Question for Ant re water pipes

[Pauline]

I thought I would direct this question at Ant but if anyone else has any ideas or opinions please do join in.

Hi Ant, could you tell me if there would be any water pipes running above the back doors of our Dimension?

The reason I ask:

When the weather started to turn colder Graham drained out all the water system and water heater. The van hasn't been driven since then. (about 2 weeks)

Today as I drove away from home I could hear water running, I thought perhaps it was the tap and some water had got left behind and was now draining away.

When I could safely stop to investigate I found that the sink and tap were dry but water was splashed all inside the back window (sink side) and all over the draining board towards the back. It was also down the back between door and fridge cupboard.

The door seal seemed dry and so did the drain tap for the water heater.

So I wonder if either there are pipes above the doors hidden behind the panels that have leaked, or whether it was possible for the door seal to have let water in, although as I say it did appear dry.

The van is parked on the front of our house and the ground slopes down both ways, i.e. so that the drivers side front wheel is the lowest (hope that makes sense!)

If there are no pipes above the door to leak do you think because of the way it's parked that rain water might have collected in the top of the door and when it levelled up on the road the water got in?

Your opinion would be greatly appreciated.

[wendy]

Could the water be coming in through the small roof vent? I have had a cold shower in the morning when sliding back the plastic blind when we have left the vent open and had heavy rain overnight.
This theory falls down if you leave the blind open and presumably you don't leave the vent open when parked on the drive. There was a distinct bulge in the blind on one occasion where water had collected. My theory continues with the water running out onto the draining board and then splashing onto the back door.

[Pauline]

I've been out and double checked, the blind is open, the roof vent is closed and there is no sign of water around it at all.

It was a good thought though Wendy, thanks

[wendy]

Back to the drawing board!

[johns1]

Here is my small contribution for what it is worth.
When we had our leaking front roof vent I only really pinpointed the problem by looking at the roof lining in a good light, and feeling around the edges.
Hope you can soon sort out this problem

[Pauline]

Thanks John, will have to get up close and personal to investigate I think.

It rained heavily overnight so I went out this morning and carefully opened the back doors to see if anything came in but it was all as dry as a bone.

Very puzzling

[ant]

Hi Pauline.
Sadly there are no water pipes above the rear door in the Dimension, they run behind the rear seats under the floor.
There are two possibilities for your leak. The first is the rear door seal, this I think unlikely as water never goes uphill and you would have had a wet floor rather than a wet sink drainer. The other is the roof has let some rain in. Now there are various places it can do this and in my experience it's the least obvious place. The roof vent in the kitchen normally wets the head lining when it leaks ( other than Wendys leak through the actual vents and onto the blind). The roof itself is sealed to the rear rain gutter it is possible that has failed but unlikely. My guess is the upper brake light fitting has leaked and the water has built up inside the roof and settled on the inner part of the original van, this is vented into the vehicle where the rear curtain track runs. I suspect when you drove round the first corner the water rushed to the sink side, breached the vent and came in. I have only had one Dimension do it before and thats where the leak was but without poking about I can only guess at this stage.
Try making up a strong solution of screen wash mixture and tipping it over the brake light, you should be able to see the blue mix and smell the alcohol inside the van.

Good luck
Ant

[Pauline]

Thanks Ant,

We will try the screen wash test at the weekend and also have a good look around the brake light strip.

It's the first time the van has stood for any length of time so it's likely that the water buit up to a considerable amount due to all the rain we've had. Normally the van is driven at least twice a week so any water might have just dripped away and dried up without being noticed until now.

Thanks again for your help.

[yamaha]

Ant said "see the blue mix and smell the alcohol inside the van".

Don't sniff that alchol too much, Pauline - remember what you were like when you came back from the Pub at CN - singing and shouting!!



Mike ;D

[Graham]

It's all right for you Mike you didn't have to carry her back down all those dark country lanes. ;D

Graham

[Pauline]

Honestly you two!! You're confusing me with Wendy again aren't you?! ;D

Anyway, back to this watery van.

Went out this afternoon and although there was no sudden downfall like yesterday, there was definite wetness around the curtain rail when I arrived at my destination.

We've probably not noticed it before because there won't be much build up of water if the van is moved regularly.

Ant's theory is now the most likely so it will be just a matter of finding where the water is getting in, starting with that brake light!

[wendy]

There's a letter from my solicitor in the post!

[Pauline]

Well, we've spent the afternoon pouring various amounts of water over the van and then taking it for a drive to see if the water came out as before. (At least it kept the old dears across the road entertained behind their net curtains wondering what on earth we were doing!

First we tried the strong screen wash over the rear brake light. Nothing seemed to happen and all was dry.

Second we errr, Graham, washed the van. Again nothing happened.

Third he got the hosepipe and directed it around the small roof vent. Nothing happened during the drive but on return he backed it onto the parking place so that the corner where the water had previously come out was at the lowest point. After about a minute water was rushing down, it sounded like it was inside the van and was pouring out just behind the bumper. No water came inside the van near the curtain rail as before but there was water on the cooker and drips around the roof light. Although we wonder if by using the hose it had forced the water in through the roof light rather than it being an actual leak ?

But it's obvious that water is getting into the roof somewhere so we will have to give you a call Ant and arrange to come down, if you think you could have a look in the New Year.

We would have a gas and electric check at the same time.

Will be in touch as we will have to arrange camping to coincide with the booking we make with you. We would probably stay at Baltic Wharf unless there are any good sites nearer to you?

[moya]

admin said:

Well, we've spent the afternoon pouring various amounts of water over the van and then taking it for a drive to see if the water came out as before. (At least it kept the old dears across the road entertained behind their net curtains wondering what on earth we were doing!

By the sound of it Pauline you gave your neighbours great entertainment. I hope you manage to get it sorted out eventually. I think Ant might be having a few visitors when the weather gets better.

[wendy]

When we went out today, I had to be on 'water watch' as we went off the driveway! That was after carefully checking everywhere before we drove off. Fortunately no sign of wet, but we've already had our turn with the big roof vent leaking.

[ant]

Hi Pauline .
Sorry for the delay in the reply I've been a bit busy, with unexpected work ( always seems to be the case after high winds and heavy rain- can't think why!).
Give me a call in the new year and we'll take your van to bits and find the water track, I still favour the brake light, it may only leak while driving.
Ant

[Pauline]

Cheers Ant, will do that.

No need to apologise for any delay in replies, we all know how busy you are and by the sound of it you will be even busier in the Spring with all our various problems.

At this rate we'll be having a Small Motorhome at Avon Motors meet!! ;D