Noticed a leak at the back of the trailer when using 12v pump from fresh water tank. It virtually emptied my 60 gallon tank in a couple of days. I thought it was a valve problem of my pump so when I got back home I replaced the pump. Still doing it. Any thoughts?

The check valve on the city water hookup is cocked to the side or broken. It is the check valve that lets you build water pressure.If you turn on the water pump and go out and look it will probably be squirting water. JMHO

Mine does that from time to time. When I notice it happening I just screw the garden hose on and run the sink for a second or two. That has so far always reseated the leaking valve.

Itchey Feet: Exactly! That is also what I think. Where is that valve? All the waterline that i can see doesn't have a check valve. Is it in the external plate?

Yes, it is right under the screen at the hook up. It may be stuck, or broken, as they are a cheap design. You likely need to replace it, but for temporary fix, any plug that screws into a garden hose will work.Jerry

look at the city water inlet here you can see the check valve in the inlet City Water Fill Inlet Flange Brass with Check Valve

Freshwater Tank Backflow out City Water Inlet | Good Sam Community

13 Replies

4x4van
Explorer III
May 03, 2019
cavie wrote:
Wolfman Jacques wrote:
Noticed a leak at the back of the trailer when using 12v pump from fresh water tank. It virtually emptied my 60 gallon tank in a couple of days. I thought it was a valve problem of my pump so when I got back home I replaced the pump. Still doing it. Any thoughts?

It was a valve problem in the pump. Check valve was stuck pump is fine. You need city water to get it unstuck. Never run the pump while on city water. That's how it gets stuck in the first place. The pump can be easily be taken apart and cleaned out if the problem continues.
No, it isn't the check valve in the pump. It is the check valve at the city water hookup. :S
opnspaces
Navigator III
May 01, 2019
True the valve is in the center of the housing under the screen. But don't just push the valve in manually. The sealing washer gets dislodged and the valve ruined in very post I've ever read about someone doing that. It is much safer to just screw on the garden hose and run water through the valve. The water pressure opens the valve evenly, and the flow washes out any debris that might be caught in it.
Itchey_Feet
Explorer
May 01, 2019
Wolfman, on the city water fitting, take out the screen in the fitting, it is in the center of the housing.
Dave_H_M
Explorer II
Apr 30, 2019
I keep one of those elchepo garden hose in line shut off valves in my fitting pile to take care of that temporarily if I have that happen again. ;)
cavie
Explorer
Apr 30, 2019
Wolfman Jacques wrote:
Noticed a leak at the back of the trailer when using 12v pump from fresh water tank. It virtually emptied my 60 gallon tank in a couple of days. I thought it was a valve problem of my pump so when I got back home I replaced the pump. Still doing it. Any thoughts?

It was a valve problem in the pump. Check valve was stuck pump is fine. You need city water to get it unstuck. Never run the pump while on city water. That's how it gets stuck in the first place. The pump can be easily be taken apart and cleaned out if the problem continues.
Bobbo
Explorer III
Apr 30, 2019
Happened to me a few years ago. I went to a big box hardware store and bought a garden hose shut-off valve. I screwed that valve into the shore water inlet and turned it off. That got me back home. (I was on a 4 week camping trip.) After getting home, I pulled the shore water inlet out and replaced the check valve.
Dutch_12078
Explorer III
Apr 30, 2019
If the line from the inlet is easily accessible, an inline check valve can be installed.

(Just one example...)
SeaTech Check Valve - 1/2 CTS
Dennis_M_M
Explorer
Apr 30, 2019
I took that stinkin' little plastic check valve out and put in a manual valve after I lost an entire tank of fresh water on an overnight stop many years ago. A bit of a PIA to switch to the pump if the park water shuts off, but otherwise works great.
shastagary
Explorer
Apr 30, 2019
look at the city water inlet here you can see the check valve in the inlet City Water Fill Inlet Flange Brass with Check Valve
MFL
Nomad II
Apr 30, 2019
Yes, it is right under the screen at the hook up. It may be stuck, or broken, as they are a cheap design. You likely need to replace it, but for temporary fix, any plug that screws into a garden hose will work.

Jerry