Fresh water tank overflow, leaking from top of tank?

[BritCanuck]

Fresh water tank overflow, have we got a problem?

Was de winterising our 5.0 for the first time, putting bleach in the fresh water tank and filling it full. I was expecting overflow back up the inlet pipe? Apparently not, looks like its coming out somewhere on top of the tank itself and running down the side, all over the tank sensors. I can’t see where its coming from.

Presume this is not normal! Don't know how the tank is attached to the trailer, but presuming either a bad seal or something has punctured the top of the tank.

Also I presume the short open tube on the outside of the tank is the overflow? There was nothing coming out of that at all.

We picked up the trailer in October.

 

[Viajante]

First guess is that the overflow tube has come off the fitting on the top of the tank. It should be visible from inside the trailer under the dinette seat.

 

[BritCanuck]

First guess is that the overflow tube has come off the fitting on the top of the tank. It should be visible from inside the trailer under the dinette seat.

I can't see anything under the dinette, just the fresh water fill pipe disappearing thru the floor into the tank.

 

[Viajante]

Sorry, maybe someone with a new trailer can advise how the overflow operates. Typically the vent hose came through the floor adjacent to the fill tube and connected to the back of the water fill hatch.

 

[Centex]

I can't see anything under the dinette, just the fresh water fill pipe disappearing thru the floor into the tank.

On my 2022 5.0, both the ~1.5" corrugated fill pipe and the small clear overflow tube apparently connect to fittings on the top of the tank under the dinette.

I do not have spray foam insulation under my trailer but even so cannot see a way to access those connections without dropping the tank.

Good Luck troubleshooting this one.

 

[BritCanuck]

So is this open pipe on the left an overflow pipe? Nothing was coming out of that.

 

[Centex]

So is this open pipe on the left an overflow pipe? Nothing was coming out of that.

View attachment 73425

Maybe so but methinks that should be connected to a fitting on the top of the tank so overflow (actually vented air**) is directed back up to the small vent screen adjacent to your gravity fill port on the side of the trailer. I have no such open hose dangling in that vicinity.

**What we've been calling an "overflow" tube is probably more accurately called a "vent" tube (to allow air to escape during gravity / water-hose fill of the tank, and air to enter as the tank is emptied).

 

[rubicon327]

So is this open pipe on the left an overflow pipe? Nothing was coming out of that.

View attachment 73425

That tube shown is likely piped to the drain in your refrigerator compartment. I wouldn’t expect anything coming out of that.

 

[rubicon327]

Sorry, maybe someone with a new trailer can advise how the overflow operates. Typically the vent hose came through the floor adjacent to the fill tube and connected to the back of the water fill hatch.

That is how it’s typically configured. A small clear pipe should be visible going to the outside city water / gravity fill station. Typically on or near the fresh tank gravity fill pipe. On the station outside there is a vent which is circled in the photo.

After determining if the venting of a 2023 is the same as above I would completely drain the fresh tank and then use the fresh water gravity inlet to pressurize the tank with air utilizing a compressor. Seal well around the opening. You should have air coming out the vent. If you hear/feel air coming out around the top of the tank but not the vent it is either disconnected or tank vent fitting broken. Or it’s possible the tank is somehow cracked. Using air may help with troubleshooting since you can’t see the top of the tank.

 

[Ausman]

The clear hose coming off the bottom of the fresh water tank is the pickup tube going to the pump. When the pump turns on.. water is drawn from the bottom of the tank.

 

[rubicon327]

The clear hose coming off the bottom of the fresh water tank is the pickup tube going to the pump. When the pump turns on.. water is drawn from the bottom of the tank.

I think Chris knows that. His first picture just didn’t show the short open tube he referred to in his post. His second picture does.

 

[BritCanuck]

Thanks for all the replies folks. Rubicon I’ll see if i can pressurise the tank.

Sent an email to Escape. I’ll update this thread if I get a resolution.

 

[Centex]

That tube shown is likely piped to the drain in your refrigerator compartment. I wouldn’t expect anything coming out of that.

FWIW, getting under my 2022 5.0 this morning I find the refrigerator drain through the shell and hanging about 5" forward and 6" inboard of the front corner of the freshwater tank - nowhere near the location of the dangling open tube pictured in this thread.

 

[BritCanuck]

Well this is interesting. The leak appears to have fixed itself. I can’t duplicate the issue. If I fill up now to overflowing the overflow comes back out of the inlet pipe.

That’s rather annoying. I’m guessing something has shifted with weight of the full tank and sealed whatever was leaking?

 

[occer]

This sounds unlikely but…..:whistling:
How much water flowed over the side of the tank?
Is it possible that the top of the tank was sunk down and had water sitting on the outside on top of the tank and when you filled it the top bowed up and the water drained off.

 

[BritCanuck]

This sounds unlikely but…..:whistling:
How much water flowed over the side of the tank?
Is it possible that the top of the tank was sunk down and had water sitting on the outside on top of the tank and when you filled it the top bowed up and the water drained off.

To be honest no idea. Not sure how water would get on the top of the tank when it's been sitting there since October.