Major leak in new van

[Paul_5068559]

Folks

We took delivery of a brand new Elddis van a week ago, took it out for it's first weekend away and we had a major water leak.

The missus had flushed the water system out with 2 x 40 litre aquarolls on the Friday morning before we set off. We'd used perhaps another 20 litres once on site. By Sat morning we noticed a damp patch spreading on the carpet. Because it was brand new, my wife had opted to leave the plastic sheeting covering the floor just in case of 'learning' upsets. When we lifted the carpet we were greeted with the equivalent of a water bed, water trapped under the plastic sheeting. The water covered 2/3 of the van floor.

We traced the leak to the water supply fitting to the bathroom which is sealed behind walls. When we used any of the van taps, water literally sprayed out of the hole where the hot and cold water pipes penetrate the bathroom wall. I reckon considerably more water must have stayed within the wall cavity.

The van was put back to the dealer on Sat afternoon and would have been left in their yard until Monday am. They have promised to sort it out, but I'm not so sure we want this van back. We've no idea whether the water will cause long term damage or whether it will be OK once dried out and the leak repaired.

Can anyone offer any advice as to whether the damage could be significant?

 

[MickC1]

Hi Paul

Sorry hear about problem. This isn't really what is to be expected of a new 'van. I have had a dripping problem in my Sterling, which was due to the pipes being clamped too tightly which caused the hot hose to not sit squarely in the washroom tap connection. Fortunately I could easily get to the cause of the problem and ten minutes with a screw driver and some tie-wraps sorted it.

I have only had a major water problem along the lines that you have described in my old Bailey. In this case the water in the rear shower had been leaking between the wall and the shower tray whenever we used it. I discovered it one day when standing in the shower I could hear a squelching sound from under the tray. I removed the tray once we got home and found that that floor was black and absolutely soaking. My heart sank, but I left if for a few weeks to dry out and it was fine. I treated the area with a waterproofing wood treatment and resealed the shower tray. It didn't smell damp or show any visible signs of a problem, so until I stood on the tray I was none the wiser.

Once dried out you'll probably be OK. Especially if it was only for a short period. If however there are visible signs of water staining or damp smells, then I should press them harder for either compensation, a proper repair, or if all else fails, a replacement 'van.

 

[Tina3]

Hi Paul

We are talking MAJOR money here, I certainly wouldnt be happy having it back,after all you've paid for a nice new van NOT a damp repaired one ! I think if you accept it back it will probably be ok but you will feel forever cheated, at the end of the day you buy stuff from the high street, if there faulty you get a no quibble replacement, it should be the same as were talking thousands of pounds!! I would phone some trading advice and see what your rights are and if poss get a new replacement,who's to say although the van maybe ok when you get it back but starts to rot only a year or two down the line,

FIGHT FOR A NEW ONE AS THEY'VE SOLD YOU FAULTY GOODS!

hope it all works out !

 

[Paul_5041248]

What a wonderful PDI check the dealer did.

Think I would take the line that the van was not of merchantable quality and reject it.

If it was me I would never be happy with that particular van again and would be waiting for something to go wrong.

 

[PaulA3]

I would not accept this van back under any circumstances,a similar thing happened to me when I bought a brand new van. I accepted it back only to find a few years later that the floor went spongy due to the glue failing the dealer did not want to know then. So no ask for a new van.

 

[Alistair_5042155]

Without any doubt, you should reject this van and seek another one. Do so now in writing and if there is a finance company involved - advise them also. The van you were supplied with was not of merchantable quality and has now been damaged as a result of faulty manufacturing. It may be hassle now but better than finding problems with thsi van later when it's too late.

 

[MickC1]

Hi again Paul

Having read other comments, I would advise caution before confronting the dealer with guns blazing. You have said that your wife had put 80 litres through the system before leaving home and didn't notice any problem. The problematic joint was hidden behind paneling, therefore the PDI tester probably wouldn't have spotted the problem, he would probably only have put a few litres through the system just to check that it worked. This may not have been enough for the problem to show.

From your description though, I would guess that it happened after your journey. The pipes may have flexed enough after traveling over a bumpy road to break the seals. If it was a quick release joint that's failed, then you can't really blame the dealer or caravan manufacturer. You can't expect them to test every single bought in component before fitting them.

