Fresh Water leak? I have a '99 450 Bridge and seem to be losing fresh water.

[Son of a son]

about 48 hours after filling the tank, I am about at half full with little to no usage. I do hear the water pump running briefly every so often, so I wonder if something (water heater?) has a leak and keeps drawing from the tank.

I see water accumulated under my starboard engine and there is some water in the compartment where my aft sump is. (this may be another issue. the sump box down there is dry but there is water all around it).

Any advice on how and where to start looking for my fresh water leak?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Shaps]

If it is fresh water, go to your water manifold and close off all zones. Then open 1 at a time to see when the pump eventually kicks on.

 

[skolbe]

Is your hot water pressure relief valve leaking?

 

[The Bill Collector]

I have replaced 99% of my freshwater fittings as they all seem to fail sooner than later... The fun ones are located behind the cabinets in the galley and the aft head on my boat.

 

[LMBoat]

Son,

I have the same boat. I don't have a water manifold with valves where you can turn things off, but look in the floor compartment in front of the guest head. That's where many of the connections are and if anything is leaking (including the water heater) water will be there. PS, be sure the water heater is turned off before you look. If that compartment is flooded (and mine has twice), there is no bilge to pump water out and it does not drain anywhere (bad SR design). The water heater could be submerged and would be an electrocution hazard.

You have lots of plumbing to check. Both showers, all the sinks. Check the washer/dryer. Do you have an ice maker on the bridge? Could be a leak there. Also look at your transom shower.

Then check your pumps and accumulator <mine is by the water heater>.

Does the water tank empty with Pumps are off? <both of them> If it does, then you might have a tank fitting leaking. You have two 50 gal tanks under the salon floor right as you walk down the stairs. They are connected together. You could have leak in one of the tanks or the connections.

The water around your aft sump box (I'm assuming you mean in the salon for the AC condensation) is most likely from water leaks at the sliding glass door. Some caulking will fix that.

Good luck. Let me know if you need anything else. Let us know what you find.

 

[northern]

Is the pipe plastic grey PEX type and are the fittings screwed clamp type. We have both and the fittings leak over time. Last one to leak was to the ice maker. I found it one night while sitting in the salon with all things off could hear drip drip.

 

[The crime scene]

Check the accumulater tank first. The engine room spray down hose second. Make sure the valve is not partially open and the nozzle cracked. They crack and leak frequently. I doubt you have a water line leaking unless you damaged one while working on the boat. Marine Pex water lines are very durable.

Keith