Water leak behind/below shower enclosure - how to access most efficiently

[Nils the Viking]

Hello, I am a first time poster on this forum even though I have been through a long learning curve on my DX-3 since 2018.

I have a water leak in a fitting located below/behind the shower enclosure. There is the access port below the shower where I can see the leak which is about 3' away and impossible to reach from there. I have the 35DS model.

How can I most efficiently reach this location? If I unscrew the shower enclosure I can only lift it up maybe 6-8". The "hallway between the shower and bathroom is narrower that the shower so moving it a little doesn't go far. Next option under consideration is to remove the bedroom wall unit lower panelling which is stapled in place. The middle panel is further away but I think just has void space behind it? The panel to the right has the AC and DC circuit breakers / fuse panel and the rear heater blower so more stuff to deal with. Does anyone have a suggestion on best way to access. It's a small drip when the system is energized. So slow that the pump kicks on very infrequently but I got to get it fixed before it leads to water damage. All constructive insights greatly appreciated. Thanks, Nils...

Picture 1 - view through below shower access opening...the leak is in the blue pipe 't' fitting
Picture 2 - bedroom where I am considering going through lower wall unit to access
Picture 3 - picture is rotated 90 deg counter clockwise, shows the 6-8" the shower enclosure could possibly be lifted.

[Larry-NC]

Are those crimped fittings? They look like it. The crimping tools have long handles. You may be able to re-crimp them right from the access panel.

The local Home Depot rents this one for $11 for four hours, $16 for all day.

[Happyatrest]

Sorry to hear that you have a leak but luckily you caught it in time. I know how painful this can be after experiencing a total failure of a PEX crimp at my shower valve while we were at the Western Rally last year. What a mess, but fixable.

I would try access through the lower panel portions of the bedroom cabinetry. If your 2018 35DS is anything like my 2018 36FK (and I am basing this on my memory of the DS floorplan) then you will find your fresh water tank behind the left and center paneling areas. The right paneling which contains the electrical panels has a fairly large void behind it and is movable though with limitations from the associated electrical cabling. The panels remove easily though I was unsuccessful in removing mine without doing a small amount of marring of the panel edges. I believe that accessing the leak in this manner is the least problematic and the easiest to reinstall.

Good luck!

[Nils the Viking]

Thanks for the lead on the crimping tool. I definitely don't have long enough or skinny enough hand/arms to work through the access however.

[Nils the Viking]

Happyatrest - thanks for the insight on the water tank location. I will definitely be working through the right side of the wall unit. One suggestion my very smart wife had was why not remove the right closest bottom/floor, sounded like something that would be easier to fix afterwards and would be less obvious. Any reason that couldn't or shouldn't be done?

[Happyatrest]

No reason you couldn't remove the cabinet flooring to provide access though that would leave you trying to gain access of the under shower area from an elevated position. I see that as being difficult but not impossible.

Look here for some pictures of the tank location in that middle cabinet...

https://www.forestriverforums.com/fo...on-208944.html

[Nils the Viking]

Happyatrest - good point and your pictures were very informative. Appreciate the help.