Brisk leak through shower tap yesterday, bone dry today , confused? Advice please

[carolyn]

Filled tank yesterday for first time after overwintering and fitting new shower head. Had failed to leave shower tap open after hab check on 1st Dec. Water ran out all around tap, not just a trickle, oh buxxxx. It was coming out even in the off position. Assumed frost had damaged it. New shower head fine. Turned everything off. Today I was going to phone a ”man who can” but thought I’d check to see if it was worse with the tap in a particular position ie hot or cold, wasn’t sure if he’d ask questions like that. Anyway it’s as dry as a bone, even with toilet roll wrapped around it, tip from Terry I think when he came to the rescue in our previous van.

Nick and I are complete muppets where diy is concerned, what has happened? I’ve run the shower a lot, left the tap turned to on afterwards for half an hour and sat in the van and no pressurizing noises.

Should we still get it looked at by a motorhome man? We are going to Norden farm in 2 weeks and then Topsham the week after, followed by France for 3 weeks.

 

[Nirvanauk]

We had IH replace our bathroom taps for a similar leak. Went under the carpets in the Han area and made a right mess

 

[laurieash]

Washer might have just gone hard and dry. Now damp might have soften up.?

 

[Razamataz]

waters run dry

 

[Shrimp]

Maybe a dry washer or bit of grit passing thru & got stuck!

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[Landy Andy]

I would check the cartridge is tight within the tap body.

 

[carolyn]

I would check the cartridge is tight within the tap body.

Is this a simple task, I know on our previous van we had a tiny leak and were sent pictures of how to try to replace a cartridge but when we took the tap off it looked completely different inside so we gave up screwed the tap back on and the leak stopped! I can’t remember if it looked the same. We were sent a blue cartridge with a white bit on the end that bent backwards and forwards. This is me being technical!

 

[Landy Andy]

Is this a simple task, I know on our previous van we had a tiny leak and were sent pictures of how to try to replace a cartridge but when we took the tap off it looked completely different inside so we gave up screwed the tap back on and the leak stopped! I can’t remember if it looked the same. We were sent a blue cartridge with a white bit on the end that bent backwards and forwards. This is me being technical!

That bit you are talking about it the cartridge. And possibly if water has frozen in, or around that they can become loose and may just need to be nipped up. This is sometimes very simple, but sometimes not. Depends on tap, location, and ability.

 

[carolyn]

I’ve still got the unused cartridge from the previous van . I’ve attached a photo plus a photo of the tap. I think I hooked out the middle bit , unscrewed the tap. Then there was a tiny screw but the cartridge was held in by a plastic ring which was impossible to get out. That was when I gave up and put it back together!

 

[Landy Andy]

I’ve still got the unused cartridge from the previous van . I’ve attached a photo plus a photo of the tap. I think I hooked out the middle bit , unscrewed the tap. Then there was a tiny screw but the cartridge was held in by a plastic ring which was impossible to get out. That was when I gave up and put it back together! View attachment 609342View attachment 609341

The plastic ring, that you mention is the nut that holds /tightens the cartridge in place, and that is what I would like to check is tight if I was in you situation. On some taps these are easy to get too, other taps they are recessed down are are a bugger to get to. You won’t know till you start to dig, or unless someone has same tap. Your tap head comes off by prising the blue/red cap off (cover drains in bathroom first ) then you will see what you’ve got. Possibly the chrome surround will screw off, and make the cartridge retaining nut easily checked.

Or pour wine and leave for a few days and see how it goes.

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[carolyn]

The plastic ring, that you mention is the nut that holds /tightens the cartridge in place, and that is what I would like to check is tight if I was in you situation. On some taps these are easy to get too, other taps they are recessed down are are a bugger to get to. You won’t know till you start to dig, or unless someone has same tap.

Thankyou, I must have been lucky last time and my fiddling inadvertently then tightened things up.

I did leave a message with a local mobile chap. If he doesn’t get back to me I might have a go at taking the tap off and seeing if it’s like the other one. All the YouTube videos with this cartridge are for normal taps with proper washers and metal retaining bits, not a plastic retaining bit.

I will post photos if I have a go and ask for advice or I might just poke around a bit , tighten it up and see what happens. Thank you.

 

[Dorset Diver]

carolyn. Now that it has settled down I would leave well alone. I'm an engineer (retired) and follow the age old principle that if its ain't broke don't fix it. That said I'm not far from you willing to provide a hand. I assume that as it's the shower tap any leakage is not really a problem so a bit more testing and just leaving the pump on can do no harm.

 

[The Wino]

Is your water system a pressurised one or microswitch?. (If its a pressurised one it will pump when you fill from empty even if the taps are all off until the water pressure builds ). If its a pressurised one I'd be tempted to leave the pump turned on and monitor for leaks or any sound of the pump without the taps being on and if it's ok leave alone.

 

[carolyn]

Is your water system a pressurised one or microswitch?. (If its a pressurised one it will pump when you fill from empty even if the taps are all off until the water pressure builds ). If its a pressurised one I'd be tempted to leave the pump turned on and monitor for leaks or any sound of the pump without the taps being on and if it's ok leave alone.

