Help! Fresh Water Tank leaking into Bilges – 331 Good Dog 2005

[Mark Ashley-Miller]

All, my fresh drinking water tank is leaking into the bilges and empties in 36 hours. I cannot see how to locate the bottom of the tank and see if there is a drain plug and if it is loose or broken. I cannot believe the tank has split. Other thought is, is there a syphon causing it?

Thank you.

Mark markashleymiller@gmail.com

[David Babsky]

We have a 33, not a 331, so I can’t give specifics about yours (..I’m replying to let you know that your plea hasn’t gone unheard!)

On the 33, the floor sections of the saloon lift up, and there’s the – or there are the – fresh water tank(s) with easy accessibility.

To FIND a leak, I’d put just a LITTLE water in the tank(s) with strong, vivid vegetable dye, so that you can see where the water’s leaking out from (..e.g; split tank, cracked seal or bung, etc).

Unfortunately, I don’t know the location of the tank(s) on a 331, but my 1st suspect would be a loose Jubilee clip on one of the pipes which connect the water to the fresh water pump, or a split diaphragm on the pump itself. (On a 33, the pump is under the first settee cover on the port side as you descend into the saloon, but I’ve no idea where it is on a 331; sorry!)

The pipes themselves wouldn’t split – I wouldn’t have thought – as they’re reinforced plastic ..but the junction between pipes and tank(s) and pump would be, I think, the first places to check.

[Mark Ashley-Miller]

David – thanks so much – that is very helpful. I have had a reply from John who has had an identical problem with his 2006 331 where the pipes got a pin prick size hole in them. You would not have though that that could happen. I have no idea how to locate all the pipes – especially as some of them must be deep in the bilge as the tank empties right out all on it’s own (i.e. not with any pump running). No doubt someone does.
I too found some jubilee clips loose under the sink and tightened them to stop another leak I have. I also have one from my fridge area (a door version not top loading version) but that is another story! Thanks. Mark

[Mark Ashley-Miller]

FIXED! It was NOT the water tank, it was the seal around the Isotemp Webasto Water Heater that had spit and was leaking fast – it appears the hot water tank is pressurised all the time even though you do not hear the water pump going. Simple job to replace luckily and a lot less complicated than removing the whole water tank – if that is even possible! Thanks for help. Mark

[David Babsky]

Good to know that you found the leak and easily got it fixed – and good to know, for everyone else’s info, what was actually leaking!

Congratulations on your accomplishment ..and many thanks for letting us all know.

Yours, David.

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