Hi - I am hoping someone has some experience to share.
We are new to this lifestyle and not sure how to fix things so Ben & I bought a new Heartland 5th wheel with a warranty, trying to make the transiation a little easier. Well, we have two water leaks and a leaky hot water heater.
The problem is we are living in it full time with 2 dogs, but are still working full time in a rural area (till we get our finances ready to travel). Apparently the service depts don't like to schedule warranty work (nice to know) and we don't have a traveling repair man here. The nearest service dept is almost 2 hrs away. Because we work full time we can't sit in the serv dept campground for 2 weeks waiting.
Any inside knowledge on how to get our home fixed would be greatly appreciated.
I like our house. I would like it better if it wasn't causing stress
Thanks so much!! And Happy New Year!
GENECOP said
10:33 AM Jan 10, 2012
Most often the water leaks you are describing come down to fittings, find the leak, determine Exactly Where it is leaking from, remember water travels so find the exact spot. Most newer Rigs use Pex (plastic) water lines, joints, (elbows) can be brass or plastic. Tighten the leak connections, if the elbows are plastic sometimes they develop cracks and need to be replaced. You will need to turn off the water and possibly drain the hot water tank.....You can do this......G
The Bear II said
11:10 AM Jan 10, 2012
Your best bet would be to take a few days off to get the RV to the service department, stay at a the repair facility until the RV is fixed.
Next best would be to take a day off to get the RV to the service department, stay at a hotel near your work (so you can go to work) until the RV is fixed and then take a day off to pick it up and make sure the leaks are fixed.
Or contact the service department to see if they have a way for you to drop off the RV late at night or early in the morning. You'll need to do a good job of describing where the leaks are and mark them if possible so the repair tech knows where to start. Again you would need to stay in a hotel near work until it is fixed.
This is what I would do if I were in your situation and couldn't take the time off- You might be better off just having a local plumber or handyman come out and fix the problem. A lot of new homes are built using the PEX system for plumbing, so a plumber should be knowledgable. Just explain your situation and see if the plumber would be willing to fix. E-mail some photos of the plumbing where the leaks are to the plumber to help in their decision if need be. You'll have to pay for the work but it may be cheaper than taking time off from work or paying for a hotel.
Terry and Jo said
11:27 AM Jan 10, 2012
I have to agree with the others here, but I'll add something. We had similar issues with our Mobile Suites with leaks. While I took the coach in when we had a leak with the shower fittings (they aren't easy to get to), when we developed a leak at the bathroom sink and then the kitchen sink, and then with the fittings on the line for the black tank flush, I was able to tighten the fittings myself without any tools.
I suggest that you also have a water pressure regulator on your coach. If you happen to be where there is high pressure, that can be a problem for you. We are full-time and still working and our coach is parked in a mobile home park with its own water well. That pressure is so high that 1/4 to 1/3 of one turn of the water valve is enough to run an oscillating sprinkler. I think that much pressure added to our leak problems.
I'm not really impressed with the PEX fittings. Our line for the black tank flush would literally pour water out of the underbelly while I was flushing the tank with a stream of water that was about 1/8 of an inch across. When I reached back to tighten the fitting, I could barely reach it with my hand to grasp the knobs on the fitting with my thumb and two fingers. I could barely turn the fitting with that small of a grip, but what little I did was enough to stop that water leak entirely.
So, see if your leaks are at the fittings where the hoses attach to the faucets or at the other fittings. It might save you the trouble of driving so far for the warranty work.
Also, I find it unimaginable that the dealership doesn't want to schedule warranty work. I've had warranty work done two or three times on our coach and have never had such a problem with scheduling, although our work was done with our purchasing dealer.
Good luck with all of it.
Terry
BenMary said
02:54 PM Jan 10, 2012
Thanks so much! I really appreciate ya'lls input. I have been on the phone and I think we have come up with a solution. yea!
rclvnv said
08:18 PM Jan 10, 2012
I"m with you in more than spirit. Have a small leak in back of area where water seems to be distributed from point of entry to lots of fittings.So far can't find the leak. We too are F/T,working (tho self-employed) and have the dogs with us,so great hassle to take it in. Dealer more than willing to handle. I'll make a few more attempts(the leak is only at the wet cloth stage),but may have to give in,at least to calling the mobile guy. Before I give up though,I'll look at the water pressure issue Terry mentioned.I have a pressure reducer on my line,but that may not be enough.We also have water with a very high mineral content,which has already gummed up the check valve on the water heater. Hope your solution works, and that I find my leak too.
