Leaky Hot Water Heater

[luckyva]

Water is puddling under the hot water heater. It is not the intake or outflow as both are dry as a bone. The only thing I can think of is the drain plug, which appears to be well seated. I don't know how the drain outlet fits into the tank. I can't see where from underneath the water is coming. Since this is a sealed tank, does anyone have any ideas?

Thanks.

[kanyonkitty]

Hi Lucky,

It is probably the drain plug leaking, most common thing to leak. It's plastic. You need to turn the heater off and let the water cool down to avoid getting burned. Remove the plastic plug and replace it with a new plastic plug, or try a wrap or two of teflon tape. There are some aftermarket "brass" drain plugs with a turn valve to allow you to drain the tank without removing the plug, BUT atwood does not recommend mixing different metals, that's why their drain plug is plastic. I need to find the link I posted earlier that shows how to do a "drain valve" without using two different metals in contact of each other. I WILL be doing that conversion soon as I now need to replace the electric heater element in my tank as switch got turned on with empty tank. And it was only on maybe 20 minutes, so it don't take long to kill it. Now, with the water heater located in a corner under the sofa doing the replacing just might kill me. Wonder how I do it?

Here is the link for replacing the plastic drain plug and installing a compatable drain valve:



Kitty

http://travel.webshots.com/photo/224...62324395yrOICD

[luckyva]

Kitty:

Thanks. Not sure though. It is not visiably leaking from the drain plug. The water is under the hot water heater?

Thanks, agian.

[kanyonkitty]

Lucky,

When you say the heater is leaking "inside", do you mean the water is "inside" the trailer? If the water is inside the trailer, it's got to be a water connecton leaking, possibly a cracked thread on connector? With your rig being a 2007 I seriously doubt that the tank itself is corroded out, if it was it would also allow water to get inside your trailer.

If the water is on the outside, behind the access door, then I'd bet it was the drain plug.

Good Luck,
Kitty

[luckyva]

It is inside the trailer. There is an access door under the bed, which is also where the water heater is. Water is puddling under the water heater inside the trailer. I checked the intake and outflow connections and they are dry. What else should I check? It is just a hunk of styrofoam in there!

I have only had the camper out once and did not notice this problem.

Thank you!

[Sunline Fan]

Paul,

I don't know if this would work, but try to put a piece of cardboard or paper under there and prop it up with something (so if the water puddles it won't soak it) and fill the tank with water. Then look for for the wet spot on the cardboard/paper. If nothing else, it will help you determine where to look.

Good luck,
Jon

[pwb01]

I just put water in the system on my new T-1950 for the first time Saturday (Apr 21) and find the same thing. Water is puddling under the water heater and all fittings are dry including the drain plug. It leaks only under pressure and will drip through the floor to the ground. We haven't taken the unit out camping yet and I brought it back to the dealer yesterday. It seems it has to be the tank.

Paul B.

[Poppy & Nana]

Originally Posted by pwb01

I just put water in the system on my new T-1950 for the first time Saturday (Apr 21) and find the same thing. Water is puddling under the water heater and all fittings are dry including the drain plug. It leaks only under pressure and will drip through the floor to the ground. We haven't taken the unit out camping yet and I brought it back to the dealer yesterday. It seems it has to be the tank.

Paul B.

Well that should be under manufactuer (HW heater) warranty!

[pwb01]

The dealer has no problem with the warranty, he put it in writing that he honors Sunline's warranty's. It's a little discouraging though bringing it back already but I guess it's best to shake these things out early. We made sure that everything else was in working order before we brought it back yesterday. I'll share whatever he found with this forum.

[Al in PA]

The first winter bypass kit I installed had defective valves that leaked. They only leaked in one position, but it was 14 years ago and I can't remember if it was the winter or summer setting that leaked. This caused a puddle near/under the hot water tank.

[2000T2980]

My old T2980 Had a major problem with a leak at the top bypass valve and would only leak under pressure. It made a mess of the back of the trailer because it was under a bunk and the bunk room was carpeted. Looking at the valve that leaked I could not see a crack in it when removed. I had to dis-assemble most of the back bunk room to removed the carpet which meant the cabinet and bunk structure had to be removed or raised to allow me to pull the carpet up and get the padding out. After removing the padding I cutting and pulled the carpet up to allow for drying, I was able to reuse the carpet. Here is where I found where Sunline cut some cost corners. The Vynil Flooring does not run from front to back, it stops just under the carpet areas in the back and in front. The exposed wood floor is not coated with anything.

My repairs, Replaced water heater valves with brass inlet and outlet fittings and brass bypass valves, connected them the water lines. I painted the floor with water resistant paint so the wood was not exposed, replaced padding, reused carpet. Re-assembled rear bunk room and water tank had to be reinstalled.

[pwb01]

I just heard from my dealer and the water heater (new unit) has a split seam. Was water left in storage? Who knows at this point but that accounts for the water puddling out from under the heater and having dry fittings.