Puddle in an Adria Coral (1 Viewer)

[Hooflungdung]

We have recently noticed a small puddle on the floor of our Adria Coral directly in front of the fridge and adjacent to the bathroom wall - the water appears to be coming from the bottom of the wall/partition. I am fairly certain that it is not coming from the fridge and we have not been using the shower and so I am sure that it is not coming from the shower tray. I have checked the basin waste and H&C supply pipes (that I can get to!) and can't find any evidence of any leakage. The problem has occurred on days when there has been no rain so I don't think it is a leak from the roof or skylights tracking down the inside of the wall.

There are areas of the pipework that I can't get to without starting to disassemble the bathroom furniture and so it seemed sensible to post on this forum in case another Funster has had a similar experience and can suggest possible causes before the MH get's dismantled.

Thanks in anticipation.

 

[Pausim]

I have had puddles on the floor near the fridge (different make of motorhome) and it was the collector at the back of the fridge overflowing. The condensation in the fridge runs out to the back where it is collected in a small container. I think the heat at the back of the fridge is supposed to make it evaporate from there but if the fridge is off or has melting ice inside it overflowed. From there it ran down the back of the fridge, across the floor and appeared in front of the fridge.

 

[Masman]

If you can get to any waterpipes tie some tissue around them and see if any get wet.I had similar aroung wardrobe on my Rapido. I managed to trace it back to a loose connection on water pipe.Water can travel a long way from original source.

 

[dochiley]

If your pump is coming on occasionally then the water is leaking out of the water supply between pump and tap - in the pipes where it is pressurised. If the pump is not coming on, the pressure is not dropping, the water must be from a sink/shower drainage or fridge, where the water is not under pressure.
Deciding is simple, you then have to find it! But it does limit where you have to search.

 

[L' Hobo]

If your pump is coming on occasionally then the water is leaking out of the water supply between pump and tap - in the pipes where it is pressurised. If the pump is not coming on, the pressure is not dropping, the water must be from a sink/shower drainage or fridge, where the water is not under pressure.
Deciding is simple, you then have to find it! But it does limit where you have to search.

Is it possible to put some brightly coloured food dye into the water system so that it shows up more clearly??

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[mitzimad]

Tried there, no SUPERSEALS (the ones with two rubbers)

super seals are only realy for heating to stop oxegen getting in plain ones are fine for water

 

[L' Hobo]

super seals are only realy for heating to stop oxegen getting in plain ones are fine for water

From experience, after converting and repairing a number of vans over 40yrs, I would beg to differ (BUT I am not prepared to argue over it) when I connect a pipe that is going to be tucked away behind panels and close to mains electricity, I prefer to be safe than sorry especially if it's for a client.
(as is mentioned on another thread, what components are fitted to motorhomes and boats, are, sometimes, completely different)

PS. If oxygen can get in, water (H2O) can get out. Surely ALL inserts, seals etc., should stop that happening??

 

[Rodders1234]

We had a similar issue 2 years ago and it came from the loo when my wife was using it. Needed some silicon around the rubber seals (not the wife’s!) and it’s never happened again. Good luck.

 

[mitzimad]

From experience, after converting and repairing a number of vans over 40yrs, I would beg to differ (BUT I am not prepared to argue over it) when I connect a pipe that is going to be tucked away behind panels and close to mains electricity, I prefer to be safe than sorry especially if it's for a client.
(as is mentioned on another thread, what components are fitted to motor homes and boats, are, sometimes, completely different)

PS. If oxygen can get in, water (H2O) can get out. Surely ALL inserts, seals etc., should stop that happening??

I don't want to argue but of all the major suppliers of push fit only speedfit use the o rings, the seal is made by the o ring within the fitting the insert is to stop deformation of the circumference of the pipe.this is from my experience of 50 years plumbing and heating every day. an atom of oxygen is considerably smaller than the combined atoms of water hence the absorption of oxygen via fittings which can happen with most mechanical fittings all plastic pipe for heating has an oxygen barrier incorporated ,whether the pipe used in vans has i don't know as its not my specialist subject

 

[houdini]

Hooflungdung
Did you manage to locate your water leak and solve it?

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[Hooflungdung]

This problem didn’t so much get solved as ‘just went away’! We have been using the van for around 100 nights a year including 2 4-5 week trips into Europe` each year and haven’t noticed the problem for some time.

However, we are currently half way through a 5 week trip to Holland and the leak seems to have come back with a vengeance. Each day we are finding a puddle in the same place and sometimes sufficient water to drench 4 or 5 sheets of kitchen roll.

