Help! Water leaked-How to mitigate damage

[Molly1973]

Upfront apology for my lack of knowledge--this is my first trailer--a 1973 Tradewind. I read the owners manual and though I was ready to fill the freshwater tank. When I looked inside under the sink, there was a fair bit of water leaking from the pump into the underbelly of the trailer. I immediately stopped filling and drained the tank, but probably not before 2-3 gallons leaked. I know I need to find someone who can look over the trailer and show me how to use the plumbing, but I want to know what I need to do immediately to make sure I dont have any water damage from the leaked water. I removed some of the screws on the underbelly and water drained from them, but should I remove the whole sheet of metal? If so, how do I seal it when everything has dried out?

Thanks in advance for any advice!

[fstuneck]

Molly - you said there was water leaking from the pump. Possibly the pump had water in it and froze and possibly cracked. Right now you wouldn't have to drain the H20 tank cause its still nice in Boulder. I remove my water pump after I blow all the water out of the system. Some people even pump antifreeze thru the whole system for winter protection. I don't believe that water in the underbelly is the worst thing. You can re-rivet the panels with a pop rivet gun and large rivets. It is nice to get everything dried out though under neath if possible. So. . .we're thinking its the pump and not your tank that is leaking, right?
(my .02 worth)

[Molly1973]

Thanks for the helpful response--upon closer inspection I think that their is an inline filter that was not correctly/completely installed and that this was the source of the water coming out. I noticed another leak in the rear behind the toilet when I hooked up a water line to the "hook up". This leak is, I believe, is completely separate from what is going on at the pump.... At the very least, it is good to hear that a little water in the underbelly isn't going to be the end of the world.

[Wingeezer]

Originally Posted by Molly1973

Thanks for the helpful response--upon closer inspection I think that their is an inline filter that was not correctly/completely installed and that this was the source of the water coming out. I noticed another leak in the rear behind the toilet when I hooked up a water line to the "hook up". This leak is, I believe, is completely separate from what is going on at the pump.... At the very least, it is good to hear that a little water in the underbelly isn't going to be the end of the world.

One thing you might check with the toilet is if it has a small spray nozzle on a hose that could be tucked in the back someplace. It is used for helping to clean the bowl if you are not hooked to city water.sewer and don't want to clean by repeated flushing in order to save water.

When we bought our trailer (used) we didn't even know this thing existed - the previous owner had tucked it away in behind the toilet.

So when we winterized the trailer with plumbing antifreeze, this spray nozzle and hose didn't get any antifreeze and so froze and split - water all over the floor in Spring time when we went to use the trailer. An easy fix, although it did cost about $45 for a new hose and nozzle!

Brian.