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whjco's avatar
whjco
Explorer
Jan 31, 2021

Water leak in trailer??

We have a 2019 Cherokee 274vfk and we've had it for over two years. Up until this week we've always been able to use a utility water hookup. Because of cold weather we've been using the fresh water tank and water pump.

About every 30 minutes I'll hear the water pump "burp" like it's building pressure which has me concerned that there may be a leak somewhere in the fresh water system. I've inspected the plumbing everywhere I can access it and can find no sign of a leak. There's no sign of any leaks under the travel trailer. However, we had a bad experience with a previous travel trailer that had a small leak in the shower with the water getting trapped in the insulation under the floor and we weren't aware of the leak until there was a rot problem in the floor.

I guess my next step when I get home will be to winterize the trailer by following my usual procedure of blowing out the lines with compressed air. However, I'll rig up a pressure gauge that will allow me to pressurized the system, shut off a valve with the air bottled up and then watch the gauge to see if there is a leak.

If there is a leak, what's the best way to find it?

I'm hoping that the occasional "burp" in the water pump is just a leaking check valve.

Thanks for any advice!

Bill J., Lexington, KY

7 Replies

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  • trailer_newbe's avatar
    trailer_newbe
    Explorer III
    Jan 31, 2021
    Had the same issue and it was the check valve. Another way to test (weather permitting) is to hook up water to your trailer. If your water tank eventually starts running out the overflow this will also indicate the check valve is leaking on the water pump.
  • afidel's avatar
    afidel
    Explorer II
    Jan 31, 2021
    If you add the check valve and still have a leak I'd borrow a vacuum leak smoke machine from a friendly mechanic, they work very well for pinpointing relatively small leaks.
  • Old-Biscuit's avatar
    Old-Biscuit
    Explorer III
    Jan 31, 2021
    Every 30 minutes is a small leak....loss of system pressure

    Could be:
    Pump Internal check valve
    WH Tank T&P Relief Valve weeping
    WH Tank Drain Plug leaking
    City Water Inlet Check Valve leaking
    Fittings Hot/Cold on WH Tank, Sinks, Showers (inside/outside), Toilet
    Fittings on Hot/Cold Water Lines at 'T' s
    Low Point Drains Hot/Cold dripping

    Wrap Toilet Paper around fittings/connections and then check later if damp
    Inspect T&P, Drain Plug, City Inlet, low point drains for dripping

    Using Pump can sometimes clear the check valve
    ***One reason I always use pump only ---short cycles w/o demand indicates a leak
  • TenOC's avatar
    TenOC
    Nomad
    Jan 31, 2021
    A1B00902 wrote:
    It may not be a leak,as it could be a weak pump letting water to drain back into the fresh water tank


    2X Add an inline check valve to see it this solves the problem. Or you can rebuild the pump
  • A1B00902's avatar
    A1B00902
    Explorer
    Jan 31, 2021
    It may not be a leak,as it could be a weak pump letting water to drain back into the fresh water tank
  • Lwiddis's avatar
    Lwiddis
    Explorer II
    Jan 31, 2021
    Don’t leave the pump on IMO. My current RV doesn’t burp but others did.
  • midnightsadie's avatar
    midnightsadie
    Explorer II
    Jan 31, 2021
    sounds like a good plan, how to find the leak. gotta check every fitting. do the easy ones first.

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