The pump is not coming on at all when there is no demand through the taps.

The problem occurs when there is no rain for 48 hours or so.

We do not use the shower in the van.

We have tried not using the hand basin in the bathroom and still get the leak.

I have checked around the pipes and waste under the basin and all is dry as a bone.

I have pulled the potty out and checked the pipes in that compartment and all the surfaces and all seems very dry.

There doesn’t appear to be any leakage from the potty or it’s seals.

I have taken the bottom grille from the fridge and the space behind the fridge is dry.

The liquid seems clear and doesn’t smell - I’ve been unable to get ‘er indoors to taste it but it seems like clean water.

We have on a couple of occasions had an odour in the van when I think the waste tank has probably brimmed but we are getting the water leak consistently when we know that the waste tank is empty or definitely nowhere near full.

It’s a mystery and its doing my head in!

Have we missed anything?

 

[Shrimp]

No ideas for you I’m afraid but we found a run of water going from washroom area along bottom of cupboards, soaking the carpet on its way, heading for front of van.
Turned out to be coming from the pipe arrangement under boiler etc, a plastic junction had split-old age plastic.

 

[Bramidan]

This might sound off the wall but is it worth putting some food colouring in your water tank?
Logically if puddle coloured it is a leak in the supply of water or indeed a leak from the waste system ie not the fridge or a leak from outside coming in.
It won’t tell you where the leak is but at least you will be able to eliminate a couple of sources.
I confess I haven’t read all the posts so if this repeating something already suggested, apologies.

 

[L' Hobo]

This might sound off the wall but is it worth putting some food colouring in your water tank?
Logically if puddle coloured it is a leak in the supply of water or indeed a leak from the waste system ie not the fridge or a leak from outside coming in.
It won’t tell you where the leak is but at least you will be able to eliminate a couple of sources.
I confess I haven’t read all the posts so if this repeating something already suggested, apologies.

I suggested that back in 2021, they didn't take any notice of the suggestion back then, perhaps you'll have better luck?

 

[Bramidan]

I suggested that back in 2021, they didn't take any notice of the suggestion back then, perhaps you'll have better luck?

L’Hobo I should have read through all the posts!
At least I feel reassured that somebody else had had the same idea of the process of elimination.

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[The Coops]

Same problem in ours traced to a leaking joint on the water pump and then ran to the lowest point then leaked from there, if you can pressure test the system and the leak will be there. Carpets wet through and then all dried out and nothing for a few days and same again.

 

[Orion]

Pound to a penny it’s a leaking crappy Reich water fitting somewhere on the system and the water is tracking across from it to the location where it’s visible.

Recently noticed a damp patch on the floor by the hab door on our Adria Compact. After taking out the kitchen unit drawers and accessing the under floor void by the bed, I traced it to the elbow fitting on the accumulator/pressure tank in the garage!

It will be dealt with under warranty but I will be carrying a full compliment of John Guest fittings as spares and replacing every single one of them over the winter.

Edit to add: It may not be that all the fittings are suspect but the way the installation has been made is putting certain fittings under tension.

 

[IRHP]

Pound to a penny it’s a leaking crappy Reich water fitting somewhere on the system and the water is tracking across from it to the location where it’s visible.

Recently noticed a damp patch on the floor by the hab door on our Adria Compact. After taking out the kitchen unit drawers and accessing the under floor void by the bed, I traced it to the elbow fitting on the accumulator/pressure tank in the garage!

It will be dealt with under warranty but I will be carrying a full compliment of John Guest fittings as spares and replacing every single one of them over the winter.

Edit to add: It may not be that all the fittings are suspect but the way the installation has been made is putting certain fittings under tension.

Normally you hear the pump kicking in when you have a leak on the pressurised side. I've got an Adria. I know these things

 

[IRHP]

This problem didn’t so much get solved as ‘just went away’! We have been using the van for around 100 nights a year including 2 4-5 week trips into Europe` each year and haven’t noticed the problem for some time.

However, we are currently half way through a 5 week trip to Holland and the leak seems to have come back with a vengeance. Each day we are finding a puddle in the same place and sometimes sufficient water to drench 4 or 5 sheets of kitchen roll.

The pump is not coming on at all when there is no demand through the taps.

The problem occurs when there is no rain for 48 hours or so.

We do not use the shower in the van.

We have tried not using the hand basin in the bathroom and still get the leak.

