Fresh water leak

[Jamescaldwel]

Fresh water tank in 2011 flying cloud has a pin hole leak. How do I repair it ?

[uncle_bob]

Hi

First question might be: How did it get the pinhole leak? If it's road debris that's one thing. If it is something like a screw through the tank (I've had that problem, but not on an Airstream) there may be other staples / screws .... Fixing them one at a time is not fun. I've been there and done that.

Bob

[dbj216]

Greetings JamesCaldwel: Welcome to the Airstream Forums. I have found hundreds of folks that have had Airstream problems like mine and offered helpful advice.

You have a newer trailer. It is highly unusual for it to develop a "pinhole" leak. I worked in a rotomolding factory where every tank was pressure tested for leaks. This is a common practice, and very effective. I doubt it was leaking from day one.

So tell us more about this pinhole leak. Maybe it was punctured with a sharp object like uncle_bob suggests. Your tank is protected from road debris by the tank pan underneath. The tank pan likely hold up the fresh water tank. Have you visually watched water dripping from the side or bottom of the tank? Difficult to do I imagine.

My 86 (ya, completely different) had a fresh water plumbing leak below the floor, and above the tank. Oh great! This leak appeared as a fresh water tank leak. I had to drop the tank to fix the plumbing leak. The 30 year old tank was in good shape and will likely last another 30 years. See photo.

Your fresh water tank is likely made from polyethylene material. This is a thermoplastic material. It is weldable. It is possible to heat the pinhole to near melting, add a bit of polyethylene, and the tank is repaired. Adhesives are less effective, but there are some out there that people use.

David

[Shacksman]

If you can get at the hole, take a flat screwdriver and heat it red hot and just carefully move the plastic around the hole till it's filled in.

[dbj216]

That will work shacksman. I wish I had thought of it. I have read some folks use a soldering iron to do the same thing.

David

[Boxite]

Are you certain it's a pin-hole leak in a tank..??? and not a loose clamp on a hose at the drain....? or some other fitting issue?
Exactly how does the leak manifest itself?

(I'm not saying it's improbable.... with the number of rivet-tails, loose screws, and metal-filings and cuttings found beneath floors, inside cabinets, behind walls.... a tank rubbing/vibrating against such trash can eventually penetrate the tank.... something that Airstream should have to be held accountable-for despite the expired warranty-period, in my opinion since that would be a clear manufacturing defect.)