wet carpet mystery

[mark_374225084]

We have a 2003 Spectrum 540 end bathroom. We had a long weekend away and noticed on the last day the bathroom carpet soaking wet. We use a carpet mat over the carpet in front of the (central) sink and to step onto out of the shower, and this had stayed dry, so hadn't noticed any build up of wet beneath.

First assumption was the sky light as it had rained quite hard, but this was closed and had not been open (carpet mat would have been wet!). The water looked as though it had spread from below the central sink, but had soaked the carpet as far as the drawers and nearly up to the toilet base (offside).

On return we dried out the carpet and I proceeded to check for leaks in the drain pipes from sink and shower, and also the hot/cold feeds, what we could see of them- which isn't much. Despite leaving the shower/sink on, and using several tanks of hot and cold water, wastemaster full, absolutely no sign of leaks.

I had thought that a full wastemaster may have caused the waste water to 'back-up' through the pipes and above the floor level and then maybe seeped out somewhere; but testing this again couldn't simulate any water ingress. No sign of any wet areas beneath the van externally. A real mystery.

Anyone had similar experience or any theories?

Mark

 

[Roy2]

We had a simular experiance with our Spectrum 540(2004).It turned out to be the shower tap leaking into the housing,filling with water and leaking back behind the shower wall and eventually seeping out of the airing cupboard at floor level (near the blower outlet) soaking the carpet.Returned under waranty.New tap and housing fitted (apparently a known problem with this batch of taps)Also the new housing had a small hole at the bottom,this would drain to the shower if it failed again.Had quite a few problems with the 540 but overall ok.Traded in for a 2007 535 last week.Initall fellings very good and the island bed is different class.Roy

 

[Clive-Cardiff]

Hi Mark, We had the same trouble when we were touring Spain and Portugal earlier this year. We searched everywhere but it was not until we got to portugal that I found that the shower cubicle mastic had failed low down by the door. It looked ok, but when you looked closer and pushed the panel the joint opened up.

I bought some silcon mastic and a gun and went over the area, getting the mastic well into the joint.

So far, touch wood, we have had no further problems.

Hope this helps.

Clive

 

[mark_374225084]

Roy, Clive,

Thanks very much for that info; extremely interesting. I will check the shower cubicle area and taps at the weekend, and report back. Sadly we're out of warranty since July, but will be interesting to hear what Abbey say if we pinpoint the problem.

Thanks again.

Must admit we have not been that impressed with this Abbey having owned 2 Baileys previously, and considering the price premium. Small breakages- blinds and fly screens and fridge shelves not fitting or missing.

 

[Guest]

One thing that may be the issue is that the shower trays in vans are usually plastic mouldings. These will flex far more easily than say the domestic earthenware type so when showering the stresses will sooner or later find the gaps. It is also the disadvantage of having fitted carpets, you cannot see where water is creeping to.

 

[mark_374225084]

Roy, Clive (Cardiff)

Hope you're still aound on this topic. I've just spent this afternoon having a shower on a full internal tank and an aquaroll. I stayed in the shower until the hot water water ran out, then left it on until both tanks empty. My theory was that my weight on the shower tray may be opening up a joint or similar. (Fitted carpets are a real pain when trying to trace a leak; they must fit the carpet before putting any fittings in position!)

Clive can you indicate where your panel/joint problem was?

Could I get any sign of a leak, not a drop! Carpet perfectly dry. As our last experience ocurred during a 4-day holiday, I can only presume that the water builds up over time. I contacted Abbey but they just suggested taking van to dealer.

I have checked in the airing cupboard for leaks,-dry, and also examined the tap/soap housing. The housing does have a half inch cut-out at the bottom as you mentioned, but no indication of any leaks.

I have now drained down for winter, and annual service will be next April time. I will write to Abbey with more details, and quoting instances were other owners have had similar problem. If they deny any problems all I can do is mention problem to the guys doing the service, (Bailey dealer!) but if I can't replicate problem, don't hold out much hope.

