How to look for a leak of fresh water system

[4fish]

I am trying to find a very small leak in my fresh water system, that appears on the bilge only after sailing, is not big at all but annoying. I know that is on the fresh water because I remove all the fresh water for a month or so and sail , had strong rain , etc...and no water on the bilge !

Is there any trick to find a small leak ?

[perchance]

There are dye tablets used by municipalities to find water leaks. If you could score some of those you would find it in no time.

[TheOffice]

Food coloring

[sailorboy1]

If it only happens when sailing I would be thinking that it is water tank related. I would check the fittings on the top of the tank like the fill and vent hoses to see if they are leaking once heeled.

If you motored a lot and your fresh water system doesn't have an expansion tank I would be checking the hot water heater tank relief line to see if it is lifting when the tank heats up.

[Kettlewell]

Take an absorbent paper towel, like Bounty, and put it in your hand and wipe it around every fitting and area you can reach. It will sop up even small amounts of moisture and make them pretty obvious. Most likely spots are where there are openings in the tank and hoses attached, or where there are fittings in the lines. Often you can just feel the water with your hand too. Like Don said, I would check around any inspection ports or openings in the water tanks.

[ohdrinkboy]

can also draw lines with washable magic markers to trace where the leak crosses the marker lines. crayola kids washable markers worked for me.

[4fish]

Yeap it looks that I have some Good ideas, I will start at the fill and vent , working down I will use the paper towels... I tried already but not succes....so I may need some food coloring....to catch it ! and paint the lines with the washable markers ....
Almost not motoring so I don't think the expansion tank , but I will keep one eye on it

I am even thinking on placing some faucet to reduce the circuit ..
I have some work to do .. ...

[knot smart]

you may want to use process of elliminaton.. first empty everything.. then fill the forward tank and see if that leaks then fill the aft tank...

good luck

jason

[4fish]

Thank you !