Water draining into sink when pump is turned off

[Big Red Camper]

OK, I give up.......I de-winterized my A frame and drained the fresh water tank after sanitizing the water system. I turned off the pump and opened the water faucets in the sink.

I began to notice some water ever so slowly draining/seeping into the sink from the faucet and eventually it drained out the side of the camper from the gray water outlet. I can't figure this out. What would make water drip/seep from the faucet when the pump is off. Also there is so very little water left in the fresh water tank after I drained it.

I did close the two faucets (cold and hot) on the sink and the water stopped draining out of the faucet.

I'm pretty sure I followed this same process last year and did not have any water draining from the faucet into the sink. Could this be an internal pressure thing from water left in the hot water heater?? Again both the cold and hot water faucets were left open after draining the fresh water tank so I would not think there would be any internal pressure.

Thanks for your input!

[Teamfour]

Was city water hooked up and turned on? If so it is likely that the check valve in the pump has debris in it.

[mudman2]

Same thing here. I don't use the sink but prior to end of warranty I tested it. Worked fine hot and cold. Shut everything off and noticed weeks later when I was checking damp rid, sink was half full. It kept dripping water sporadically for a while. Curious to hear other explanations .


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[Big Red Camper]

Teamfour - Nope - was not hooked up to city water supply.


Mudman - Thanks - looks like I'm not the only one....very strange.


Hopefully someone can answer this.

[handbuilder]

I pull the low water drains to drain the sink line. It's become part of the take down routine.

[Big Red Camper]

Thanks Handbuilder,


That was a learning experience. I opened the two (hot and cold) low point release valves below the sink and immediately heard water draining out the bottom of the camper. I'm assuming since I'd previously drained the fresh water tank, and had NOT drained the hot water heater tank that this water was from the hot water tank and water lines??


In your opinion then, the water that was in the lines and hot water tank was somehow having enough pressure to make the water drip out from the sink faucets when the faucets were in the open position/pump turned off/fresh water tank drained?


This leads me to another question.....during winterization, if I'm successfully draining out all the water (fresh water tank, water heater, low point drainage valves, water filter, etc.) is there really a need to use the pink antifreeze that I have used the past two winters to winterize my water system?


You know how this goes, one question answered leads to an aha moment and then leads to another question!!


Thanks for your help and input!

[Herk7769]

Big Red,

Draining the hot water heater through the low point drains allows crud from the bottom of the hot water heater to be stirred up and get sucked into your cold water PEX tubing. When you subsequently pressurize the cold water system, those bits can be pushed into your toilet flush valve and cold water water clogging them or causing them to leak.

Always close the heater's winterization valves and use the outside drain/anode port to drain the tank.

[Big Red Camper]

Thanks Herk,


So I'll drain the hot water heater as usual and only use the low point water valves to drain out remaining water from water lines.

[Herk7769]

Originally Posted by Big Red Camper

Thanks Herk,


So I'll drain the hot water heater as usual and only use the low point water valves to drain out remaining water from water lines.

Yes sir, that is the best way to do it.

Your leaking faucets might be cleared of debris with some LOW pressure compressed air blown into the faucet with the faucet valves and low point drains open. If they still leak after that, you may need to replace the faucet.

Prevention is way easier. I found this out for myself many years ago when I found heater crud in my toilet valve. My lesson learned.

[Sebourn]

Herk.
We've only been out 4 times so far but before leaving CG, I've been opening the hot and cold low points to drain everything. So should I be leaving these closed all the time and only open when doing weatherization? When getting instructions from the dealer when we picked it up, not sure this was even covered. Thanks

[Herk7769]

Originally Posted by Sebourn

Herk.
We've only been out 4 times so far but before leaving CG, I've been opening the hot and cold low points to drain everything. So should I be leaving these closed all the time and only open when doing weatherization? When getting instructions from the dealer when we picked it up, not sure this was even covered. Thanks

I leave the low point drains closed all the time, except when winterizing.

City water has chlorine in it and since the pipes are dark, it will not break down and continue to keep the pipes bacteria free.

If you drain, this protection is gone and you should sanitize your plumbing when you refill the pipes.

If you do drain the plumbing, just set the heart winterization valves to winterize position and then drain the hot water heater from the outside and the pipes from the low point drains.