 

[Roy2]

Mark,

Would look like its not the shower!! From 2004 year the carpets were removeable so it was very easy to find the leek.Has the problem happened again? if not perhaps a leaky joint in the plumming has cleared (not un-common).

Overall we were fairly please with our 540,but more happy with the front parallel seating and the island bed in the 535,so far so good no problems as yet after 20 nights since sept.

roy

 

[KiwiPete]

Hi Mark

We had a mysterious wet carpet in the bathroom of our Ace. Its only happened once but on another occassion, after filling the toiet cistern I noticed water around the flushing handle.

I suspect that the first wet carpet could have been caused by my putting a hose in to the exterior filler and maybe over filling.

Just maybe you could have done the same.

 

[Clive-Cardiff]

Hi Mark,

The shower cubicle on our van consists of mouled plastic panels, joined with vertical seems of glue or mastic. The seem that opened up was alonside the door on a side that was not suported by a wall.

The problem was that the seem looked tight until pressure was applied to the panels and the it opened up.

The seem was on the same side as the shower head so there was'nt a flow of water directly onto it, just the usual splashing (if there had been I may have found it sooner or been flooded out)

 

[Clive-Cardiff]

Hi Mark,

The shower cubicle on our van consists of mouled plastic panels, joined with vertical seems of glue or mastic. The seem that opened up was alonside the door on a side that was not suported by a wall.

The problem was that the seem looked tight until pressure was applied to the panels and the it opened up.

The seem was on the same side as the shower head so there was'nt a flow of water directly onto it, just the usual splashing (if there had been I may have found it sooner or been flooded out)

Sorry for the spelling -I'm going to have to find a spellchecker

 

[mark_374225084]

Roy, Pete, Clive,

Thanks for further info; as you say maybe a one-off, I'll have to think backover what I did that weekend, but SWMBO also mentioned it happening on our summer holiday; flush tank for toilet also needs investigation. Problem was we use a mat over the carpet to stand on, so by the time wet was discovered, it was difficult to trace its origin.

Thanks for help.

Mark

 

[COLIN_5095629]

I HAD SAME PROBLEM THIS SUMMER,THE CARPET WAS WET INFRONT OF THE FRIDGE,I THOUGHT IT WASTHE FRIDGE NOT WORKING DUE TO THE HOT WEATHER.HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN WHEN IN KESWICK LAST MONTH .I REMOVED THE UTENSAL DRAW AND WITH THE USE OF A MIRROW AND A TORCH LOOKED AT THE TAP CONNECTIONS UNDER THE SINK ,THE COLD WATER WAS ONLY JUST DRIPPING,IT WAS THEN RUNNING ALONG THE TOP OF THE FRIDGE THEN DOWN THE SIDE .I HAD TO REMOVE THE SINK TO GET AT THE TAP FITTINGS.HAD TO REMOVE THE CARPET AS IT WAS SOAKED ALL ALONG ONE SIDE,MY VAN IS A LUNAR ZENITH

 

[Allyson]

Mark

Have you use your shower since you discovered the wet carpet?

On our first outing out this year hubby filled the aqua roller and I turned on the pump and tap to fill the kettle, I could hear water filling and I thought it was the tank because we had emptied it last year to stop it freezing, anyway the bathroom door was open and I happened to look and saw water running from underneath the shower cubile and along in front of the wardrobe and heading towards the toilet and sink. I shouted to my husband to come in and I turned off the pump. No shower or anything in the bathroom had been turned on so we could not understand why the leak was coming from under the shower cubile.

Next Jeff cut very carefully away at the mastic and pulled back the plastic facia on the shower only to find that the jubilee clip had come lose and the pipe had come off the connectors from the shower taps.

This was causing the water to find a way out under the shower unit.

Worth a look at.

The year before we had a split connector on the hot water pipe on the water tank. Looks like they must very the weak point and blow / split.