Red hot water drain tube

[dav7158]

On our recent trip, the red tube under our MH dripped constantly even when hot water heater had not been used recently. It was a steady drip. (Shore water, pump not used.). I’ve never seen this. Any ideas or things I should check?

[TitanMike]

Originally Posted by dav7158

On our recent trip, the red tube under our MH dripped constantly even when hot water heater had not been used recently. It was a steady drip. (Shore water, pump not used.). I’ve never seen this. Any ideas or things I should check?

Water trapped in the system can expand if the ambient temps heat up. This pressurizes the system and leaks can occur in the hot (or cold) connections even if they haven't been used recently.

Tighten the cap and open a faucet inside for a moment. See if it continues.

[dav7158]

Thanks Mike but the constant drip was from the drain tube itself, not a connection, and lasted more than a day, even with the hot water heater off all day. (It was warm where we were .. the cold tap water was, shall we say, tepid!).

[NavyLCDR]

Does you low point drain have a cap or a shutoff valve?

[dav7158]

It has an attachment that one screws or unscrews to open or close the drain. It appears to be closed now and may have also been closes when I had the problem. It looked like the discharge was from the tube, but maybe not??

[NavyLCDR]

Maybe give the threads on the male fitting on the end of the tube a wrap of teflon tape. Or replace that whole fitting/cap with a valve. The hot water lines will be pressurized anytime you have city water connected or the water pump running regardless of if you are using the water heater or not.

[TitanMike]

Is it possible that the leak is at the next connection up the tube and water is just following the tube surface down until it drips?

[KKonyha]

There is a gasket inside the cap. Is it possible that it is worn or was removed if you have drained the system. I know we typically drain our system after each camping trip and the gasket sometimes sticks on the male end.

[dav7158]

No sign of water upstream.

[dav7158]

The cap on the end of the red drain tube appears in good condition. When I loosened it, a little water drained out .. I guess trapped in the line.

[5picker]

Originally Posted by dav7158

The cap on the end of the red drain tube appears in good condition. When I loosened it, a little water drained out .. I guess trapped in the line.

Both the low point drains (hot and cold) are simply extensions of the plumbing system in the R/V.

Anytime there is pressure in the system, either from a city water connection or the pump, there is pressurized water in those low point drains, just as there is in every other pipe in the R/V.

That is why you can drain the plumbing system from them.
Some have caps on the very ends that stick out below the R/V, some have a valve further up inside the R/V and the tube is open underneath the R/V so it doesn't freeze in cold climates.

Maybe this will help... a generic plumbing schematic.

[dav7158]

I'm starting to think that the valve to open the drain was a little loose allowing the pressure to cause the link.. Correction, I'm HOPING that this was the cause. It had never happened before but there is a first time for everything.

ed