Water Tank Leak (my fault)

[Marsland]

Well this is embarrassing 😮 :M ! But I need some advice on water tank repair.

This is my story. In my exuberance to make my TT more cold weather protected I dropped the underbelly (coroplast) and after checking out the tanks, connections, duct work, and everything else I proceeded to put in a layer of Reflectix. Not much more insulation but more than it had to start with.

Now the fresh water tank rests on the passenger side frame rail and extends to close to the other side. Well on the passenger side the manufacturer used short screws to attach the coroplast to the frame below the tank. I knew that :R cause I took it apart!!! But in my haste to put everything back together I forgot and used a long screw. (expletive deleted)(expletive deleted)(expletive deleted)!!!!!!

My question is (finally) can this hole in my tank be repaired with a reasonable chance of success or should I swallow hard and purchase a new tank? If it were exposed I would more than likely try to repair but being covered I don't want to unbutton everything more often than I have to.

Thanks,
Richard

[brulaz]

Good info. Thanks for reporting back.

[Marsland]

Progress report;

I used a small soldering iron (40 watt) with a flat tip. Patch is holding. Filled the tank and no leak. Fingers crossed. Buttoned everything up. Will test out with a trip planned first of next month.

[Marsland]

Hi, OP here. Thanks for all the responses folks.

I've continued my research and found a couple of videos from Trailer Life.TV. The first point made was that the repair kits at the RV parts stores were not a permanent solution. What they did say would work on small holes and cracks was akin to welding. Using a soldering iron or small torch and a piece of HDPE (tank material) one would heat the area around the hole and using the piece of HDPE melt and weld the hole shut. On the crack repair you would drill a small hole at each end of the crack (to keep the crack from spreading) and then do the same thing. I was able to go to a local RV dealer and obtain a small stick of material that they use in their plastic welder. I'll let you know how it turns out.

[mhardin]

RonWSl wrote:
....However, I am wondering if, for the OP and me when I get to to it, if the Eternabond tape would work to patch the hole,,,I think Walmart and most RV stores now carry the patch kit for about $10.00.

Ron S

Eternabond tape is designed to be placed on the roof to keep water out. I doubt it would work on a tank to keep water in. Remember, the water in the tank is under pressure. No, it is not pressurized, but it still has head pressure. The tape might hold for a while, but I don't think it would be a permanent fix.

Mike

[RonWSl]

I may be in the same boat as the OP with a leak in my fresh water tank (long story) and will soon be dropping it to see what damage I did. In researching this topic recently there was some discussion of the tank needing to be "welded" and that Harbor Freight sold an inexpensive plastic welder.

However, I am wondering if, for the OP and me when I get to to it, if the Eternabond tape would work to patch the hole,,,I think Walmart and most RV stores now carry the patch kit for about $10.00.

Ron S

[mobeewan]

SprinklerMan wrote:
stainless steel screw , rubber washer , and some silicone caulk .

Ditto.

[SprinklerMan]

stainless steel screw , rubber washer , and some silicone caulk .

[ktmrfs]

given where the hole is I'd have a repairs shop do a "spin weld" on it. That will hold forever. If it is (was) in a place that was open, for a small hole like you describe, I'd put in one of the waste tank sensor plugs, it will seal it up.

[buzzard616]

I've had some success 'welding' damaged plastic using a glue gun with the appropriate stick in it. Make sure it's good and hot. Melt the edge of the hole with the tip and gently add material, don't try to stick hot glue (plastic) to cold.
Practice on a plastic bucket or something first.

Stu

[stubblejumper]

If hole is over a metal frame, I would be careful about filling hole with a metal screw that will protrude and be sitting on the rail. Vibration may rub the head off the screw and / or make hole bigger. "Welded" patch would probably be better JMHO

[mhardin]

I'd just use a screw with a rubber gasket and flat washer between the tank and screw head. I've done that on metal tanks before with no problems. It should work on the water tank, too. Keep it easy and simple.

Mike

[I_am_still_wayn]

WOW! Sorry about your goof up. It will sucks when you can't blame someone else.

There is a procedure to actually "weld" a repair to the tank. Before I tried any home remedies, I would call the manufacturer and find who their vendor was for the tank. Then call that manufacturer for suggestions for a repair.

[brulaz]

Assuming the tank is polyethylene, I'd heard that poly can only be fixed with welding/heat.

But now there's some epoxies that will work. G Weld has been mentioned, but 3M DP8005 might be better, dunno.
3M DP8005

Any other glues would be a waste of time IMHO.

I'd get a matching poly screw (avail on web), dip it in epoxy and screw it in the hole. Then cut it off.

[hammer21661]

Not familiar with the g flex but every thing else west makes is good. How about a screw and some silicone type sealant?