What is this leak?

[APevtPV]

I have come across this leak in my airstream. It is at the back, under the rear bathroom, to the left of center. It is a clear tube that pours water when we hook our hose up, and turn it on.

As you can see in the photo, there's two parts of this hose that look like they used to be connected. When I push up on the one that is dripping water (the one on the right), it jiggles the knob I have pictured. That knob is located in the back hatch, where the dump valves are.

Does anyone know what this is, and if it's hurting anything except our water bill?

[AWCHIEF]

Tha looks to be a high pressure relief valve set for 125 pounds. It could be frozen open with age or accumulated gunk.

[DremStremer]

That knob in your picture is a pressure relief valve. It protects the trailer plumbing from high campground water pressure. If the incoming water pressure is higher than what the valve is set for it will release water through the drain tube under your trailer. That is the water you see coming out. Maybe your valve is set to low, defective, or your water supply has really high pressure. The other tube under your trailer is most likely the low point drain for the plumbing. There should be a shutoff valve connected to it, and there is usually one for the cold and hot water pipes.

[A W Warn]

Originally Posted by AWCHIEF

Tha looks to be a high pressure relief valve set for 125 pounds. It could be frozen open with age or accumulated gunk.

It's 60 psi. The number stamped in the center is the setting, the note painted in red says 125 unless stamped otherwise.

If the water heater does not have a separate pressure relief, that one will also act to relieve over pressure in the event of a WH malfunction. I remember that the WH in the 1973 Excella I owned did not have a relief valve on the WH itself.

Regarding the leak, could the low point drain valve that is in the toilet area be open a bit?

[Gene]

Best to have a pressure reducer at the campground water spigot rather than at the trailer since some campgrounds have such high pressure it will blow the hose. So I'd eliminate the one under the trailer and get one to use with the water hoses.

I expect the leak is from a drain valve. If you have an owner's manual it should tell you where they are, though sometimes they don't tell you about all of them. If you don't have an owner's manual, check the Airstream website—some manuals are online.

Gene

[A W Warn]

Pressure relief and pressure regulator have different functions. Both are needed.

[Gene]

Now that I blew up the photos, I see the one on then left is drain tube. I have one like it under the water heater area with a valve inside the trailer utility storage door. The pressure relief numbers say it is 125 psi unless stamped differently and it is stamped 60. I suppose that is for the water heater and different than a water system pressure reducer. I should have looked more closely at the photos and not read some of the posts above.

Gene

[TomKirk]

This is what a pressure relief valve is supposed to do. If the valve is original, it may need to be replaced.

http://www.lowes.com/pd/ProPlumber-B...dapter/3679770

Look at the tag. See what the factory setting is. 125 PSI is way too high for any RV. You can adjust setting by unscrewing the cap. You should have a water pressure gauge when you do this.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Winters-I...M213/205962470

BTW - It's always a good idea to know city water PSI. In terms of PSI, you never really know what you're getting.

Tom

[tjwoods1]

Speaking of leaks, anyone know what might be causing a leak off these handles? Took it in the dealer once but they didn't seem to fix it.

[Slimchance79]

I had issues with both drain valves not closing and Watts pressure regulator leaking.

The drain valves needed the stems removed and washers replaced ( you will know if these need replacing if shutting off the valve does not finish with a smooth, progressive tensioning, and instead feels metallic and stiff).

The check valve was stuck open for me, just behind the pressure regulator, allowing tank water back into the regulator. I cut both out, installed a new check valve and intake pressure regulator at the hose line.

Works great and will likely make winterizing marginally easier. Always remember to blow the lines out with air; Gravity is not enough and will not work in certain places.

[Mikeyman]

I had the same problem as you, and did as Gene suggested - I removed the old malfunctioning relief valve and bought an in-line one that connected before the hose inlet for the trailer. Haven't had a problem in the last year.

[A W Warn]

The valve shown in the first photo in the first post in this thread is an in line pressure relief valve. It lets water flow outside when pressure reaches the set pressure point.
It is not a pressure regulator valve, which prevents water pressure from becoming to high by shutting off the water flow at the valve when it reaches a set pressure point.

This is a pressure regulator to protect a water hose.
http://odmrv.com/catalog/index.php?m...oducts_id=1540

This is pressure regulator that is already inside your Airstream trailer (or should be)
http://odmrv.com/catalog/index.php?m...roducts_id=845

These are different examples of a pressure relief valve. Some are plumed into the pipes, like the one shown in the photo, but more common is the one that is mounted on the water heater.
http://www.ebay.com/bhp/pressure-relief-valve

[tjwoods1]

Now look at this leak .... Getting worse when gray water tank and pump are in use.

[A W Warn]

Originally Posted by tjwoods1

Now look at this leak .... Getting worse when gray water tank and pump are in use.

What it looks like to me:
Something has cracked the valve, freezing or road debris.
You are going to have to replace that valve.

ps:
Someone has already replaced those valves. The original valve would have been one of these:
http://odmrv.com/catalog/index.php?m...roducts_id=533

I think these are a better choice for that location.

[CruizinDux]

Originally Posted by A W Warn

What it looks like to me:
Something has cracked the valve, freezing or road debris.
You are going to have to replace that valve.

ps:
Someone has already replaced those valves. The original valve would have been one of these:
http://odmrv.com/catalog/index.php?m...roducts_id=533

I think these are a better choice for that location.

Did you winterize or was it the dealer?

If this isn't the first trip for the year, I would suspect road debris. Personally I would fabricate some sort of metal guard. These are very exposed and I suspect will continue to have a target on them.

Even the FW tank drain has a (rinky dink) guard

Bob