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Water leak in floor
Well after a couple days chasing water drip under 92  26 mid bath I found it. Appears a screw finally rubbed through the old quest line,
Problem it's between water heater and bathroom. There is chase where the lines run, but how do you replace them?
Access hole at point of shower valve nothing at floor level. Can't tell if water lines run from pump under floor or behind the bathroom on exterior wall.
Has anyone done this and can give some advice.
1992 Mid Bath
Re: Water leak in floor
Reply #1 –
Hi 92New  (Stan);  My only experience is with my '99TK, and a 2001 MB. Your water heater is on the passenger side under the closet, and your kitchen sink, bathroom sink and shower are on the driver side. There is a chase under the floor for cold water going to the heater, and hot water coming back. Cold water pipes for the shower and toilet should be under the vanity cabinet, to turn aft behind the toilet and to under the shower.  Your gray pipes, the gray Quest type should be replaced with PEX'A'.   Stiff but slightly bendable.  If you can't get a new piece into the channel, you could get PEX'B' a more bendable version under there.  So the leak, for sure is in the floor channel?  This article details Polybutylene piping.  Here's Why You Should Get Your Quest Piping Replaced Immediately   You might be able to get semi flexible copper piping into that chase under the floor. Of course you could open up the floor also, if you had to. (Time for new vinyl?)
    Another cross aisle channel is for the propane pipe (copper) from the tank which should be behind the passenger front wheel, to go from the water heater, to the oven/stove, and refrigerator.  I seem to remember that the chase crosses the aisle near the aft area of the water tank?  
    Maybe someone here with an older MB can fill in a few blanks.   RonB
RonB (Bostick) living in San Diego
Original owner of "Bluebelle" a '99 TKB
Re: Water leak in floor
Reply #2 –
The right rear storage compartment has an access cover on the back side of the shower stall.
The pump is under the kitchen counter.  
Remove the kitchen drawer for top access to the Water tank.
The 12x12 panel the right side(vehicle front) of the power panel (originally screws or Velcro) and below the kitchen sink storage is removable to access the pump.
From the 12x12 panel you can see where the pipe goes., to the inside of the outside wall and straight back through the box under the toilet through the shower stall tunnel, to the rear storage Compartment access cover.   A long the way it taps off for the sinks, the toilet, and shower cold-water.
Then down through the Chase across to the Mr. and Mrs. Wardrobe.  Remove the wardrobe drawers to access the right side of the pipe.
At the drawers there is a forward branch to the swamp cooler and there is a rearward branch, there was a check valve, then the water heater.  The check valve was to prevent hot water from entering the swamp cooler.  Hot water is in the reverse direction, through the chase up to the shower Hot faucet, then back through the tunnels to the kitchen sink, then bathroom sink.

The check valve also caused short cycling of the water pump.  I removed the check valve and replaced it with 3 + feet of PEX tube (between hot water heater and the accumulator) and mounted an accumulator in the drawer cabinet on the right(vehicle rear) cabinet wall to end the short cycling pump and solve the inability to get air into the hot water heater through the winterizing kit.
Rodney
1988 Mid Bath
Re: Water leak in floor
Reply #3 –
Quote from: RonB  - 
Hi 92New  (Stan);  My only experience is with my '99TK, and a 2001 MB. Your water heater is on the passenger side under the closet, and your kitchen sink, bathroom sink and shower are on the driver side. There is a chase under the floor for cold water going to the heater, and hot water coming back. Cold water pipes for the shower and toilet should be under the vanity cabinet, to turn aft behind the toilet and to under the shower.  Your gray pipes, the gray Quest type should be replaced with PEX'A'.   Stiff but slightly bendable.  If you can't get a new piece into the channel, you could get PEX'B' a more bendable version under there.  So the leak, for sure is in the floor channel?  This article details Polybutylene piping.  Here's Why You Should Get Your Quest Piping Replaced Immediately   You might be able to get semi flexible copper piping into that chase under the floor. Of course you could open up the floor also, if you had to. (Time for new vinyl?)
    Another cross aisle channel is for the propane pipe (copper) from the tank which should be behind the passenger front wheel, to go from the water heater, to the oven/stove, and refrigerator.  I seem to remember that the chase crosses the aisle near the aft area of the water tank?  
    Maybe someone here with an older MB can fill in a few blanks.   RonB
Ron
Yep its in the floor. After testing water heater and reinstalling. Thought it was the tee to the old swamp cooler so replumbed that section. Last weekend had water under coach this time not in compartment. This weekend hooked to water at the house. Pulled out inspection camera and started looking. Found the leak caused by a screw protruding into chase close to water heater. It has been leaking for a long time from what I can tell. So now the fun begins. Will be using pex. I told Jodie it might be new floor time.
1992 Mid Bath
Re: Water leak in floor
Reply #4 –
Quote from: rodneyhelfrich  - 
The right rear storage compartment has an access cover on the back side of the shower stall.
The pump is under the kitchen counter.  
Remove the kitchen drawer for top access to the Water tank.
The 12x12 panel the right side(vehicle front) of the power panel (originally screws or Velcro) and below the kitchen sink storage is removable to access the pump.
From the 12x12 panel you can see where the pipe goes., to the inside of the outside wall and straight back through the box under the toilet through the shower stall tunnel, to the rear storage Compartment access cover.   A long the way it taps off for the sinks, the toilet, and shower cold-water.
Then down through the Chase across to the Mr. and Mrs. Wardrobe.  Remove the wardrobe drawers to access the right side of the pipe.
At the drawers there is a forward branch to the swamp cooler and there is a rearward branch, there was a check valve, then the water heater.  The check valve was to prevent hot water from entering the swamp cooler.  Hot water is in the reverse direction, through the chase up to the shower Hot faucet, then back through the tunnels to the kitchen sink, then bathroom sink.

The check valve also caused short cycling of the water pump.  I removed the check valve and replaced it with 3 + feet of PEX tube (between hot water heater and the accumulator) and mounted an accumulator in the drawer cabinet on the right(vehicle rear) cabinet wall to end the short cycling pump and solve the inability to get air into the hot water heater through the winterizing kit.

Is there access to tee off for toilet?
I found the small access at shower valve. So now will look in compartment on shower wall, if not one may need to make one.
I could just replace tubing in chase. My wife may get to pick out new flooring.
1992 Mid Bath
Re: Water leak in floor
Reply #5 –
Thanks Rodney, a great description.  I was unaware of the access panel from the port side storage compartment into the plumbing of the shower.  I was working on a 2001 MB renovating it for some friends. I remember replacing the cover across the back of the toilet with an easier to clean, slanted and more liquid tight panel. I recall the wiring being under there but was there another cover over the plumbing?  Or do I just not remember.  
    With an '88, do you have the polybutylene or have you (or previous owners) replaced with PEX?     RonB
RonB (Bostick) living in San Diego
Original owner of "Bluebelle" a '99 TKB
Re: Water leak in floor
Reply #6 –
RonB
Ours is still poly b. Will replace with pexA.
1992 Mid Bath
 
Re: Water leak in floor
Reply #8 –
Well, this project is done.  Found the hole in polyvinyl tubing. At some point in the past screws were screwed into the channel thus penetrating tubing. Culprit screw was 4 inches inside channel. So pulled flooring back found screw with aid of magnetic marble. Then found 3 more screws in channel. Will pull them out when I redo floor. This has evidently been leaking for years maybe decades. The screw was rusted to just a thin tip and the bottom of channel near wheel well is rotted. What a mess.
1992 Mid Bath