Frozen Fresh Water Tank January 20, 2018, 04:14:05 pm Just got back from a 6 week hiatus and left my son's RV here in Arkansas. Of course, we got a record cold snap and it was not winterized. It was not hooked up to water or electricity and the black/gray tanks were both emptied before we left. However, the freshwater was almost full for whatever reason.Just came back and inspected..no water on the inside..nothing under the sinks. However the outside storage hatch under the fridge had a lot of moisture. I saw the water drain valve there as well. The inside top of the storage area has some moisture as well. I'm guessing the fresh water tank in 2003 26.5 is behind/under stove/fridge area? I have not encountered any other moisture inside just the outside storage area. Looking for recommendations / precautions...I think the fresh water is still frozen so will give a few more days to thaw plus put in heater as well.Thanks for any help and forgive my newbie ignorance.John
Re: Frozen Fresh Water Tank Reply #1 – January 21, 2018, 06:08:03 am ASAP! Empty the storage compartment. Attach a short drain hose to reach outside. Open the drain valve. This will let as much water as possible drain outside the coach.Remove access panel to fresh water pump and under refrigerator so you can soak up leaking water.
Re: Frozen Fresh Water Tank Reply #2 – January 21, 2018, 02:40:35 pm Which 26.5' floorplan, John? If it's a midbath, the water tank is against the outer wall, under the counter between stove and sink. You can see it by pulling out the drawers.
Re: Frozen Fresh Water Tank Reply #3 – January 21, 2018, 03:49:41 pm John,I live in Arkansas, and it was certainly cold enough for long enough to have caused a lot of potential trouble for you. Optimistically, if the moisture is coming from the fresh water tank, it may not have been damaged. Because of the south wind and all of the moisture in the air the last couple of days, it may be moisture condensing on the cold tank and running off of it. I have big rocks flat rocks at my house and some have puddles just from the condensation. If you're putting heat into the RV now, I'd suggest you put towels or bowls under your sink traps in the kitchen and lav to catch any water that was in the traps as they thaw in case they have cracked or broken. I'd also keep as close an eye as possible on all of your indoor plumbing if it was not drained, as it thaws out, including the water pump and water heater so you can respond to plumbing damage as soon as you can. Keep in mind sometimes problems aren't apparent right away. I hope this is helpful and good luck!
Re: Frozen Fresh Water Tank Reply #4 – January 21, 2018, 04:15:37 pm I have no knowledge on other models but on my 30', which has the fresh water tank under the queen bed, there is a drain valve plumbed into the outflow line. Opening this valve will allow the tank contents to drain to the outside [no hose needed]. I recommend that everyone know where and be able to access their drain valves in case of a scenario such as this.
Re: Frozen Fresh Water Tank Reply #5 – January 21, 2018, 08:29:03 pm It is a mid bath. Found the water pump...behind the false door under the sink. Looks like there was some moisture in the area that was wet to the touch but no puddles. I also took out the two drawers and could see the top of water tank and inlet hose. I could visually see the tank was abou half full. I saw no leakage on top of the tank.I emptied the storage compartment and opened up the valve to totally empty the fresh water tank. I removed all items and toweled out any excess water that was in there as well. I could not see any fresh leaks vs what I found yesterday. The compartment top wall was moist. Picked up several DampRids and put a large one in the storage compartment, 1 by the water pump and one where the drawers came out by the fresh water tank. Once I feel dried out, I'll need to probably test where the leakage came from...I will rely on advice from you kind folks on the forum.Thanks,John 1 Likes
Re: Frozen Fresh Water Tank Reply #6 – January 21, 2018, 08:34:47 pm Quote from: rodneyhelfrich - January 21, 2018, 06:08:03 amASAP! Empty the storage compartment. Attach a short drain hose to reach outside. Open the drain valve. This will let as much water as possible drain outside the coach.Remove access panel to fresh water pump and under refrigerator so you can soak up leaking water.There is an access panel under the refrigerator?