It’s pressurised and I sat out there for half an hour with the tap on but the shower trigger off ie no water running but the pressure up and no sounds at all today. Obviously we wouldn’t normally leave it like that.

 

[The Wino]

It’s pressurised and I sat out there for half an hour with the tap on but the shower trigger off ie no water running but the pressure up and no sounds at all today. Obviously we wouldn’t normally leave it like that.

I'm in the if it's not broke don't fix it camp too!.

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[carolyn]

I'm in the if it's not broke don't fix it camp too!.

Thankyou! I’m certainly like that where humans are concerned! We just couldn’t believe it today, it really was a lot and then to stop completely seems quite bizarre. We are at Norden farm and then Topsham so I think there might be a funster who is less useless than us at one or the other if something does go wrong. I will make sure I take plenty of wine as currency.

 

[Bolti]

Leave it alone, if it wants fiddling with it will let you know.

 

[Dorset Diver]

It’s pressurised and I sat out there for half an hour with the tap on but the shower trigger off ie no water running but the pressure up and no sounds at all today. Obviously we wouldn’t normally leave it like that.

Doing that is good but it may be worth putting the head in a bucket, just to collect the water, and exercising the valve, hot, cold, and middle position as many times as time / boredom will permit then leave the system pressurised for a while to see if the pump works, indicating a loss of system pressure. If nothing happens, as I expect, go forth and enjoy your travels.

 

[Riverbankannie]

Hi carolyn
If you are home, could you measure the cartridge and look for an identification number on it. Ours has started leaking but as we are away leaving it for now to try and fix on our return. I did pop into a caravan/MH spares place and he said there were two sizes and which did I have? We only have less than a week at home before Highlands End so would like to get one or order one.

I’ve still got the unused cartridge from the previous van . I’ve attached a photo plus a photo of the tap. I think I hooked out the middle bit , unscrewed the tap. Then there was a tiny screw but the cartridge was held in by a plastic ring which was impossible to get out. That was when I gave up and put it back together! View attachment 609342View attachment 609341

 

[Dorset Diver]

Doing a bit of catching up Riverbankannie? .

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[Guigsy]

I had a similar issue with my previous van. Tap was leaking even when it was off. I drained it down ready to replace it, then we needed to use the van and I refilled it, just expecting to have to deal with the leak, but it was fine. But the leak did return a few uses later. My best guess was that there was a bit of grit in the system. When I was emptying it down, it was flushing back into the pipework, only to return after a bit of use. I did eventually replace the tap and flushed all the pipework through to try to eliminate the problem.

 

[Riverbankannie]

Doing a bit of catching up Riverbankannie? .

Well this thread only from April this year, and I was indisposed for all of April!
Carolyn has the same conversion so knowing the cartridge size would be handy.

 

[Dorset Diver]

Only pulling your leg . No offence meant.

 

[Riverbankannie]

Only pulling your leg . No offence meant.

None taken

 

[carolyn]

Hi carolyn
If you are home, could you measure the cartridge and look for an identification number on it. Ours has started leaking but as we are away leaving it for now to try and fix on our return. I did pop into a caravan/MH spares place and he said there were two sizes and which did I have? We only have less than a week at home before Highlands End so would like to get one or order one.

Hi Annie, ours is no longer in the original packaging but I’ve gone through my emails and found my original correspondence with the lovely Carol who used to work at IH. Sad person that I am I’ve even got a photo of the cartridge in it’s original packaging!
It’s a Roma Shower Mixer tap with pull out hose manufactured by Comet.
We couldn’t actually get the old one out on our old van which is like yours and screwed it all up and it never leaked again! We’re not very practical and I think the instructions we had didn’t quite match what I could see when I unscrewed it either.

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[Riverbankannie]

Thanks Carolyn. As we will probably pass close to Knottingly on our way home , I phoned today. John was no use at all. “We only fit whole tap assemblies and it doesn’t say on the packet what size “
I think the information you have given me will enable me to get one and have it posted home for us to try when we get back.
Don’t want to fiddle with it while we are away.
I was going to wait until Malvern as IH usually bring a fitter to the Owners club rally there but John said that they are not sure if they are even going to attend this year.

 

[carolyn]

Thanks Carolyn. As we will probably pass close to Knottingly on our way home , I phoned today. John was no use at all. “We only fit whole tap assemblies and it doesn’t say on the packet what size “
I think the information you have given me will enable me to get one and have it posted home for us to try when we get back.
Don’t want to fiddle with it while we are away.
I was going to wait until Malvern as IH usually bring a fitter to the Owners club rally there but John said that they are not sure if they are even going to attend this year.

Sorry I couldn’t be more help. I can’t believe they only fit whole replacement units. That’s surprising about Malvern although if they’ve got no stock then I suppose there’s no point. They’re not going to the NEC. See you at Highlands End. We haven’t got tickets for the music, we’re just going to enjoy the walking. One of my cousins is there for part of the weekend and we’re meeting up with two more , one from Yeovil and the other from Stepford wives town (Poundbury Dorchester)!