Fresh water tank issues

[Blacktank Violator]

2024 Forest River 178bhsk
When I fill fresh water tank it comes out my city water connection. Also When I turn on my fresh water 12v pump the water comes out the city water connection.
When I hook up to city water everything works normal..
Any Ideas ???

 

[fipntdot]

Sounds like there is a check-valve in your city water inlet that is not closing.

 

[bikendan]

Check valve on water pump is stuck.
This a common issue and the solution has been posted many times.
Do a search in this sub-forum.

 

[Reverse_snowbird]

Turn off the city water.
Then turn on the water pump and open and close a faucet several times to reduce pressure.
Turn off the water pump, connect the city water. Turn on the city water.
This should reset the valve.

Occasionally this has to be done more than once. If it doesn't work, you may need to replace a check valve in the water pump.
Never leave the water pump on when connected to city water.

Welcome to the forum!

 

[Blacktank Violator]

Turn off the city water.
Then turn on the water pump and open and close a faucet several times to reduce pressure.
Turn off the water pump, connect the city water. Turn on the city water.
This should reset the valve.

Occasionally this has to be done more than once. If it doesn't work, you may need to replace a check valve in the water pump.
Never leave the water pump on when connected to city water.

Welcome to the forum!

I believe the check valve is built into the pump. If this method doesn't work look like I'm buying a pump. It's weird I heard of people connect to city and fill their fresh tank but, that doesn't happen. I'm the complete opposite. I fill fresh tank and comes out city water.

Thanks for info and heads up. Any suggests on a good quality pump ?

 

[Oaklevel]

Instead of replacing the pump (If it works well otherwise) you could just ad a check valve at the pump.

 

[5picker]

I don't believe it's the check valve in the pump but rather the check valve in the city water connection, If when USING the pump, water comes out the city water connection.

It could have gotten damaged during winterization or frozen if you didn't winterize properly.

Short term fix is screw $1 garden hose shut-off in the city water connection until you get it fixed.

 

[Aussieguy]

Generally there are 2..... check valves
First one is at the pump ... stops water going back into the tank
if it were stuck open the tank will overflow when you are on city water you will eventually fill up the tank

Not on city water.... the pump will always cycle on/off cause water is leaking back into the tank
you won't see water on the ground

------------------------------
The second valve is usually right behind the city water connection
you will find a puddle of water on the ground if this valve is leaking

take the filter screen out of the city connection you will see the valve
turn on the water pump..... use a soft plastic stick or something....... to gently push the valve open.
this allows the pump to flush out any debris that could be holding the valve open just a bit

if that doesn't fix the problem
you have to take the whole city water fitting off the RV......
unscrew it from wall / water panel to access the valve
you can buy a new valve from any hardware store or local camping world type store


If you have a big 5th wheel or motor home theWATER SYSTEM may have manual valves you have to open/close

 

[Mookie58]

Once you get this issue resolved tell us how you chose your Forum name.

 

[Blacktank Violator]

Generally there are 2..... check valves
First one is at the pump ... stops water going back into the tank
if it were stuck open the tank will overflow when you are on city water you will eventually fill up the tank

Not on city water.... the pump will always cycle on/off cause water is leaking back into the tank
you won't see water on the ground

------------------------------
The second valve is usually right behind the city water connection
you will find a puddle of water on the ground if this valve is leaking

take the filter screen out of the city connection you will see the valve
turn on the water pump..... use a soft plastic stick or something....... to gently push the valve open.
this allows the pump to flush out any debris that could be holding the valve open just a bit

if that doesn't fix the problem
you have to take the whole city water fitting off the RV......
unscrew it from wall / water panel to access the valve
you can buy a new valve from any hardware store or local camping world type store


If you have a big 5th wheel or motor home theWATER SYSTEM may have manual valves you have to open/close

I think you hit the nail on the head. I do commercial HVAC for a living and understand plumbing / hydronics very well. I don't however know campers 100% yet. I will doing to little homework.

Yes you are correct in saying when use my city water connection I never fill the fresh water tank. The check valve at pump is good. I wasn't aware there was a 2nd check valve but after your comment and further investigation of my campers plumbing there has to be a 2nd check valve. I say this only because the way Forest river plumbed my camper if the fresh water pump is on water would definitely come out the city water connection without it being there.

I'm going to take a picture and post my city water connection hook up after I remove and replace.
Just in case anyone is wondering I use a pressure reducing valve and water filter . I never use above 40psi going into camper.

 

[Blacktank Violator]

Once you get this issue resolved tell us how you chose your Forum name.

