Hi there Oliver Family,
I'm Claudia and I'm the new proud owner of hull #184! I had the pleasure of meeting Char and inheriting their beautiful rig! It was a bittersweet meeting in light of her recent loss but I made sure to let her know that their trailer couldn't have gone to a more impassioned owner. I owned my Casita (OCD - obsessive casita disorder) for nearly ten years and I'm busy transferring, organizing and decorating my new home, who's now been christened 'ILOVHER'
I'm struggling a bit with storage (believe it or not) as OCD had a rear cargo box. Drawers are going to take getting used to as well since there is no storage under the dinette seats! Where do y'all put pots and pans and the daggit cleaning supplies??? I'm enjoying the process but I do have a lot to learn, esp. the Andersen WDH, but I'm determined to figure it all out so I can get out and CAMP!
I realize the 'search' function is my friend and I'm very adept at that since my membership at casitaforum.com and casitaclub.com started in 2012. I learned all I know from those amazing folks!
OK, now.. I've dewinterized the trailer and started the process of making sure the basic appliances and water are working but I DO have a couple initial questions that I can't find.
I had some issues with little to zero water in the bath and or toilet using the city water connection. I studied the 'normal use' valve diagram and still couldn't get water to flow. After removing the toilet tank supply line, I was able to clear a ton of sand and debris from the intake valve with a mirror lying on my stomach over the toilet (lets just say ~uncomfortable) using a pair of blunt tweezers! I didn't want to take the valve off to create a leak. The valve screen was completely blocked with dirt! After that, I was able to get water to the toilet. The other issue I had was the bathroom faucet needed to be taken apart and cleaned along with the pump pre-filter. I am going to use vinegar in the lines overnight to make sure there isn't any other crud 'hanging' around...
So here are my questions:
1. I haven't quite figured out how to use the pump to draw water (or vinegar mix) into the fresh water tank but I've watched the video. Do you really have to move all of your bedding to access the valves to do this?? I find that somewhat inconvenient since we have big custom mattresses. My simple siphon method used on my Casita was easy-peasy! Am I missing something obvious?? Do I really have to go in and out of the trailer to accomplish boondock water refilling? Is there a simpler method?
2. I have the city water connection hooked up streetside to the correct input and works fine at the faucets BUT... IT IS SLOWLY FILLING THE FRESH WATER TANK TO CAPACITY THEN LEAKING OUT THE OVERFLOW under the trailer. What would cause this?? Is there a check valve not working properly? How do I go about repair? PEX fitting/crimping or valve replacement is out of my realm of comfort.
3. After flushing and scrubbing out the crud in the water heater and replacing the anode, I turned the bypass valve and filled it up. It is working fine on electric but I haven't tried gas yet. I am noticing an intermittent chirp/start from the pump every minute or when disconnected from city water. Do you think I have a check valve issue in the water pump from the pressure of the dirt in the toilet valve and bathroom faucet? I've had this on my Casita before and I just can't remember how I solved it.
Thank you for your help in advance.
Nice to meet ya'll and I'll try not to be too much of a pest!
Claudia and Rex Maximus