I have checked around the pipes and waste under the basin and all is dry as a bone.

I have pulled the potty out and checked the pipes in that compartment and all the surfaces and all seems very dry.

There doesn’t appear to be any leakage from the potty or it’s seals.

I have taken the bottom grille from the fridge and the space behind the fridge is dry.

The liquid seems clear and doesn’t smell - I’ve been unable to get ‘er indoors to taste it but it seems like clean water.

We have on a couple of occasions had an odour in the van when I think the waste tank has probably brimmed but we are getting the water leak consistently when we know that the waste tank is empty or definitely nowhere near full.

It’s a mystery and its doing my head in!

Have we missed anything?

Have a look behind the bottom fridge vent. There's a drain pipe there from the drip tray below the cooling fins in the fridge. It drains into a container below the fridge pcb. If this is over flowing it may run back into the van depending on the angle its sitting at. You can extend the drain pipe out through the floor vent if this is the problem.
I don't think you will have a leaking Reich plumbing fitting if you aren't hearing the pump coming on.

 

[MisterB]

Some fittings appear to fail because there is no security ring to stop the fitting from working it's way loose through vehicle vibration, expansion and contraction or even just loading things around the pipework...

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[IRHP]

Some fittings appear to fail because there is no security ring to stop the fitting from working it's way loose through vehicle vibration, expansion and contraction or even just loading things around the pipework...

All my leaking fittings have had the security ring. None of them have had pipe inserts. I've had no problems after replacing with JG fittings and pipe inserts.

 

[MisterB]

All my leaking fittings have had the security ring. None of them have had pipe inserts. I've had no problems after replacing with JG fittings and pipe inserts.

Good point, when I added the rings I also installed inserts on every fitting I could reach !

 

[L' Hobo]

Good point, when I added the rings I also installed inserts on every fitting I could reach !

What a lot of people seem to forget is just how important, making sure that the cut end of the pipe is exactly 90% to the pipe.
This is achieved by a proper pipe cutter and ensures that, when the pipe is pushed right in, it has a slightly better seal.

 

[Pausim]

Have a look behind the bottom fridge vent. There's a drain pipe there from the drip tray below the cooling fins in the fridge. It drains into a container below the fridge pcb. If this is over flowing it may run back into the van depending on the angle its sitting at. You can extend the drain pipe out through the floor vent if this is the problem.
I don't think you will have a leaking Reich plumbing fitting if you aren't hearing the pump coming on.

That is what I was trying to say at #31 but yours is a clearer explanation. My previous motorhome didn’t have a floor vent so I just extended the pipe to go out through the lower vent. With no pump noise a plumbing leak seems unlikely and this is easy to put right.

 

[IRHP]

That is what I was trying to say at #31 but yours is a clearer explanation. My previous motorhome didn’t have a floor vent so I just extended the pipe to go out through the lower vent. With no pump noise a plumbing leak seems unlikely and this is easy to put right.

Sorry missed that. Yes it's a strange set up. Can't see why it just doesn't exist under the van. That's where mine goes now as I found the evaporation tub quite full at times. I'm sure it would overflow when I started moving.

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[Diabalo]

Was you parked on a slight incline when it appeared again?

 

[Orion]

Normally you hear the pump kicking in when you have a leak on the pressurised side. I've got an Adria. I know these things

Fair comment, but ours had obviously been leaking very, very slightly over a period of time and I only heard the pump cut in once, and that was overnight.

 

[Pausim]

Sorry missed that. Yes it's a strange set up. Can't see why it just doesn't exist under the van. That's where mine goes now as I found the evaporation tub quite full at times. I'm sure it would overflow when I started moving.

I think the reasoning must be to use the cold water to cool the retuning coolant but if so it needs an overflow to the outside. New van has a compressor fridge which is much more efficient.

 

[IRHP]

I think the reasoning must be to use the cold water to cool the retuning coolant but if so it needs an overflow to the outside. New van has a compressor fridge which is much more efficient.

I wondered about that so asked Thetford if it was OK to lead it out underneath. They said no problem

 

[Landy Andy]

That is what I was trying to say at #31 but yours is a clearer explanation. My previous motorhome didn’t have a floor vent so I just extended the pipe to go out through the lower vent. With no pump noise a plumbing leak seems unlikely and this is easy to put right.

And I mentioned it on post #9 and #11.

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[Pausim]

And I mentioned it on post #9 and #11.

Yes indeed you did, I should have acknowledged this.