"leaking pipe" problem or nightmare?

[doctormark]

The current owner of an AS I'm buying (70's 25' TradeWind) tells me there is a pipe problem under the floor of the bathroom, which he has never used.

Am I going to have to dismantle the entire bathroom and/or interior to get at it? Is there a way to diagnose the problem first?

Any advice much appreciated!

md

[Lumatic]

What year Tradewind?

Some of the plumbing is visible, some enclosed by the bathroom furniture. The water lines are above the floor level. The drain lines are below the floor.

If the PO is right about the problem being below the floor it is probably a loose shower P trap. There may be a squarish access point in the belly pan. Anyway, the good news is if the problem is a drain problem you can cut out a section or drop the belly pan without taking out the bathroom. If the problem is a leaking supply line you can probably add a replacement line without a complete dissassembly too. Also check your roof vents are not clogged up. That can also cause leaks down below.

To diagnose: Put on some grubby clothes and hook up the system and try her out. See where it leaks from. If you get a leak through the belly pan but the floor is dry in the trailer it's a drain line leak, leaking black water or grey water tank or dump valve leak. If you have a wet floor it's a supply line. Keep in mind where the water comes out of the belly pan may be a couple of feet away from the leak source. You could also use an air line and listen for a leak for supply lines.

[HowieE]

Take an ice pick and poke around. If there is a rug your will poke through it but if the floor is good the pick should stop there. You may find areas that you FALL through and areas that are SOFT. In either case those are areas that have to be addressed.

If you find a soft spot don't stop testing at the wall or door. Rot does not stop at partitions that are above the floor.

He said a pipe problem below the floor. There should not be any pipe, other than sewer, under the floor. It is unlikely that the sewer system would fail in such a way as to cause a problem in the floor. The one exception is the point where the toilet is bolted down to the floor.

[jkcru]

You could drop the belly pan under that area to check.

[mello mike]

Originally Posted by doctormark

The current owner of an AS I'm buying (70's 25' TradeWind) tells me there is a pipe problem under the floor of the bathroom, which he has never used.

Am I going to have to dismantle the entire bathroom and/or interior to get at it? Is there a way to diagnose the problem first?

Any advice much appreciated!

md

Lumatic gave you some excellent pointers. More than likely, you won't need to take anything apart. If the drain/vent ABS pipes or water lines are leaking, you may need to remove a bathroom piece or two to gain access. My bathroom comes in 8 pieces.

My bathroom is completely torn apart right now after having a new subfloor installed. This weekend I'll be installing new flooring, re-installing the drain/vent pipes, and reassembling the bathroom.