Hi - I am hoping someone has some experience to share.
We are new to this lifestyle and not sure how to fix things so Ben & I bought a new Heartland 5th wheel with a warranty, trying to make the transiation a little easier. Well, we have two water leaks and a leaky hot water heater.
The problem is we are living in it full time with 2 dogs, but are still working full time in a rural area (till we get our finances ready to travel). Apparently the service depts don't like to schedule warranty work (nice to know) and we don't have a traveling repair man here. The nearest service dept is almost 2 hrs away. Because we work full time we can't sit in the serv dept campground for 2 weeks waiting.
Any inside knowledge on how to get our home fixed would be greatly appreciated.
I like our house. I would like it better if it wasn't causing stress
Thanks so much!! And Happy New Year!
Next best would be to take a day off to get the RV to the service department, stay at a hotel near your work (so you can go to work) until the RV is fixed and then take a day off to pick it up and make sure the leaks are fixed.
Or contact the service department to see if they have a way for you to drop off the RV late at night or early in the morning. You'll need to do a good job of describing where the leaks are and mark them if possible so the repair tech knows where to start. Again you would need to stay in a hotel near work until it is fixed.
This is what I would do if I were in your situation and couldn't take the time off-
You might be better off just having a local plumber or handyman come out and fix the problem. A lot of new homes are built using the PEX system for plumbing, so a plumber should be knowledgable. Just explain your situation and see if the plumber would be willing to fix. E-mail some photos of the plumbing where the leaks are to the plumber to help in their decision if need be.
You'll have to pay for the work but it may be cheaper than taking time off from work or paying for a hotel.
I have to agree with the others here, but I'll add something. We had similar issues with our Mobile Suites with leaks. While I took the coach in when we had a leak with the shower fittings (they aren't easy to get to), when we developed a leak at the bathroom sink and then the kitchen sink, and then with the fittings on the line for the black tank flush, I was able to tighten the fittings myself without any tools.
I suggest that you also have a water pressure regulator on your coach. If you happen to be where there is high pressure, that can be a problem for you. We are full-time and still working and our coach is parked in a mobile home park with its own water well. That pressure is so high that 1/4 to 1/3 of one turn of the water valve is enough to run an oscillating sprinkler. I think that much pressure added to our leak problems.
I'm not really impressed with the PEX fittings. Our line for the black tank flush would literally pour water out of the underbelly while I was flushing the tank with a stream of water that was about 1/8 of an inch across. When I reached back to tighten the fitting, I could barely reach it with my hand to grasp the knobs on the fitting with my thumb and two fingers. I could barely turn the fitting with that small of a grip, but what little I did was enough to stop that water leak entirely.
So, see if your leaks are at the fittings where the hoses attach to the faucets or at the other fittings. It might save you the trouble of driving so far for the warranty work.
Also, I find it unimaginable that the dealership doesn't want to schedule warranty work. I've had warranty work done two or three times on our coach and have never had such a problem with scheduling, although our work was done with our purchasing dealer.
Good luck with all of it.
Terry
Thanks so much! I really appreciate ya'lls input. I have been on the phone and I think we have come up with a solution. yea!
I"m with you in more than spirit. Have a small leak in back of area where water seems to be distributed from point of entry to lots of fittings.So far can't find the leak. We too are F/T,working (tho self-employed) and have the dogs with us,so great hassle to take it in. Dealer more than willing to handle. I'll make a few more attempts(the leak is only at the wet cloth stage),but may have to give in,at least to calling the mobile guy. Before I give up though,I'll look at the water pressure issue Terry mentioned.I have a pressure reducer on my line,but that may not be enough.We also have water with a very high mineral content,which has already gummed up the check valve on the water heater. Hope your solution works, and that I find my leak too.
Richard