Testing for water leaks

[terryr]

Although I drained down the motorhome water both fresh and waste before the winter. Does anyone know away of testing for leaks after the very cold winter without filling the system? I have done a visual check as best I can but don’t want any surprises.

 

[WillH]

You could have a look at all the pipework you can get to and see if any joints have popped, otherwise you really have to fill the system and check.

 

[ManTheVan]

Not aware of any method that doesn't involve water!

Forgive my assumption that you may not have done this many times - if so, I apologise.

Is it a pressurised system like ours? If so, part fill the tank then close your taps, ensure the water boiler frost valve is closed, and switch on the water pump. Let it pressure up - it may take a while especially if it has to fill the hot water tank. The pump will eventually stop when the system has come up to pressure.

Now, go to each tap in turn (incl the shower) and open it a bit to let any accumulated air expel. Make sure you use both the hot and cold side of the mixer tap to get rid of air in both feed pipes. The pump will run and there will be some alarming spurts of air and water from the taps.

Once the air has been purged, then switch off the taps and the pump should stop. If you monitor it for a while and hear the pump kicking in periodically (and regularly) without a tap being on it means there's some sort of reduction in pressure (i.e. a leak somewhere or air escaping from the top of the tank).

Good luck.

 

[Googlebot]

Remove hose from water pump, use air pump to fill system with air, but not too high a pressure. Listen for leaks or pressure drop.

You can’t use the shower hose to fill with air as the non return valve by the boiler won’t let some of the system pressurise.

Probably easier to just use water.

 

[terryr]

I have done all this before but this winter was particularly cold bursting pipes in the house even though it was partially drained down so I am worried about the van.

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[GMLS]

They use specialist gases to detect leaks in homes but seems a bit OTT for a M/H

 

[WillH]

I could add that the only leak I have ever had, caused by frost, was detected by the pump 'ticking' occasionally. The leak was a cracked shower mixer tap base and I repaired it with Araldite.