Are plumbing leaks common?

[klspahr]

Here's the story:
I brought the motor home to the house Wednesday noon. I filled the freshwater tanks and then disconnect the city water. I was in and out loading for this weekends trip. Thursday morning I turned on my 425 watt electric water heater, the water pump was off but the system was more than likely pressurized from use on Wednesday. When I enter a couple hours later, I see a trickle of water a cross the floor. (The hot water tank had reached 136F, the electric element maxes at 148F) I traced the water back to the bathroom sink and I was able to get a good half a turn on the cold water faucet connection. It was the one that was wet. Earlier in my travels I noticed the same issue at the kitchen sink and I also found loose connection on the inside of the valve area. I thought that I tighten the bathroom sink connections too, but maybe I didn't.

Anyone else have these "thumb nut" connection loosen up over time?

I just assume it would be wrong to put a wrench on them since they have the little tabs for fingers on the nut.

[klspahr]

Update:
I opened a faucet and relieved the pressure in the system when the hot water tank was at 136F and closed it. When the tank reached 148F, I opened a faucet - I was surprised how much pressure was in the system! That little 6 gallon tank creates a lot of expansion. I wish I had a pressure gauge on the system.

[Kevin & Judy]

I had a few drain nuts back off over time. What we did to fix that was drill a small hole in the tab and put a saftey wire in it so it can never loosen up again. Just things you learn from Racing cars , saftey wire anything and everything you can , 47 years of racing and never had a part come loose of fall off.

[klspahr]

That's a great idea, I'm getting my drill out when we get home!

[dahagen]

A side note here....any time a hot water heater is set above about 125 degrees the water could burn someone. Be careful at the temps you are mentioning.

[pdqparalegal1]

Originally Posted by Kevin & Judy

I had a few drain nuts back off over time. What we did to fix that was drill a small hole in the tab and put a saftey wire in it so it can never loosen up again. Just things you learn from Racing cars , saftey wire anything and everything you can , 47 years of racing and never had a part come loose of fall off.

Solves a lot of problems.
30+ years prepping race cars.

[oldcomputerwiz]

I would love to see a picture with the safety wire. I just can't visualize it and mine have comne loose so I would be interested in this trick.

Thanks...Steve

[Swift 2]

I found at CW or Ace hardware a little water monitor that is battery powered and sounds off with a loud squeal when a little water leaks out. I have one under the kitchen sink, one in the bathroom under the sink and one under in the water heater area. The batteries seem to last a long time.

[youroo]

Originally Posted by oldcomputerwiz

I would love to see a picture with the safety wire. I just can't visualize it and mine have comne loose so I would be interested in this trick.

Thanks...Steve

Look under (Aircraft Engines) many Pics of (Fasteners secured with Safety Wire) Youroo!!

[dgibbs1955]

I believe that "oldcomputerwiz" was wanting to know what you attached the safety wire to at the other end "youroo".....Being a retired Flight Engineer myself, I am also curious???? There are lots of things to do that to on an engine, but not much in a 5er, or TV.....
I just make it a point of periodically checking all my connections before and after a long trip on the road.

[pdqparalegal1]

Do a simple figure eight withe the wire between the two connectors.

[Bluepill]

Just a note: The nuts used on compression connectors are VERY thin walled. I doubt that there is enough "meat" to drill for safety wire. Old motorcycle racing trick from before the time of nyloc nuts was to use silicone caulk around the heads of fasteners. It always worked for me.