I guess I'm lucky, mine hasn't broken or leaked but it's probably due.

[dkottum]

The valve on our 2007 was so tight you needed a pliers to turn it, the 2012 valve works great and unlike metal it won't corrode inside. My concern is whether road debris could fly up and break it off. Probably should protect it with something.

[sandlapper]

An occasional shot of food grade silicone will help tremendously. John

[Ag&Au]

Somewhere here on airforums there is a thread about replacing that silly cheap little POS with a real valve. That is one of those things I've been going to do. However I guess I'm waiting for it to break, because I must think I work better under pressure. As mentioned above, silicone spray works well to keep it moving freely. Since that's a big tank and the water going though that valve is on its way to the ground, and the food companies in the US are putting a bunch of unhealthy crap in my food anyway, I don't worry about the food grade part.

Ken

[PharmGeek]

Well - it held water enough to get through the weekend but I did not shower because of it - no biggie - short weekend camping anyway

I fiddled with the valve - it was turned exactly parallel with the trailer - pushed it back and forth and pushed it past parallel resting against the metal - not sure if that was the culprit but I thought even after that I saw some drops of water from around the base and not from the valve

I am going to refill to full today and see if it leaks - as well as make sure hot water plug is water tight

Like the silicone idea - I'll try that too - mine as been easy enough to operate so far

I'm still scratching my head - cannot imagine how I leaked so much water in so little time - it wasn't gushing out of there

Wondering if there is not something in missing in addition


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[Ag&Au]

Originally Posted by PharmGeek

Well - it held water enough to get through the weekend but I did not shower because of it - no biggie - short weekend camping anyway

I fiddled with the valve - it was turned exactly parallel with the trailer - pushed it back and forth and pushed it past parallel resting against the metal - not sure if that was the culprit but I thought even after that I saw some drops of water from around the base and not from the valve

I am going to refill to full today and see if it leaks - as well as make sure hot water plug is water tight

Like the silicone idea - I'll try that too - mine as been easy enough to operate so far

I'm still scratching my head - cannot imagine how I leaked so much water in so little time - it wasn't gushing out of there

Wondering if there is not something in missing in addition


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I'm guessing your pump is not pulsing on sometimes when no one is running water. If it does, that would indicate a small water leak somewhere in the plumbing. That will eventually show itself somewhere.

Kern

[SilverGate]

Someone else here had a mysterious fresh water leak and found that the shower faucet/valve was slowly leaking water! You might want to check your shower.

[Alphonse]

Is water leaking from the weep/drain holes in the black cover that surrounds the water tank?

[PharmGeek]

I just refilled the water tank - oddly - it seemed to fill quicker than I suspected (micro pulse may be something just throwing this all off....

Drained the hot water tank and replaced with new plug with plenty of the white tape. Turned on pump filled tank - dried the area of the hot plug really good - no signs of leaks there now (had a tiny trickle there before I believe) - refilled the fresh tank again to overfilled and micro pulse is showing full

Made sure all water lines were filled including hot - (hot had a bunch of air)

Pump is off now and system pressurized

Dried off the area of the petcock really well

Will recheck everything in an hour - turn on pump (should not kick on pump I presume) and check the fresh tank valve area




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[PharmGeek]

Originally Posted by Alphonse

Is water leaking from the weep/drain holes in the black cover that surrounds the water tank?

I will check for sure momentarily

Assuming the pressure holds that would not rule out a leak from the fresh tank valve ? I am sure it was leaking yesterday - but perhaps it was not in the uber correct precise location


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[Landrum]

You've probably seen it already, but there's another thread active right now about replacing the drain valve on the freshwater tanks (in case yours is leaking).


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[PharmGeek]

Just joined that thread and I think I'll have that access panel off to look at the small hose that attaches the petcock to the FW tank

Good news is - no loss of pressure - hours later the pump when turned on does not kick on at all

I believe at this point is that most of my "loss" at this point may have been just some funny readings with the micropulse - the leak from the petcock appears to be very slow - I put a pitcher under it and 2 hours later there was maybe 2 tablespoons worth




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[SilverGate]

Originally Posted by PharmGeek

I believe at this point is that most of my "loss" at this point may have been just some funny readings with the micropulse - the leak from the petcock appears to be very slow - I put a pitcher under it and 2 hours later there was maybe 2 tablespoons worth

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Hmmmm... You said this is your first time boondocking... you might want to check and review with other family members just how much water they used while washing, flushing the toilet, washing and rinsing dishes, etc. Conserving energy and water becomes paramount while boondocking compared to having full hookups! (And I'd still check that shower hose to make sure that faucet and valve are really turned all the way off).

[mefly2]

Originally Posted by KJRitchie

Do you have to cut an access hatch to get at the clamps behind the valve. Saw a 2015 Airstream video and they are still using these stupid valves. I guess I'm lucky, mine hasn't broken or leaked but it's probably due.

On ours... no; simply remove the two screws and the valve comes out. It has a connection on the rear to some flexible water tubing that may have loosened and allow water leakage.