So I was at a campground with friends and this was before I had my own camper. I had a few in me and had to go. But my buddy's wife is a person that always needs to add her 2cents to everyone's conversations. So went in my friends toilet in his camper. They didn't see me go in the camper to handle my business. Left it for his wife to find
They did find out it was me because i couldn't hold back any longer. The reaction was priceless. Needless to say she wasn't adding her 2cents to our conversations anymore since I'm on her S#!t list now....


Granted I'm expecting pay backs because we are camping at same places this year. So I'm sure my buddy will try to get me back

 

[Blacktank Violator]

I don't believe it's the check valve in the pump but rather the check valve in the city water connection, If when USING the pump, water comes out the city water connection.

It could have gotten damaged during winterization or frozen if you didn't winterize properly.

Short term fix is screw $1 garden hose shut-off in the city water connection until you get it fixed.

I think your correct I will post a Pic of old one once I remove it. Thanks for heads up.
I did use the water pump to pump RV antifreeze throughout and running through every water termination till it came out. Including water heater because it is a tankless. After that I still blew out the system with air less then 20 psi . However I never put any antifreeze through the city connection. I will Know soon

 

[Mookie58]

So I was at a campground with friends and this was before I had my own camper. I had a few in me and had to go. But my buddy's wife is a person that always needs to add her 2cents to everyone's conversations. So went in my friends toilet in his camper. They didn't see me go in the camper to handle my business. Left it for his wife to find
They did find out it was me because i couldn't hold back any longer. The reaction was priceless. Needless to say she wasn't adding her 2cents to our conversations anymore since I'm on her S#!t list now....


Granted I'm expecting pay backs because we are camping at same places this year. So I'm sure my buddy will try to get me back

That's a funny story. I bet she had a different name for you.

 

[Larry-NC]

Not only is there a check valve within the city water connection, but I can tell you exactly how it got stuck.

When you remove the fill hose from the city water connection, you will see a cone-shaped screen with a "hose washer" on it. If you pop this out (small tool needed), you will see a plastic stem sticking out. Pushing this stem in SLIGHTLY overrides the check valve and allows water out. (Some people do this when winterizing to get anti-freeze into the short stub segment of tubing behind water connection.)

If you push that stem in a tiny bit too much, the internal O-ring drops off the larger diameter shaft into a smaller diameter corresponding to the stem that was depressed. The valve cannot retract, then and the check valve failure has occurred.

To fix:
Disconnect the tubing from the connection on the inside. Use a heat gun to soften the caulk and butyl tape on the outside, undo the screws, and remove the valve.
You have two options at this point:

1. Install a new valve.
2. Hold the valve in a vertical position, press the stem in, shake or use a tool from the top to wiggle the O-ring back into the proper position, and hope it wasn't cut when it was crimped by the valve.

Ask me how I know this.

By the way, there's nothing urgent about fixing it. I simply put on a male garden hose plug on the outside for most of the summer before I replaced the connection.

 

[Aussieguy]

I don't have a lot of grip in fingers any more
real PITA to connect the hose to that standard plastic crappy inlet

I bought a good BRASS 90deg elbow
it's easy to screw in and then attach the water hose to the other end of the elbow

 

[KESmith]

Was the shower switched turned on to recycle. When hooked up up to City water and the switches recycle the water goes right into the clean tank and then overflows really easy fix. The switch in the shower should be up for shower in the middle for off and down for recycling the water back into the freshwater tank. When you hooked up to the City, you don’t need the recycling.

 

[gcisom]

2024 Forest River 178bhsk
When I fill fresh water tank it comes out my city water connection. Also When I turn on my fresh water 12v pump the water comes out the city water connection.
When I hook up to city water everything works normal..
Any Ideas ???

If the small cone filter is installed backwards it can cause the check valve not to work.

 

[NMWildcat]

Before you replace anything...

Remove the cone screen/washer from city connection and you will see the white plastic post that Aussie and Larry-NC described. I have 'fixed' this problem many times for folks by simply flicking this post (usually without pressure) to get it to seat properly. Very rarely have I had to replace the entire check valve assembly.

Something to try before replacing.

 

[Chuck_S]

Quickest 100% solution is simply replace the inlet. $20 and 20 minutes with hand tools and a bit of caulk. Several pictures above. This is what I used. Amazon will have it on your front porch tomorrow and you can install it at home.

 

[ejl923]

I don't have a lot of grip in fingers any more
real PITA to connect the hose to that standard plastic crappy inlet

I bought a good BRASS 90deg elbow
it's easy to screw in and then attach the water hose to the other end of the elbow

Not to mention a LOT less stress on the connection, I do the same.