Common issues with motorhome water systems

1) Everything that goes down the plughole from your washbasin, shower tray and sink, will go into your waste tank and, if this isn’t cleaned, it can start to smell, with the pong coming into the living area.

To avoid this, try to stop food debris, etc, going into the tank, but you’ll also need to periodically clean the waste tank. Most ’vans should have an access panel in the tank to enable this. An affordable and practical product to do this job is Thetford’s Grey Water Fresh.

2) Pressure-activated water pumps are generally reliable but be aware that, if you have a water leak, they can activate automatically and pump water out of any hole or detached hose connector. Draining down over winter, and switching the water pump off when it’s not in use can prevent this.

The tell-tale sign of a water leak (or a failing water pump pressure switch) is if the pump keeps switching on and off when no taps are open. If a water pump does this, try adjusting the pressure valve to see if it stops the pump actuating. If it doesn’t and you’ve checked for any leakage, then suspect the pressure switch.

3) Although (as stated above) water pumps are generally reliable, the microswitches on the taps can fail. If the water pump works on the kitchen tap, but not on the washroom basin, then it suggests the washroom tap has failed or has a wiring issue.

It’s easy to check if a microswitch tap works with a multimeter. Set the multimeter to its continuity setting and connect its probes to either end of the two wires coming out of the tap. If the meter doesn’t beep or indicate a connection when the tap is opened, the microswitch has failed and the tap will need replacing. Taps are generally easy to replace, but this depends on the access underneath them.

4) Any underslung water tank is also more prone to damage than an internal tank, so they need to be checked regularly for leaks or damaged piping.