I don't think that you'll be able to reject the caravan on the grounds of not fit for purpose. It was fit for purpose at the time of purchase. A component failing when in use isn't anyone's fault in particular. The dealer is only probably obliged to replace the component and make good any damage. If this then proves to be unsatisfactory in some way, then you may have grounds to ask for a new unit.

If the area was only wet for a few hours before you wiped it up then you probably won't notice any problems. This is of course hard to say without seeing it.

I'm playing a bit of Devils Advocate here, and of course fully sympathise with your situation, but I'm just suggesting caution. You'll get a better result from the dealer and more co-operation if you don't go straight into his office and start thumping the desk. See what he says first and take it from there. Speak to the Citizens Advice Bureau if necessary.

 

[PaulA3]

Hi again Paul

Having read other comments, I would advise caution before confronting the dealer with guns blazing. You have said that your wife had put 80 litres through the system before leaving home and didn't notice any problem. The problematic joint was hidden behind paneling, therefore the PDI tester probably wouldn't have spotted the problem, he would probably only have put a few litres through the system just to check that it worked. This may not have been enough for the problem to show.

From your description though, I would guess that it happened after your journey. The pipes may have flexed enough after traveling over a bumpy road to break the seals. If it was a quick release joint that's failed, then you can't really blame the dealer or caravan manufacturer. You can't expect them to test every single bought in component before fitting them.

I don't think that you'll be able to reject the caravan on the grounds of not fit for purpose. It was fit for purpose at the time of purchase. A component failing when in use isn't anyone's fault in particular. The dealer is only probably obliged to replace the component and make good any damage. If this then proves to be unsatisfactory in some way, then you may have grounds to ask for a new unit.

If the area was only wet for a few hours before you wiped it up then you probably won't notice any problems. This is of course hard to say without seeing it.

I'm playing a bit of Devils Advocate here, and of course fully sympathise with your situation, but I'm just suggesting caution. You'll get a better result from the dealer and more co-operation if you don't go straight into his office and start thumping the desk. See what he says first and take it from there. Speak to the Citizens Advice Bureau if necessary.

I did as you advise and ended up with a caravan that was reduced in value when I came to trade it in due to the weak floor. The dealer did not lose out I did so I say again ask for a new van

 

[Pelyma1]

Definately reject the van under the sale of goods act 1979. You would not expect that the plumbing would fail first time out and there is no telling what damage would be done

 

[rayc]

Paul, I realise that you will do what you feel is best for you but I think you will have to work hard to get the dealer to replace the van for this incident. If the leak is fixed and the van allowed to dry out, which at this time of the year shouldn't be a problem, then I think you will have no lasting damage.

 

[MickC1]

I did as you advise and ended up with a caravan that was reduced in value when I came to trade it in due to the weak floor. The dealer did not lose out I did so I say again ask for a new van

Paul, obviously individual cases are hard to comment on, but I suspect that there was a problem with the floor anyway in this case. The adhesive that comes unstuck causing the floor to delaminate shouldn't be affected by a bit of water. If you look under most vans there are holes all over place where pipes etc pass through. This exposes the sandwich of the floor construction to all winds and weathers without any adverse effects.

The floor in the shower that I describe earlier was in a sodden condition for months, it had gone black, but it didn't cause any delamination.

Floors can delaminate for all sorts of reasons. But a bit of water for a few hours isn't going to cause a problem. It probably didn't even have time to soak right through the ply anyway.

 

[PaulA3]

Paul, obviously individual cases are hard to comment on, but I suspect that there was a problem with the floor anyway in this case. The adhesive that comes unstuck causing the floor to delaminate shouldn't be affected by a bit of water. If you look under most vans there are holes all over place where pipes etc pass through. This exposes the sandwich of the floor construction to all winds and weathers without any adverse effects.

The floor in the shower that I describe earlier was in a sodden condition for months, it had gone black, but it didn't cause any delamination.

Floors can delaminate for all sorts of reasons. But a bit of water for a few hours isn't going to cause a problem. It probably didn't even have time to soak right through the ply anyway.

Sorry to be a killjoy about your answer but the floor was only spongy where the leak had been and as I lost nearly

 

[Mike_5041089]

Paul I'd certainly concur with all responses advising you to reject the van and ask for a replacement or your money back. why accept such shoddy workmanship? I had a van a few years ago, regularly serviced every year, which had severe damp when we went to sell it - we had to give it away & lost