Hi all, We are slowly waking up our "new" Airstream and soon will have to check out the plumbing. The trailer plumbing has not been used in about 3-4 years. Is there anything specific we should do before we hook the water up to it the first time? Is there anything we should keep an eye out for when we hook the water up? Like places that leaks are most likely? I know we'll have to flush and disinfect everything, but first I just want to make sure it all works without leaks.
Second, the PO's disconnected the fresh water tank (over 20 years ago!) since they only camped where there were water hook ups. I will eventually need to reconnect the pump (which does run when the switch is turned on) and fresh water tank back to the main plumbing system using a hose section so that we can dry camp if we want to. I see that there are several other sections of hoses connecting plumbing around the pump. Should I replace all of these before hooking up the water? It seems to me that old hoses = chance of leaks or worse yet major hose failure. Am I right?
There appears to be a filter in the inlet hose to the pump. Is there anything special to finding a replacement? Or will anyone from a camping supply place work?
And since the water pump hasn't been used in many, many years, is there anything I would need to do to ensure it is still OK? As far as I can tell it is still the original
1966 pump! Could the seals be dried out (and thus leak) or could they still be OK? Should I consider replacing it with a new pump as preventative maintenance? Or are these pumps rebuildable?
Finally, we have been told that the toilet leaks when "flushed" (flush valve?), but haven't confirmed that yet. We were told that the leaking water was fresh water, not "black" water. Since our '66 has the "built in" Thetford toilet, the leak was down into the belly pan, not onto the floor. The PO's put a "water management" system in place to direct the leak safely out of the trailer. We'd like to stop the leak altogether. Is this type of Thetford toilet or just the flush valve repairable or replaceable? Any other advice? I guess this is one thing we'll have to check out thoroughly as soon as we get the water hooked up.
Sorry for all the questions lumped into one post, it just seems that they are all interrelated. Reply's, opinions, and answers to any or all of our questions are appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Joe