Yup... Stateline RV is only a few hours drive from our next campsite where we will be for three weeks in NH. Thanks for the info. If we get into trouble we can head there pretty painlessly.
Hi Mike... I guess that is about the only logical explanation huh? The toilet valve seems fine now with no visible or audible leakage.... but maybe last night it was stuck somehow.
It was a real shocker to wake up to I'll tell you that. I stood there looking at it with my mouth hanging open for a good long while before I snapped to and thought...Turn off the water outside!...drain the tank!!! Luckily I woke up early on and it did not flood out the whole floor of the trailer.
I guess I will have to keep an eye on the water outlet in there.
I like wet baths - more free space for living. Now you've just given me one more reason to like them.... the shower drain is a floor drain too.
I think if it had been anything else BUT the flush valve open it wouldn't have been CLEAR water. Glad you caught it so fast.
Paula
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Our 2002 Bambi has a shutoff valve for the flush (fresh) water for the toilet. That valve is behind the toilet and hard to see, but perhaps you have one also. Since your gremlin only comes at night, you could turn that valve (if you have it) off while sleeping.
If your onboard pressure regulator is not functioning properly, you can buy an external one until a repair is possible. For example, check out "water regulators & gauges" on Camping World's website. You should be able to find something similar at a local RV supply. If not, we have had good luck having Camping World express ship to quite remote locations.
Our 2002 Bambi has a shutoff valve for the flush (fresh) water for the toilet. That valve is behind the toilet and hard to see, but perhaps you have one also. Since your gremlin only comes at night, you could turn that valve (if you have it) off while sleeping.
If your onboard pressure regulator is not functioning properly, you can buy an external one until a repair is possible. For example, check out "water regulators & gauges" on Camping World's website. You should be able to find something similar at a local RV supply. If not, we have had good luck having Camping World express ship to quite remote locations.
Tim! I just looked and I do believe you have given us a band aid until we can get this fixed for real! Looks like there is a shut off valve back there (and your right it's hard to see unless you really stick your face way back in there...which obviously you wouldn't normally!)
We actually do have an external pressure regulator... but maybe something is so jacked up in the system at this point it is beyond helping.
Thanks much for the tip on the shut off. Now at least we can leave for the day without having potty leakage stress! Lol!
the Sureflo water connection has a pressure regulator made into it, you should not get water pressure from the city water at greater than 40-50 psi. The toilet supply valve on the toilet is the most likely problem. Do you have a black water spray made into the tank? If so that could be leaking and cause the same symptoms.
The fresh water tank problem is usually the check valve in the water pump.
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Sounds like you either had something stuck in the ball valve that opens when you step on the pedal, or your flush valve (connected to the pedal) is faulty. I would have the valve assemble replaced under warranty.
Your bowl is probably a Sea-Land (Dometic) and should carry a 3 year warranty. This is NOT an Airstream-specific part or warranty issue, so you might want to seek out a qualified mobile RV tech who is Dometic certified to correct your problem.
You can contact Dometic (# should be in your manual) or check their web site for more onfo in locating an authorized repair facility.
Hmmm - looks like you may have a general water system problem.
IF the pressure regulator for the city water is malfunctioning and the city water pressure is 70 lbs psi, then this excessive pressure could have damaged some of the toilet seals as well as the pressure regulator/check valve on the 12 V pump.
Generally, these RV systems don't like more than 45 lbs. psi on all of the components.
If the water pump was damaged, then it definitely will let the city water "blow by" and enter the water tank (this is the only other way water could enter the tank unless YOU fill it!)
Question - when NOT hooked up to city water, does your water pump bring the system up to pressure - i.e. does it turn on & shut off & stay off until you open a faucett?
Yes, this is definitely a warranty issue - although we can't imagine it would take that LONG to get a pump as they are a readily available, off the shelf item, stocked by any decent marine chandlery or rv store.
If we find the magic trailer genie, we'll send your way . . . .
Our toilet is manufactured by Thetford... and I will try cleaning the seal area as suggested by 2air. The black tank was definitely full so that seal must not be closing properly all the time. We will just turn the water off at night/when we leave until we get the pedal mechanism fixed.
I will pull out the manual tomorrow morning and see what else I can pin down as far as fixes and/or repair service info under warranty.
We have known for some time that we needed our water pump replaced (for that fresh water fill problem) and tried to have it done while in for service in MA but as I said above after two weeks of being in the shop they claimed the pump was still on backorder so it never got taken care of. We just alternate back and forth between using the fresh water on pump when it starts to fill up and then going back to the city flow when we get the tank emptied out. I prefer the city flow when possible just because the dang pump is SO freakin' loud. I feel like we must be drivin' our neighbors nuts when we run that pump. It sounds like a jack hammer outside the trailer. This is why I don't run off the pump at night... to save our fellow campers the noise pollution from our water pump!
Thanks everyone for your input on this. You all are amazing. We are still learning the ropes here and you guys are invaluable. I hope I can turn it back around someday to help some folks out on here too.
In response to WhiteLight... "Question - when NOT hooked up to city water, does your water pump bring the system up to pressure - i.e. does it turn on & shut off & stay off until you open a faucett?"
To add to what I wrote above explaining how incredibly LOUD the pump is (we have never been sure if the noise was "normal" since this is our first trailer) the water pump does deliver decent pressure BUT when all faucets are off it does this weird hiccupy-burp type noise every 20 minutes or so. Not sure if it is supposed to be doing that either. I wish I knew more about this stuff. I suppose I am learning right now though...are'nt I??!
Ohhhh I can tell you too... I was mad enough to chew glass that day when we went to pick the trailer up from the repair shop. They told us all work was done (aside from the water pump on backorder that is...ummm yeah, right) and we paid, picked it up and drove two hours away to realize they had not fixed anything. We had an electrical problem which they did not fix which was a priority. So we drove allll the way back and spent the rest of the day sitting around only for them to say "We can't figure out what is wrong... it's going to be up to you to pin it down." We have since figured out what we think is going on with the electrical short and have a band aid in place until we land in Jackson Center to get it fixed for real. The service tech was a real snappy smarty pants too. I am not going to name names... but keep your eye on the ball if you ever go in for repair work in Eastern MA.
I haven't read the whole thread, but until you get the issue straightend out, it would be a good idea to turn off the water valve to the toilet when not in use.
Bethany - that "burping" from your water pump indicates that either the pump is defective (its internal pressure regulator isn't "holding water" to speak) OR you have a leak somewhere in the water system.
Not all 12V pumps are loud - a lot depends on the make & how/where it is installed.
When you arrive at the "mothership", perhaps upgrade to s Shurflo or Flojet Smart sensor pump - these pumps adjust the motor speed based on your system's water pressure. We installed this type on both our boat & '74 Sovereign & were quite satisfied with their performance & quietness.
Also, with this type of pump you don't require an accumulator tank - sometimes, 12V pumps (of the regular variety) "hammer" the water system if an accumulator tank is not installed (do you know if you have one?) (This accumulator tank "holds" an amount of water, at pressure. When a faucett is opened, the water in the accumulator tank acts as a cushion to the demand on the pump)
Another item that helps the pump noise is a soundproofing under the pump. Many trailers have the pump installed directly on the plywood floor - the wood amplifies the sound. We've used hard rubber grommets/washers between the pump feet & the floor plus have used a hard blue "rubber" 1/4" thick sheet under the pump installation to baffle the sound. (regardless of what is used, the pump has to be securly mounted to the surface)
Anyway, be sure to turn the city water off before heading out or off to sleep! We really don't want to see a post about how much water an A/S trailer can hold!
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