Unfiltered Waterlines! Tell me it isn't so.

[Don and Jean]

Due to my job I live in my 369RL during the week. It's permanently parked in a RV Park that has become my home away from home. I've had the Solitude for a little over 4 months after owning another for a couple of years. Last Friday I lost water pressure for my cold water lines. I didn't lose pressure for hot water so this one stumped me. Not really knowing where to start I contacted a RV service company here on the site to see if they could figure this one out. He came out and briefly did some checking around and said he'd probably reach out to Grand Design to see if there were some check valves on line that he couldn't find. While we were talking on the phone he mentioned he started to check the lines today but someone had come out to the park to work on the well. That got me thinking and I decided to do a little research on my own. First step was to open up the panel in the basement to see if I could figure out the waterlines. Have any of you done this? Wow, looks like a pile of spaghetti. Lines going everywhere. After looking at the system I started wondering if I was seeing something I didn't like. The main line coming into the RV splits in several directions with one of the lines working it's way to the canister filter which I assumed was online for the whole system. I opened up the canister and sure enough problem solved! The filter was totally clogged with sediment. I replaced the filter and low and behold I have cold water again. I'm a little embarrassed to be admitting that I overlooked this from the get go but there's a reason for me not checking it and it's now my overall concern. The reason I didn't check the filter was because I assumed (yes, I know what that means) the filter system was online for the whole water system NOT just a portion of it. Based on that assumption if the filter was clogged then I wouldn't have any water pressure, hot or cold. Apparently this isn't the case. So what this tells me is that the cold water to my kitchen sink (?) is filtered but possibly nothing else? Why? If you look at the box for a new filter it states the following: reduces the following contaminants - chlorine, RUST, SEDIMENT, TASTE and ODOR, Cryptosporidium, Giardia Cysts, Volatile Organic Chemicals, Cysts. So the other lines don't need to be protected from this? Based on what happened this weekend I'm now going to assume my water heater is probably full of sediment and will now need to be flushed. I'll also be purchasing an online filter for the main waterline to the RV, which is an expense I didn't expect since there's one built in. This also explains why I occasionally get an odor in the RV when I turn the hot water one. I'll also have to be careful when I fill the water tank as it will most likely be unfiltered.

Overall I've been pleased with the Solitude. Most of the issues I've had were minor and I've been able to either fix them myself or the Dealer has been able to fix them. This one is really disappointing and I felt I needed to share this.

[LCBoyer]

I always use a Camco in line filter, and a whole house filter in line to my portable water softener. So far no problems

[Don and Jean]

I used an online filter on my previous RV as well and was very pleased with how they worked. Point is this one was sold as having a built in filter. No need to add anything online. Tonight I found out this isn't the case. Or at least for most of the lines. To me the main line should have been routed to the filter then any splits should have taken place after it's run through the filter. This way everything is filtered. I may end up doing this myself to avoid having to buy two filters.

[gordofuchs]

Thanks for the heads up. That is something I will be checking A.S.A.P. I do have a question though. Is there any logical reason for the water to be routed the way it is in your unit, Don and Jean ?

Gord and Janet Fuchs
Presently in Palmetto State Park, LA.

[Don and Jean]

Logical? I'm not sure about that one. I took some pictures with my phone last night but it's such a confined space I couldn't get all of it in one picture. Tonight I'll pull the panel back off and use a camera. I'll be able to get all of it with better clarity.

[PolarBear]

So I would think that GD would jump in here,,,,,,,,,,

[TucsonJim]

So I would think that GD would jump in here,,,,,,,,,,

GD monitors the tech issues page.

[GDRV Service]

Due to my job I live in my 369RL during the week. It's permanently parked in a RV Park that has become my home away from home. I've had the Solitude for a little over 4 months after owning another for a couple of years. Last Friday I lost water pressure for my cold water lines. I didn't lose pressure for hot water so this one stumped me. Not really knowing where to start I contacted a RV service company here on the site to see if they could figure this one out. He came out and briefly did some checking around and said he'd probably reach out to Grand Design to see if there were some check valves on line that he couldn't find. While we were talking on the phone he mentioned he started to check the lines today but someone had come out to the park to work on the well. That got me thinking and I decided to do a little research on my own. First step was to open up the panel in the basement to see if I could figure out the waterlines. Have any of you done this? Wow, looks like a pile of spaghetti. Lines going everywhere. After looking at the system I started wondering if I was seeing something I didn't like. The main line coming into the RV splits in several directions with one of the lines working it's way to the canister filter which I assumed was online for the whole system. I opened up the canister and sure enough problem solved! The filter was totally clogged with sediment. I replaced the filter and low and behold I have cold water again. I'm a little embarrassed to be admitting that I overlooked this from the get go but there's a reason for me not checking it and it's now my overall concern. The reason I didn't check the filter was because I assumed (yes, I know what that means) the filter system was online for the whole water system NOT just a portion of it. Based on that assumption if the filter was clogged then I wouldn't have any water pressure, hot or cold. Apparently this isn't the case. So what this tells me is that the cold water to my kitchen sink (?) is filtered but possibly nothing else? Why? If you look at the box for a new filter it states the following: reduces the following contaminants - chlorine, RUST, SEDIMENT, TASTE and ODOR, Cryptosporidium, Giardia Cysts, Volatile Organic Chemicals, Cysts. So the other lines don't need to be protected from this? Based on what happened this weekend I'm now going to assume my water heater is probably full of sediment and will now need to be flushed. I'll also be purchasing an online filter for the main waterline to the RV, which is an expense I didn't expect since there's one built in. This also explains why I occasionally get an odor in the RV when I turn the hot water one. I'll also have to be careful when I fill the water tank as it will most likely be unfiltered.

Overall I've been pleased with the Solitude. Most of the issues I've had were minor and I've been able to either fix them myself or the Dealer has been able to fix them. This one is really disappointing and I felt I needed to share this.

Hi @Don and Jean,

Please reply back (or send me a private message) with the last 8-digits of your RV VIN to help us research this for you. Thanks in advance...

Best regards,
~ Janice

[GD350M]

"First step was to open up the panel in the basement to see if I could figure out the waterlines. Have any of you done this? Wow, looks like a pile of spaghetti. Lines going everywhere."

I've been in there and yes I agree with you, it is a rat nest of a mess.


But I need to go back in there and see if it is the main water line going into the filter and then from the filter to the rest of the camper. If not, like you, I will have to see about getting this corrected or run a second filter (Camco) coming in from the main line.

[Don and Jean]

I talked to Mark Houser and Ryan Prough with Grand Design today. While Mark seemed concerned I can't say the same for Ryan. Ryan confirmed that the only thing that is filtered is the cold water. The question asked to me was why do you need to filter hot water? That answer is quite simple. Filters do more than just filter out bacteria just read the box the next time you buy one. So the hot water system is not filtered for anything NOR is the water holding tank. Imagine the impurities sitting in it if you use it. According to Ryan this is how they come from the manufacturer. And that's the way it is. If you want to change it you're on your own. I pointed out their brochure advertises their product as having a whole house filtration system. What I got was BS about everything is subject change. So with that CYA they don't have to do anything about it. So what if that's what they're telling their sales reps to tell us. Guess the brochure is just a guideline even for "standard" features. Guess I'll be buying online filters to filter the rest of the RV until I fix their poor design.

Needless to say I am not a happy camper.