water in bilge / fridge?

[cloud9]

we are collecting some water in our bilge could this be coming from the fridge de- frosting , jeanneay 39 , thks

[sailby2]

Hello,

Four items typically drain into the bilge. They are the ice box, the hot water heater, the AC unit (if installed), and the refrigerator unit. All tend to dribble and spit quantities of water into the bilge via their respective drain hoses. You may be experiencing one of the following:

1) as the AC unit works, it removes moisture from the air and deposits the moisture in the bilge.

2) the hot water tank will occasionally build enough pressure to engage to pressure relief valve.

3) the ice box drains right into the bilge area beneath the box (in my boat). The water then sloshes around until it finds its' way to the bilge.

All said, it's normal to see fresh water in the bilge from various sources. Best to just check and make sure it's fresh water and not salt water so you know for sure you don't have a more serious problem.

Regards,

[corksailor]

You should find a black hose from your hot water tank to the bilge. This will be your problem. Pressure build up. Monitor and it probably only happens when you have hot water from engine or shore power.If you have not used water turn on water pressure pump and it will activate. A sure sign that pressure has released

[blackcaiman]

Could also come from the transom shower, either from a leaky faucet or from someone re-seating the faucet to tightly and depressing the thumb tab.

[Zanshin]

I can't recall if your mast is keel stepped or not. In my case my mast is keep-stepped and that can be another cause of freshwater in the bilges.

[Deleted]

I don't know if it is fresh water or salt, but if the latter, it could be coming in from the water lock muffler. I own a 45 DS which leaked like a sieve, which turned out to be a leaking water lock muffler that was poorly installed at the build stage.

[cloud9]

thank .you for all your pointers appreciated

[cpetku]

Don't overlook the hot water tank (as previoulsy posted)

I finally figured out the reason my fresh water pump ran occasionally was the PO had set the temp on the hot water tank too high (full temp). This would result in water boiling out into the bilge overflow tube then low pressure in the FW system which would be addressed by the fresh water pump running. The cycle was aboput every 30 minutes. Since I don't always run the water heater the problem was intermittent. I had assumed the minor weepage from the bilge tube was from the fridge and the fresh water pump running was a bad check valve which I was getting ready to rebuild/replace.

Finally had a good nights sleep knowing the pumps wouldn't be waking me up and understanding why they previoulsy had.

[brianfarmer]

I place the hose from the Calorifier pressure release into a small bottle and leave it in the bilge. This acts as a tell tale if the pressure release valve leaks. I do the same with the heat exchanger overflow in the engine compartment. The fridge does empty into the bilge, as does the stern shower if pushed into the receptical. Other source's is a leaking shower tray drain in the heads.. Leaking cold water storage tank or plumbing.

[jimlowden]

easiest trace is to put some food dye and water in fridge cavity an see what colour you get in bilge

[sitara]

The fridge on our SO36i has a drain hole with plug in the bottom (to keep the cold air and water in) and a drain tube that leads to the bilge sump that is built into the keel top. If this is not plugged there will be a considerable loss of cold air when the fridge is operating.