Leak @ freshwater inlet

[Lily&Me]

My Interstate has developed a leak into and alongside the curbside area, only when I fill the fresh water tank.

Water ends up in the storage area under the sink, drains out below the galley cabinet, dries up, and then there is no further problem or leakage til the next time.

I have taken a flashlight and looked into the inlet, and I see no holes or gaps which would allow water to be going where it shouldn't.

Any thoughts on what this may be?

Thanks.


Maggie

[mimiandrews]

Is there any way for someone to be looking under that cabinet while the tank is being filled? It has to be a leak in the filler and not the tank itself, because of when it happens.

[Lily&Me]

Maybe when I get to Spearfish....that's a good idea, thanks.


Maggie

[Jammer]

I'm not an Interstate expert, but it is my experience that the clamps holding the filler and vent lines in place, both at the trailer and the fill door, will "loosen" over time. What's really going on is that the hoses shrink due to a phenomenon called "cold flow."

Quick fix is to tighten the clamps. There is such as thing as a self-tightening hose clamp with has a series of spring washers. I have used on my Cayo filler hose, which has chronic leaks.

[Lily&Me]

Thanks, Jammer.

I'm not sure I can see the inlet and its attachments from under the cabinet, but I will get down there and look.


Maggie

[Lily&Me]

I got down on hands and knees and looked at the fresh water tank this afternoon, and can see in the far corner closest to the fresh water fill 4-5" of a blue hose.

I can't see any clamps or any attachments either to the fresh water fill or the tank itself.

I suspect these are between the inner wall and the outer shell of the Interstate.


Maggie

[Piggy Bank]

In the meantime, you might try this inexpensive work-around.

If you go to walmart or auto parts store, you can buy a funnel that is attached to about 15 inches of flexible tubing. (We used this to easily add the pink antifreeze directly into our fresh water holding tank without spillage).

If your leaks occurring between outside and just inside, then the tubing may be able to be inserted into the tubing past the point of the leak.

Might be worth a try.

[Lily&Me]

That's an idea!

Thanks!

I'm trying to imagine what would be involved in actually looking at the fill point....removing the rear bench, then the inner wall.....


Maggie

[A W Warn]

I cut a piece of a white water hose about a foot long to extend the campground's hose when I fill the water tank. I do this primarily for sanitation when I am away from home. (never know what that campground hose touched) Also, it holds the filler hose in place without having to stand there and hold the hose while it is filling. In your case a short length of hose could go down the filler tube beyond the leak.

Another thought: On trailers, there are two hoses connected to the filler door and water tank, a larger filler hose and a smaller vent hose. The vent bubbles water and air sometimes as the tank fills. Maybe the vent hose is broken instead of the filler.

[Lily&Me]

Hmmm...it is all, most certainly, quite beyond me.

The problem seems to be right at the inlet, and I think the water is running between the inner and outer wall.

Something to extend the hose beyond the inlet and farther into the fill area just might do the trick.

Thanks, folks!

I have no common sense when it comes to these kinds of things. My mind simply doesn't problem solve them.


Maggie

[Rocinante]

I'm with you, Maggie. Best thing is probably to find a good, reliable, service-oriented Airstream dealer and pay them a quick visit.

In the interim, the filler hose idea shows promise, though I'd suggest being careful not to over-fill the fresh tank with that filler hose in place - it might be possible to slightly pressurize the tank if you're running the water rapidly to fill the tank quickly. A couple of folks have posted sad stories here of having caused damage by doing that that to their trailer.

[airbusjudy]

I had the same problem and finally removed the 'fill fitting' from the side of the tailer and found that the hose had become detached from the fill fitting. Also think the 'vent' line was detached as well - long time ago now.... however, with both of them back in place worked fine.