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chiefward's avatar
chiefward
Explorer
Sep 19, 2014

Water pipe broke, flooded underpinning

While camping this past week, I woke up Thursday am with the sound of water running. Whet out and cut off the water and had a small lake under the trailer. I traced the water line from the hookups side, thru the basement, down the door side to the rear kitchen and water heater. Problem appears to be on the door side in the underpinning. No water in the trailer but I had water running out of underpinning at several points under the trailer, even places where no water pipes.

There was a previous repair at the wheel well from a blow out with a water pipe repair. (I think this is where the pipe broke or couplin came loose.)I can fix this fairly easily but I need suggestions on how to dry out the insulation in the rest of the underpinning. I dripped water most of the way home so most of the standing water has drained but i;m sure the insulation is soaked.

7 Replies

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  • Dave_H_M's avatar
    Dave_H_M
    Explorer II
    Sep 19, 2014
    I think you are dreaming if you thing you can huff and puff in there and dry things back to original.

    Just me though.
  • ScottG's avatar
    ScottG
    Nomad
    Sep 19, 2014
    The fiberglass insulation will take so long to dry naturally that you will have mold issues. Regardless of how much work it is, you need to remove it immediately.
  • chiefward's avatar
    chiefward
    Explorer
    Sep 19, 2014
    That's what I had in mine. There is only about and inch or two of space between the underside of the floor and the underliner with insulation in between. I thought I would cut a small repairable hole in the underliner at the rear and another at the front and blow air thru for a couple of days. I have a small leaf blower that should work. I do not camp in really cold weather so all I want to do is prevent a foul smell and hopefully prevent the floor from rotting.
  • time2roll's avatar
    time2roll
    Nomad
    Sep 19, 2014
    Just get some air circulating in there and you will be fine.
    Rent a blower or use a shop-vac to blow air 48 hours.
  • nomad297's avatar
    nomad297
    Explorer
    Sep 19, 2014
    chiefward wrote:
    "If it is fiberglass batt-type insulation, you have to replace it. Once it gets wet, it is of no use.

    Bruce "

    That's not an option for me. To do this, I would have to remove four holding tanks to get to the insulation.


    It might make no difference depending on the type of weather you camp in. The fiberglass that gets wet basically matts and compresses, giving it a zero R-Factor. If you get it dried out quick enough, you shouldn't get too much smell from it.

    Bruce
  • chiefward's avatar
    chiefward
    Explorer
    Sep 19, 2014
    "If it is fiberglass batt-type insulation, you have to replace it. Once it gets wet, it is of no use.

    Bruce "

    That's not an option for me. To do this, I would have to remove four holding tanks to get to the insulation.
  • nomad297's avatar
    nomad297
    Explorer
    Sep 19, 2014
    If it is fiberglass batt-type insulation, you have to replace it. Once it gets wet, it is of no use.

    Bruce

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