Gray tank filling when city water is connected

BVANT1 · 04-07-2018, 10:33 AM

I have a 2011 Georgetown 280DS. On my last trip I was connected to the city water. The morning after I arrived I noticed that my shower pan was full of water and leaking into the bathroom. We didn’t use the water much the day before. Mostly washing hands and dishes, no showers. The gray tank should have only been about 1/4 to 1/3 full at most. Somehow the city water connection was filling my gray tank to the point that it filled the shower pan. Does anyone have any idea what could have caused this? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

donniedu · 04-07-2018, 10:45 AM

The check valve at the water pump has failed.

DieselDrax · 04-07-2018, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by donniedu

The check valve at the water pump has failed.

That would cause the fresh water tank to fill. The OP is talking about their gray water tank, meaning something is draining into the gray water tank and filling it up without any obvious source.

OP, wish I had some ideas. I would think that if a faucet were leaking then it would be obvious, I'm not sure how else the gray tank would fill up as there shouldn't be any hidden sources and drains. Off the top of my head, was this your first trip of the season? Did you winterize before winter? Do you have an outside sink? Only think that popped into my head is if you did have an outside sink and the faucet was left on after winterizing, then when you hooked up to city water it just started running and filled up your gray tank.

I would also expect to hear the sound of water flowing at the city water hookup as well as inside the RV. Anyway, I hope you're able to figure it out and let us know what it was!

dbledan · 04-07-2018, 01:37 PM

I would check for leaks maybe at a washer hook up as well if you have one.

BVANT1 · 04-07-2018, 01:56 PM

No outside sink on my coach. I only have the kitchen sink, bathroom sink and shower. I drained the black and gray tanks after my last trip and emptied anything that might have been left behind as soon as I hooked up to the city sewer. I have heard about the check valve issue as well, but I know that would only cause the fresh water tank to fill. There were no visible leaks on the coach except once the shower pan filled and drained into the bathroom. Luckily the coach was leaning in a direction that caused the water to drain down the side into the plastic storage bins below. Very little water sat in the coach for too long. Thanks for the reply.

cavie · 04-07-2018, 02:28 PM

Do you have black and gray flush valves?

JohnD10 · 04-07-2018, 02:55 PM

Starting to sound like maybe there is a clog in the gray tank and it isn't draining all the way.

Might need to get one of those drain caps that have a hose fitting on it and back flush into the gray tank to see itf that does anything.

BVANT1 · 04-07-2018, 03:32 PM

I do have separate flush valves.

BVANT1 · 04-07-2018, 03:34 PM

I thought the same thing. But when I emptied the gray tank once I found the flooding it drained for quite a while as if it was full. Took longer to drain than usual.

cavie · 04-07-2018, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BVANT1

I do have separate flush valves.

That's where I'd be looking. Stuck flush valve.

doc73 · 04-07-2018, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cavie

That's where I'd be looking. Stuck flush valve.

Bingo, valve might look "closed" but it could be a small leak around the gasket or not quite turning off.

Mike ONeill · 04-08-2018, 01:56 PM

Check shower sprayer it could be off but valves on and appears water is off but is slowly coming out of sprayer, had it happen to me.

Wildwood Danny · 04-08-2018, 02:02 PM

Had this happen, faucet on, shower head shut off bot still allowing water to come out sower head, came back to rig to have gray tank backing into shower.

BVANT1 · 04-08-2018, 02:37 PM

This is very possible. My wife remembered after the fact that she turned off the shower head but forgot to shut off at the valve. I’m hoping that was it. Thanks for all the responses.

bubbles · 04-08-2018, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doc73

Bingo, valve might look "closed" but it could be a small leak around the gasket or not quite turning off.

Bingo, are you serious. The issue is the tank is filling up. Doesn't seem like that would be an issue if the dump valve wont close.

DieselDrax · 04-08-2018, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bubbles

Bingo, are you serious. The issue is the tank is filling up. Doesn't seem like that would be an issue if the dump valve wont close.

Flush valve, not drain valve. The flush valve allows water to be sprayed into the holding tank to help flush it out. If it's not closing all the way and leaking then it will fill the holding tank.

bubbles · 04-08-2018, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DieselDrax

Flush valve, not drain valve. The flush valve allows water to be sprayed into the holding tank to help flush it out. If it's not closing all the way and leaking then it will fill the holding tank.

There is no flush plumbing for the gray tank only the black tank and it has no open/close valve.

DieselDrax · 04-08-2018, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bubbles

There is no flush plumbing for the gray tank only the black tank and it has no open/close valve.

Then the OP misspoke when they said they had flush valves for each tank. Probably meant drain valves.

cavie · 04-08-2018, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BVANT1

I do have separate flush valves.

Just to clarify. I'm referring to fresh water flush valves. Not drain valves.

doc73 · 04-08-2018, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bubbles

Bingo, are you serious. The issue is the tank is filling up. Doesn't seem like that would be an issue if the dump valve wont close.

If one of the flush valves... That flush the tanks is leaking... It would fill a tank would it not? So yes, bingo.

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