Forum Discussion

dukenukem's avatar
dukenukem
Explorer
Apr 29, 2016

Problem filling fresh water tank

I have a 2005 American Tradition and removed the winter cover and started getting it ready to travel. Everything worked without issue last year, winterized it and went to fill the fresh water tank and water will not go into the tank. Started with the fill outlet on the side of the motorhome and a few gallons go in then water comes out of fill pipe and the small vent tube next to fill pipe. Then hooked hose up to city water connection and switched valve to fill the tank and same thing happened. Can follow the fill pipe underneath until it enters the top of the tank (can't reach it though) and all looks well. Poured hot water into the fill pipe to see how far down the water flows to determine if there was a blockage in the pipe and it was warm all the way to the tank inlet.

All worked fine when put away for winter. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Class A
  • tinkerer's avatar
    tinkerer
    Explorer
    Apr 30, 2016
    My experience with my Discovery was that make sure when you fill from the normal water hookup make sure sure side fill cap is open. The little screen vents don't allow enough air out especially as they age. Make sure you follow the direction as to which way you turn your valve to fill the tank. Also my side was assembled backward as spews water back when you fill from the side with a hose. Remedy was to make a short 2 ft hose with no male end and thread it in the side fill hole until you use up the 2 ft. This got me around the backwards gooseneck. I also use this small hose to put chlorine into the system from time to time. Good luck. Make sure you check all of the simple fixes before you do something major!;)
  • PaulJ2's avatar
    PaulJ2
    Explorer
    Apr 30, 2016
    My other trailer would do that some times on a fill up. I found that the small vent tube hose to the tank had a sag/dip in it that filled with water splashing in from the tank. Take a drinking straw and blow into into it clearing the water out, then try it.
    Mine worked fine when new but got worse with age because of the plastic tube sagging more i believe.
  • Dutch_12078's avatar
    Dutch_12078
    Explorer II
    Apr 30, 2016
    Try slowing down the flow rate while filling. If that helps, then one of the "dip tube" adapters would likely help you fill faster. A "dip tube" is simple garden hose flexible tubing extension the fits down the fill hose to keep water from backing up when the flow rate is too high.
  • rk911's avatar
    rk911
    Explorer
    Apr 29, 2016
    DrewE wrote:
    Sounds to me like perhaps there's some water that's stuck in a dip in the vent tube if indeed the tank is empty as you believe. Further filling should cause it to blow out, I would imagine.


    or ice. if you're in a climate that sees ice try filling with some warmer water and see if that clears the blockage.
  • rgatijnet1's avatar
    rgatijnet1
    Explorer III
    Apr 29, 2016
    Try opening the drain underneath your coach and see how much water comes out of there when you are trying to fill your tank. Don't be surprised if water comes out the drain before you even try to fill your tank.
  • crasster's avatar
    crasster
    Explorer II
    Apr 29, 2016
    Are you SURE it's not full? I know it sounds stupid to hear this but if it's going to the inlet it sure sounds like it. Try running your water pump without any shore power and see if you can run your sinks/showers.
  • DrewE's avatar
    DrewE
    Explorer II
    Apr 29, 2016
    Sounds to me like perhaps there's some water that's stuck in a dip in the vent tube if indeed the tank is empty as you believe. Further filling should cause it to blow out, I would imagine.
  • dukenukem's avatar
    dukenukem
    Explorer
    Apr 29, 2016
    Tank is definitely empty (I had that same thought). Can see the end of the tank and no water also knocking on the tank has that empty hollow sound.

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