Tami, were the water leaks you mentioned repaired since you inherited the Sunrader? or before?
I ask because if the old plumbing was leaking anywhere, there's a good chance it was/is leaking somewhere else too. Water damage to the floor and or any of the cabinetry can be seen as the single worst threat to the structural? integrity of a Sunrader.? Or of any of these toyhomes we have all come to love.
It would be a good Idea for you to visually trace all of the water lines from the fresh water tank, through the water pump and everywhere else they go,? That would be to the water heater, both hot and cold water to the kitchen sink, and, if your Sunrader has a bathroom sink,? there is both hot and cold water going there, and to the shower, There is also cold water piped to the toilet.
So look for water stains and mushy spots at and or under any and all of the fittings both where the water lines connect to each other, ie, 90 degree elbows, or inline connections for example where the drain valves used for winterizing connect.? Run your hand along each of the water lines everywhere they go and feel for mosture both on the lines and below them on the floor. Use a flashlight. Also, at the water pump and each and every place where the lines connect at their final destination, ie the sinks shower valves, toilet etc.? On the floor, feel for mushy spots especially in front of the bathroom and under the water pump and water heater. Don't be surprised if you find some, as the rig is nearly 40 years old and it would be absolutely shocking if it looked brand new at any of those places, but it would be good to know, and in the process you can find and stop any un-repaired leaks that still exist.
This is critical if you are going to leave your water pump on while not in use. All of the water pumps in these old vehicles are designed to operate when they sense a drop in line pressure. So it follows that even the slightest leak anywhere on the discharge side of the pump will cause a drop in line pressure and even one drop of water every few minutes will cause that pressure to drop enough to make the pump turn on momentarily if the switch is on. So the leak will continue if left unattended until either the battery dies, or the water tank becomes empty. You don't want all of that, (or any of it) sitting on your very thin plywood floor or soaking into the fiberboard your cabinets are all most likely made of. The fresh water tank in my Sunrader shorty is 13 gallons if I'm not mistaken when full.?
It won't fix anything, but a good general practice is to turn off the water pump and depressure the lines by opening both the hot and cold valves momentarily at the kitchen sink for example.?
Good luck, and welcome to the world of toy homemaking!
