Yet another problem has presented itself. I hope I run out of problems soon...I have been hearing my water pump run randomly for about a half a second here and there. So I started searching for leaks. There was a wet spot on the ground under my water heater. It's an atwood. I could see water slowly dripping out of the drain plug, so I tightened that thinking I fixed the problem. However the water pump is still doing its thing. The wet spot has returned under the water heater, the water is dripping from somewhere inside the water heater. I had the water heater off for about 12 hours and it was still leaking. It's has only dipped below freezing for a night or two around here. In afraid I may not have had the water heater on at that time. :/ I don't have time right now to investigate further. I'll have to wait until tomorrow. I'm. hoping it's not expensive to fix, but I'm fearing it might be. I'm feeling a little defeated at the moment. Also just found out my dog has to have an expensive surgery to removed a growth that could be cancer. Sorry. I'm just venting now....

When mine leaked it was also in cold temps. Look in back of the WH there should be two lines with fittings on them one for hot and one for cold. Wrap a paper towel around each one, and hand tighten the one that is wet. Let us know how you make out.

Could the water be dripping from the safety pop off valve at the top of the water heater. In the mean time turn the water pump off and only turn it on when you are using water.

I would remove the drain plug and put some teflon plumbers tape around it. That is, if you're unsure where it's leaking from. If you're sure it's not from the drain plug, you might have to remove the tank to find the leak. If it were mine, and there was a tank leak somewhere relatively flat on the tank surface, I'd just use a piece of Eternabond tape to seal it.The pump running like that does indicate a leak, and the water tank is the main suspect, but if you're sure it's not the tank, check behind the toilet for a leaking valve.

A little more info before I go to work...I noticed the wet spot on the ground this morning. The pump and water heater had been off all night. I turned them on so I could shower and get ready for work. When I left for work, I checked again and the wet spot seemed to be drying up. I could be mistaken but it seems like having te water heater turned on stopped or reduced the leak.

The chance of the water heater being damaged during a night time dip below freezing is slim. It takes an extended period below freezing to freeze a 6 gallon tank to the point of expansion and rupture. Multiple days below freezing with the heater not operating then you have a problem. The small diameter plumbing pipes, now that's a different story. They can freeze overnight at just below 32 degrees no problem. The pipes are likely PEX so they should be ok but the fittings will crack or push apart from the pipe connections. Check around elbows first, they always seem to be the first to let go.Fixing any plumbing leak with eternabond on the exterior of the tank or pipe is no real solution. The pressure in the plumbing system works against that sort of patch and failure is the likely outcome. A short term fix at best. I am sure someone has had success with external tape patching but it would be the exception.If you find something broken or split replace the part, everything you need is on the shelves at your local Home Depot and the parts are cheap. In the case of the tank it can be welded by a professional with the right equipment. An Atwood replacement tank with no attachments, just a bare bones tank, is around $200.00 Is there any other source of water in the area, a fridge overflow, a low point drain left slightly open, water dripping from the roof, a drain pipe under the shower pan? Investigate before spending money, I learned that lesson the hard (expensive) way.

I jinxed myself. Now I have a water heater problem.

xctraveler
Explorer
Dec 21, 2015
Haven't had to deal with plug in water heater tank in a while as we have On Demand water heater, but had 11 years experience with plastic plugs. I learned there are two different plugs! The threads are the same but one is tapered to make it easier to get started and the other - newer? - is straight and I found it a bear to get started which meant I was less likely to take it out and redo the teflon tape when it started to drip. Eventually I found a supply of the tapered plugs that lasted me until we sold the coach. needed one or two every year.
midasman
Explorer
Dec 21, 2015
Nobody mentioned the problem I had. Mine leaked hot OR cold. The white plastic plug in front didn't look good. I tried to take it out, and it came out in pieces! $2 and a new plug fixed it right up!
Bobbo
Explorer II
Dec 21, 2015
When mine did that, I finally found the leak. It was the shore water inlet dripping. Fortunately, no water inside the RV. It was all dripping onto the ground.

A garden hose plug got me home from the 2 week trip. Then a new back check valve for a permanent fix.
Gjac
Explorer III
Dec 21, 2015
Also check your toilet valve for a leak.
xctraveler
Explorer
Dec 20, 2015
One other thought about occasional pump operation. There is a check valve in the pump head to prevent water from flowing back through the pump when it is not pumping. If that has a slow leak, pressure would drop and the pump would activate. You would not see any water leaking anyplace.
RayChez
Explorer
Dec 20, 2015
zach477 wrote:
Jim@HiTek wrote:
There's another thing that causes the random pump operation...you know the two showers most RV's have?

If the gate valves are ON and the head valve is OFF, that could make the pump run periodically. Check both the bath tub shower head and the dog washer out in the wet basement compartment.

I always turn the shower water off completely otherwise it drips from the shower head.

The random pumping is definitely a lot less frequent now that I have stopped the WH from leaking.

It might have helped, but you still have a leak some where. The pump should not start if your lines are tight.
zach477
Explorer
Dec 20, 2015
Jim@HiTek wrote:
There's another thing that causes the random pump operation...you know the two showers most RV's have?

If the gate valves are ON and the head valve is OFF, that could make the pump run periodically. Check both the bath tub shower head and the dog washer out in the wet basement compartment.

I always turn the shower water off completely otherwise it drips from the shower head.

The random pumping is definitely a lot less frequent now that I have stopped the WH from leaking.
Jim
Explorer
Dec 19, 2015
There's another thing that causes the random pump operation...you know the two showers most RV's have?

If the gate valves are ON and the head valve is OFF, that could make the pump run periodically. Check both the bath tub shower head and the dog washer out in the wet basement compartment.
zach477
Explorer
Dec 19, 2015
Bobbo wrote:
I wonder if the drain plug was ALMOST tight and when it got cold out, the plug contracted allowing a slow seepage.

That must be it. I seems to be fine now. Although I still hear the water pump randomly turn on from time to time. At least now I can rule out leaky water heater.
Bobbo
Explorer II
Dec 16, 2015
I wonder if the drain plug was ALMOST tight and when it got cold out, the plug contracted allowing a slow seepage.