RV Plumbing & Water System Repair in Chino, CA
A small water leak inside an RV does the same hidden damage a roof leak does: it runs under the floor, swells the subfloor, and rots cabinetry before you ever see a puddle. McBride's RV Service and Paint in Chino finds the source, repairs the fresh, grey, and black water systems, and pressure-tests the rig before it leaves. We have kept Inland Empire RVs watertight since 1967.
Should you repair or replace RV plumbing?
Most plumbing problems are a repair. A weeping fitting, a failed pump, a hardened valve seal, or a single cracked length of line is a repair, and you keep the rest of the system. Replacement is the call when the original grey polybutylene plumbing has gone brittle throughout and one fix just moves the leak to the next fitting, or when a tank itself is cracked. We show you the failed part and tell you which situation you are in before any work starts, so the decision is yours.
What RV plumbing and water system problems do you fix?
We service the whole water system on a motorhome or trailer, not just the visible fixtures:
Fresh water system
The tank, the fill, the 12-volt water pump (Shurflo or Aquajet) and its strainer, check valve, and pressure switch, plus the accumulator. A pump that cycles when no tap is open, or will not prime, is usually the check valve, the strainer, or a small leak on the pressure side, not a dead pump.
City water connection
The inlet, the backflow check, and the pressure regulator. Park water pressure can spike high enough to split a line or blow a fitting, so we check the regulator and the inlet whenever a line has failed.
Water lines and fittings
Modern PEX with crimp or push fittings, and the older grey polybutylene (Qest) lines that turn brittle and crack at the fittings with age. We repair a failed run and replace brittle polybutylene where it has started to go.
Grey and black tanks
The gate (blade) valves that weep when the seal hardens, the black tank flush, the tank vents, and the level sensors that read wrong because waste and mineral scale coat the probes. We rebuild leaking valves and clean or replace sensors.
Leaks and water damage
We trace a leak behind the panels to its actual source and coordinate any floor or cabinet repair the water caused.
Your water heater and Aqua-Hot system are serviced on our separate Aqua-Hot and water heater page, and other [RV appliances](https://mcbridesrvrepair.com/rv-appliance-service/) on the appliance page.
Why do Inland Empire heat and hard water damage RV plumbing?
Two local conditions shorten the life of an RV water system here. First, the water itself. Chino, Chino Hills, and Ontario draw hard, mineral-heavy groundwater, and that scale builds up inside the pump, crusts the city-water regulator, fouls the tank level sensors, and packs the inlet screens. An RV filled on Inland Empire tap water scales faster than one used on soft coastal water. Second, the heat and the long idle time. Rigs that sit at home or in a storage lot along the 60 in Mira Loma and Jurupa bake through the summer, and the constant heat dries out valve seals, pump diaphragms, and the rubber in every fitting until they crack and weep.
Do you winterize and sanitize RV water systems?
Yes, and both matter more here than owners expect. Winters in Chino rarely freeze hard, so the risk is not the driveway. It is the trip. Owners who run the 15 up over the Cajon Pass or the 18 toward Big Bear are parking in real freezing temperatures overnight, and an unprotected line splits at altitude even when it is mild back home. We winterize with RV antifreeze or a full blow-out before a cold trip or before storage. We also sanitize the fresh water system with a measured chlorine solution to clear the bacteria and smell that grow in a tank left full in the heat, which is the most common reason an owner says the water tastes off.
What happens when you bring your RV in for a plumbing leak?
We pressure-test the system to find where it is actually losing water, which is often not where the stain shows. You get a written estimate that names the parts and the labor before we begin. Our estimates include a budget for parts, and the final price adjusts to the actual parts used, so you approve the number first. We make the repair with genuine RV plumbing components, then run the pump up to pressure and city water through the system and watch every fitting before the rig leaves.
The McBride's difference
Family-owned since 1967, McBride's is a full RV service and paint shop, not a parts counter. We work the water system alongside appliance, roof, and body repair, which matters because a hidden water leak often shows up first as a soft floor or a stain that needs more than a new fitting to put right. And we show you the problem before we fix it.
Hear From Our Satisfied Customers
They are always professional, courteous and they have resolved any and every issue I had.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does RV plumbing repair cost?
A single fitting or valve repair, or a pump replacement, is the affordable and most common end; re-plumbing a brittle polybutylene system or replacing a tank is the high end. We give a written estimate first, with a parts budget that adjusts to the actual parts used, so you approve the number before we start.
Why does my RV water pump keep running or will not build pressure?
A pump that cycles when no tap is open, or will not build pressure, is usually a failed check valve, a clogged strainer, or a small leak on the pressure side, not a dead pump. We test the pump and the lines before replacing anything.
My RV tank sensors read wrong. Can you fix that?
Usually yes. Most "always full" or "always empty" readings are waste and mineral scale coating the sensor probes, not a broken gauge. We clean or replace the sensors and check the tank vent.
Do you replace grey polybutylene (Qest) water lines?
Yes. The older grey polybutylene lines turn brittle with age and crack at the fittings. We repair a single failure or replace the brittle runs when one fix just pushes the leak to the next joint.
Can you winterize my RV before a mountain trip?
Yes. Even when Chino stays mild, a night parked up at Big Bear or over the Cajon Pass can freeze and split a line. We winterize with RV antifreeze or a blow-out before a cold trip or storage.
Do you service the water heater too?
Water heaters and Aqua-Hot systems are handled on our separate Aqua-Hot and water heater page. Tell us what is happening and we will route it to the right service.
Our service areas
- Norco
- Corona
- Rancho Cucamonga
- Pomona
- Walnut
Schedule your RV plumbing service
Call (909) 627-7566 or request an appointment online. We are located at 13788 Oaks Ave in Chino and serve RV owners across the Inland Empire.