Re: Frozen Fresh Water Tank Reply #7 – January 21, 2018, 09:09:57 pm "However, the freshwater was almost full for whatever reason."This is what you said in your first post... however, in your second post you said it was 'about half full'. If both of these statements are correct then I'd say your leak source was/is the fresh water tank. No?
Re: Frozen Fresh Water Tank Reply #8 – January 21, 2018, 09:27:23 pm Quote from: Lazy Bones - January 21, 2018, 09:09:57 pm"However, the freshwater was almost full for whatever reason."This is what you said in your first post... however, in your second post you said it was 'about half full'. If both of these statements are correct then I'd say your leak source was/is the fresh water tank. No? I believe the fresh water was close to full when we left. My visual observation today may have been closer to 2/3 full. I did release some water yesterday via the valve but waited till today to let it all out. Yes, there is less water in the tank post freeze. I will check the access panel under the fridge tomorrow...can at least check for moisture... 1 Likes
Re: Frozen Fresh Water Tank Reply #9 – January 22, 2018, 04:53:10 am Jvanedore,"There is an access panel under the refrigerator? " I did not know if you had a RB or a MB. I have '88 MB. Under my refrigerator is an inside storage compartment. '93 MB may or may not have the coach battery there instead, newer ones do. My '88 MB panel to the tank is held by only brads, no glue. I pried it out with a mini wonder bar,cut a notch to clear the propane line, and removed it to access the tank space for installation of the solar comptroller. I re-installed it with #4 brass screws.
Re: Frozen Fresh Water Tank Reply #10 – January 22, 2018, 09:38:19 am John, with water in the area near the pump, your likely leak sources would be the pump, the strainer, any of those multiple connections, or the tank itself. Here is how to check the first three.1. Dry everything out thoroughly, including the outside storage hatch.2. Get some plain white paper towels, and spread or wad them below the front (black) part of the pump, beneath or around the strainer, and around every fitting you can get to. Put paper towels in the outside storage hatch. They will show the presence of a leak quickly, and help you localize it to one place.3. Put about 1/4 tank of water in the fresh water tank.4. Do not turn the pump on yet. Rather, wait an hour or so. Most likely, everything will stay dry, but a failure at the hose connection to the tank would show at this point, as would a leak in the low parts of the tank.5. Close all faucets and turn on the pump, immediately looking underneath for any sign of a leak as the pump builds pressure in the system. Keep looking until the pump shuts off. At this point, feel all the paper towels for any sign of wetness. You will have water in the line from the tank to the strainer, from the strainer to the pump, and past the pump going toward the faucets.6. If all seems dry, open a faucet to bleed the air out. That will put water in the entire system, including the trap. 7. With water now in the trap under the sink, wrap it with a paper towel or two.8. You are now in a waiting game. Let it sit for a day with the water on and water in the tank and traps, then check all the paper towels and floor for any sign of a leak. 9. Still no leaks? Time to fill the fresh water tank the rest of the way. This would reveal a leak higher on the tank.Here is what I am expecting. The tank and the hoses are fairly pliable and are not likely to fail from a freeze. The pump and strainer are less resilient, and they would be my bet for a leak. My second bet would be the sink trap. Third bet would be one of the cose connections. Hope for one of the last two - they would be an easy repair.Good luck!Ken F in NM
Re: Frozen Fresh Water Tank Reply #11 – January 22, 2018, 09:53:44 am Kenneth has some great ideas. I can only add 1 small piece of advice to his. Use the blue shop paper towels rather than the white. When wet they change to a darker blue and much easier to see. 1 Likes
Re: Frozen Fresh Water Tank Reply #12 – January 22, 2018, 05:11:55 pm Wow...thanks for the amazing ideas...I will try 1-8 and blue towels in the next couple of days. Much warmer week 50-60s! I'll post status once I have it...Again...wonderful forum....hopefully I can share some tips someday once I have some! 1 Likes
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