Help please .H2O line

[rustyrat]

Hello all,
Any assistance on tbis Thanksgiving day would be gratefully appreciated.

I have a 1990 34' triple axle, limited edition.
I have done the complete restoration on my rig.. and have the 30 yrs experience in restorations.

Full restoration was in 2011.
Fast forward, no problems until last week.

No leak when utilizing the h20 tank with water pump

However,
If I switch over to city water, I get a leak that is directly over the wheels, precisely over the center axle on the curbside.

That said, I took EVERYTHING out of the 3 door closet, lifted the small hatch where the h20 pump is located....dry as a bone.

Now some interesting points.
When I examine the leak under city water pressure,

It is comming from the "lip" on the flange by the outside of the wheel well.

There appears to be a 2 part wheel well here, as something is leaking " underneath the dress wheelwrll cover and actual wheel well, between the sink, also curb side, and the mid axle.

As a side note, when I refurbished my rig, I converted all lines over to PEX.

I also notice, while not actually leaking when wr do use the water pump, the pump is operating at a more rapid cycle than normal, as if there may be a crack in the line leading to the kitchen sink

My thoughts for the gurus out there..
I have 3 days ..wish me well...
All the tools, just need to locate the darn thing or be crucified by the DW.

I'm thinking of draining the water lines, closing off the hot water tank by-pass...then...

Hooking up my air compresser to the city water port to isolate the location by the sound of the hissing

Any thoughts, help or prayers to the water gods ...
Much appreciated

[HiHoAgRV]

Did you leave the 'auto fill' valve in the system when you re plumbed? It's in the same area and has a small plastic filter that tends to crack and will leak. When the solenoid is 'on' the city water back fills the water tank. Mine leaked so I disconnected it.

[SSquared]

Could it be the city water is much higher pressure than the pump? Any one of your PEX crimps might be good enough for the pump pressure but not more.

Do you have an external pressure regulator you are not using? Try putting it on and see if it stops or reduces the leak.

Another good candidate for a leak point is the city water inlet fixture itself. The plastic ones used by Airstream in recent year can develop a leak between the two pieces of the body.

I have not used air pressure to find a leak, but I like the idea.

[CBWELL]

Good possibility is the city water is back flowing into your fresh water tank, through the pump, because the check valve in the pump is not working. Water will flow out the overflow of the tank. Just a problem that I had with my 94, and corrected with a new pump. Took the old one out and rebuilt and carry as a spare. Good luck!!

[Lumatic]

Originally Posted by rustyrat

I also notice, while not actually leaking when wr do use the water pump, the pump is operating at a more rapid cycle than normal, as if there may be a crack in the line leading to the kitchen sink

If all your valves and faucets are closed the water pump should not cycle. If it does you have a leak somewhere.

[rustyrat]

Hiho...
Great minds think alike....
I removed my auto fill as well.
I figured I could without a doubt, get myself to use the potable water hatch door.. lol.

I get to start my little project tomorrow 0600.
No rest for the weary here.
Just a side note...it is DRY DRY DRY ....under that hatch door in the closet...nothing near the h20 pump, and nothing on top of the "dress" wheel covers.

I will keep you all posted, I have my pex fittings, extra pex and crimps in hand!!!

[rustyrat]

CBWELL....
Ohhhhhh how I like the sound of that logic!!!!

I have noticed that when I do manually fill, when the tank gets to "full" I have spill over in the exact same area as the current "leak"

The DW and I full time, we were just up to Alaska for 6 months, our 5th time up in so many years this year....no problems, until this surfaced about a week ago, out of nowhere

Like a good boy scout, I carry an extra evrrything, including water pump with us. Think I will change that out first. And prey....that's easy...id even go so far a to buy you a virtual beer!!!

As to other posters, suggestions......
1. The pump does NOT cycle when on with all faucets closed... which did confuse me.
2. I am running a pressure regulator at the water bib, as we are at a private ranch in NM for the month.
3. The city water intake for our rig is on the opposite side, all the way in the rear. It was checked, I replaced it last year due to check valve issue in it, none the less, it is bone dry and about 15 feet from the leak spot.

[rustyrat]

Originally Posted by CBWELL

Good possibility is the city water is back flowing into your fresh water tank, through the pump, because the check valve in the pump is not working. Water will flow out the overflow of the tank. Just a problem that I had with my 94, and corrected with a new pump. Took the old one out and rebuilt and carry as a spare. Good luck!!

CBWELL,
Job is done, heartfelt thanks to your insight.
The suspect h20 pump was replaced, problem solved...Many thanks for the hours saved!!