Newbie Water Problem - Baffling!

[Kathy Mielke]

My husband and I are complete newbies at trailer camping having purchased our 2009 Airstream Classic used, retired this summer, and headed out on the road. We've had our share of early-on mishaps and while the learning curve has been steep, we've loved the freedom of trailer camping.

Our understanding is the municipal water intake hook-up fills the plumbing lines in the trailer with fresh water so water is available at all the outlets (sinks, toilet and shower). We also understand the fresh water holding tank has to be hooked up separately at the holding tank intake pipe if we want to fill that tank with water. To use the water in the holding tank, the pump must be engaged. Are our assumptions correct or do we misunderstand?

Now for the question that has us stumped: when we hook-up the "muni" water supply with the fresh water intake pipe, within a few minutes, water starts running out the intake pipe of the fresh water holding tank. Could there be a valve we cannot find to close this off...or a check valve that may be stuck open to the holding tank? If so, where is this located in the 2009 Classic? How many gallons does the fresh water holding tank hold? Is this something easily fixed (by us) or do you recommend taking the trailer to a dealer to have the issue resolved? (Neither of us are particularly handy.)

Two other considerations: 1.) before going out, we installed a pressure regulator on the fresh water hose, and 2.) first time out we had to replace the check valve on the "muni" water line coming into the trailer as it broke and sprayed water all over the interior. (The replaced check valve is located in the access area at the bottom of the closet, along the outside wall.)

Please help! Thank you very much!

Kathy and Dan

[Bigventure]

Our understanding is the municipal water intake hook-up fills the plumbing lines in the trailer with fresh water so water is available at all the outlets (sinks, toilet and shower). We also understand the fresh water holding tank has to be hooked up separately at the holding tank intake pipe if we want to fill that tank with water. To use the water in the holding tank, the pump must be engaged. Are our assumptions correct or do we misunderstand?

You are almost correct. You would not have to hook up the fresh water tank. Just unlock the fill door and fill the tank. Everything else is correct.





Now for the question that has us stumped: when we hook-up the "muni" water supply with the fresh water intake pipe, within a few minutes, water starts running out the intake pipe of the fresh water holding tank. Could there be a valve we cannot find to close this off...or a check valve that may be stuck open to the holding tank? If so, where is this located in the 2009 Classic? How many gallons does the fresh water holding tank hold? Is this something easily fixed (by us) or do you recommend taking the trailer to a dealer to have the issue resolved? (Neither of us are particularly handy.)

I assume the fresh tank is full, so he pump would be the check valve on the supply line. There are check valves within it. The muni water connects after the pump on the trailer side. Your water pump needs cleaned and lubed. You being not very handy will have to take it in. Me being handy fixed this issue at a campground with very limited tools.

[nrgtrakr]

Another version of the story about water coming out of the fresh water holding tank when hooked up to city water. The basic idea of all of this should be in the owners manual if it came with one.
Yes the pump is supposed to have a check valve on it, and sometimes will also have a manual valve, this prevents water from back flowing through the pump into the fresh water holding tank. Check valves sometimes go bad, or as mentioned above, can be dirty alowing flow in both directions. If it has a manual valve on either side of the pump, close it and see what happens when connected to city water.

[Morgan guy]

I have a 27' 2007 Classic and it has a built-in pressure regulator on the fresh water hose connector. I would think yours does also. I agree with the previous posts about the bad check valve on the pump.

[tjdonahoe]

The check valve is built into the water pump, replace the pump ...

[Mrjkq]

I agree with Morgan Guy on both issues. Airstream has a build in water pressure regulator, so you do not need to connect another one. The only way water could be coming out of your fresh water tank is by backing up through the water pump & into that fresh water tank. As Big Adventure stated the city water line comes in after the water pump meaning it bypasses it so that means the check valve in the pump is faulty & is letting city water reverse through the pump & into the fresh water tank causing an overflow.

[Bigventure]

There is one other thing that could be going on. You are connecting the hose to the sewer flusher instead of the muni water and water is coming out the black tank.

[silver.villa]

Sorry to hear about your dilemma. Did it ever work correctly with city water connected?

I also agree with everyone that the problem is the check valve in the fresh water pump. Maybe try and cycle the fresh water pump a few times to see if that breaks loose the check valve.

[NY24]

I would recommend that you both attended an RV Boot Camp. Escapees RV Club does a wonderful two day Boot Camp (Usually Friday afternoon ~ Sunday noon) that does an excellent job of demystifying the complexities of modern RVs. Other organizations also run RV Boot Camps. In a short period of time, you (and about 200 other "newbies") will learn just about all there is to know to be a safe RVer. Mistakes made with RVs are often expensive (and sometimes dangerous). After completing a Boot Camp, you will be a safer, more knowledgable RVer. You'll also get to meet lots of other newbies and see lots of different RVs.