All my water leaked out?

stevegreen · 05-12-2009, 16:42

I decided yesterday to flush out my fresh water tank on our Hymer 564, and so filled it up until the LCD display said it was 100% full. I then went inside the motorhome and turned on the taps. After much spluttering some water came out but it certainly wasn't pouring out as it should. i then went outside the motorhome and I saw that water was pouring out of a pipe located toward the rear of the vehicle. I have looked in the manual to see hat this pipe is but can find no reference to it at all, but needless to say it carried on pouring out even with the taps inside turned off, until the tank was empty.

Studying the manual again today I read that there is a safety system that opens a valve when the temperature goes 8 degrees or lower. According to the manual, this valve is close to the waste water tap. I had a look and found the valve, opened it and water started coming out. I assume that this was water from the boiler.

The main flow of water yesterday was not from this valve but from a pipe on the other side of the van which seems to be located under where the boiler sits. There seems to be no tap for this pipe.

I'm confused as hell by this and no matter how much I read the manual i can't seem to comprehend why the van would dump all of the water for no apparent reason.

Anyone got any ideas?

John H · 05-12-2009, 16:45

It could be the auto dump for the water tank, maybe the fact that you filled it with cold water was enough to lower the temp so it dumped, the boiler usualy has a seperate manual drain point.

regards, John

stevegreen · 05-12-2009, 16:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by John H

It could be the auto dump for the water tank, maybe the fact that you filled it with cold water was enough to lower the temp so it dumped, the boiler usualy has a seperate manual drain point.

regards, John

Ok, so if the tank has an auto dump and it's related to temperature how am I going to get around this problem when we are in France within a few weeks, it'll be colder there so does that mean i'm not going to be able to carry a full tank of water?

Sorry for the daft question but i'm a bit concerned about it.

hilldweller · 05-12-2009, 16:49

There is normally a dump valve next to the Truma. It trips on low temp. Black valve with red knob. Because they can be too sensitive a trick is to put a clothes peg on to stop it dropping. This is very dangerous of course if you leave the peg on and it does freeze.

Spacerunner · 05-12-2009, 17:01

If your truma does space heating as well then just turn it on to warm it up to overcome the low temp dump valve.

BTW although this valve opens automatically it must be closed manually. Saves blushes when filling up on site.

stevegreen · 05-12-2009, 17:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by hilldweller

There is normally a dump valve next to the Truma. It trips on low temp. Black valve with red knob. Because they can be too sensitive a trick is to put a clothes peg on to stop it dropping. This is very dangerous of course if you leave the peg on and it does freeze.

Right, got you...........this lark is more involved than I first thought.

Another silly question then. These that go skiing in their motorhomes, how do they keep water on board from not freezing when the temperature is possibly well below zero?

stevegreen · 05-12-2009, 17:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spacerunner

BTW although this valve opens automatically it must be closed manually. Saves blushes when filling up on site.

Thanks for that! That will save me even more confusion when I try filling it again tomorrow

Just need to find the valve now!

pappajohn · 05-12-2009, 17:04

im sure a member with the same van will be along soon to help.

it sounds as though the main fresh tank drain valve is open.

i dont think the auto boiler dump will drain the fresh tank as the boiler will be after the pump, which should stop water draining out to the boiler and the dump valve.