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Leaking water heater [message #249034]

Sat, 03 May 2014 17:38

Loffen

Messages: 1087
Registered: August 2013
Location: Norway

Karma: 1

Senior Member

After a good frigde day I started to work on the fresh water system in DT, the PO did never use it and had taken out the water tank due to the normal leaks around the water level sensor.

So I got the sensor and leaks on the water tank repaird and installed it, hooked up the original water pump and filled the tank half way up.

The pump was working and I started to bleed the system, after a couple of minutes i found four water leaks, one on the tube going to the toilet and three under the counter top ( not bad at all Big green had nine, why do not people drain the system before the winter comes ? ) all of them was on the cold water and pretty easy to get axcess to, and yes both faucets where leaking due to dried up gaskets, no big deal and an easy fix.

Then I turned the water heater on, it is working but it started to drip and it looks like it has been dripping for several years as I found some news papers from 1976 that was used to catch the water from it..

Anyways are the water heater something that I should try to repair ? the leak is internal and I have not removed it from the coach yet but I will guess that the leak is in the coil some where.

1973 23' # 1848 Sky Blue Glacier called Baby Blue and a 1973 26'-3 # 1460 Parrot green Seqouia Known as the Big Green, And sold my 1973 26'-2 # 581 White Canyon lands under the name Dobbelt trøbbel in Norway

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Re: Leaking water heater [message #249035 is a reply to message #249034]

Sat, 03 May 2014 18:26

roy1

Messages: 2126
Registered: July 2004
Location: Minden nevada

Karma: 6

Senior Member

If the tank itself is leaking it can't be successfully repaired. If it is an external connection that shouldn't be difficult. You didn't say engine water so I assume that part isn't leaking.

Roy Keen Minden,NV 76 X Glenbrook

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Re: Leaking water heater [message #249039 is a reply to message #249034]

Sat, 03 May 2014 19:15

Matt Colie

Messages: 8547
Registered: March 2007
Location: S.E. Michigan

Karma: 7

Senior Member

Loffen,

It is worth the effort to remove and disassemble it. It may be repairable. To purchase new was 200+$us the last time I installed one. By the way, removing it isn't simple. Many of our age coaches have a bolt through the rear that requires you to cut a hole in front wall of the rear bedroom to get access to this fastener. I have never had to do that.

You will also have to remove the entire lower cabinet to have room to work. This is not difficult but it also gets easier if you take out the toilet. This may sound like a lot, but it only adds about another hour and probably will save you that much time. (I hope you can get a plumbers test plug for the toilet flange.)

The water heater used was also common in power boats of the period and I have seen more than a few that started to leak. In the Great Lakes they lasted well until winterizing was done wrong.

Many boat units failed the engine heat loop as this is raw water on many lake boats. This is also what will corrode and fail. That should not be your problem.

Those that failed the tank did so because it was not drained effectively. About half the cases, the split could be pushed back into place and TIG welded satisfactorily. This still is not inexpensive, but it is less than the price of new.

Good Luck

Matt

Matt & Mary Colie - Chaumière -'73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan with OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Near DTW - Twixt A2 and Detroit

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Re: Leaking water heater [message #249040 is a reply to message #249034]

Sat, 03 May 2014 19:23

A Hamilto

Messages: 4508
Registered: April 2011

Karma: 39

Senior Member

Loffen wrote on Sat, 03 May 2014 17:38

...Anyways are the water heater something that I should try to repair ? the leak is internal and I have not removed it from the coach yet but I will guess that the leak is in the coil some where.

Are you talking about the engine coolant loop inside the water heater? I don't think you can fix that, but if you are not using the engine coolant water heating feature, you might be able to cap off the lines close to where they enter and exit the water heater and stop the leak that way. If you are talking about the electric element, that might be an easy fix, you might just need to replace it ("easy" meaning you have access to a hardware store that sells American sized stuff).

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Re: Leaking water heater [message #249042 is a reply to message #249040]

Sat, 03 May 2014 19:48

Loffen

Messages: 1087
Registered: August 2013
Location: Norway

Karma: 1

Senior Member

No not the loop for engine coolant, this is the cheap one with out it, it has to come out anyways, I will see tomorrow, thanks for the tips.

If it is not repairable I will just swap it with the one in Big green as it is identical and I would like one in Big green that also use engine heat.

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Re: Leaking water heater [message #249064 is a reply to message #249042]

Sat, 03 May 2014 23:23

roy1

Messages: 2126
Registered: July 2004
Location: Minden nevada

Karma: 6

Senior Member

I had the GMC tank fail 20 years ago due to corrosion in the aluminum tank. If I were to patch the pin hole there were many more places waiting to leak. I had the same experience with a Winnebago before that. If it were one of those fancy stainless tanks it probably wouldn't leak unless it froze.

Roy Keen Minden,NV 76 X Glenbrook

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Re: Leaking water heater [message #249070 is a reply to message #249064]

Sun, 04 May 2014 09:18

Loffen

Messages: 1087
Registered: August 2013
Location: Norway

Karma: 1

Senior Member

Well it was corroded to a point where I do not think it will ever be safe to use again, so it goes in the garbage, I will just keep the heat element and fittings as they are the same as the one I will take from Big green.

And yes it is a thight fit but I got it out whitout removing the rear wall or toilet,, barely.. Rolling Eyes

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Re: Leaking water heater [message #249079 is a reply to message #249070]

Sun, 04 May 2014 15:33

Loffen

Messages: 1087
Registered: August 2013
Location: Norway

Karma: 1

Senior Member

And the I did run into a new problem, well the fresh water system is almost as it should be, cold and hot water,new o-rings on the bathroom faucet and shower, no leaks and working as they should, the counter top faucet need som new part and I did find them on ebay so it will be all right, even the fresh water gauge works Smile

Not so with the waste tank, the PO newer used any water in the coach and it looks like it was parked with a full waste tank, being in Norway that is NOT good..

From what I can see so are all three inlets good but it seams like it is a pretty long crack between right side and top.

Oh well, I will try to empty it tomorrow and start to take it down during the week..

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Re: Leaking water heater [message #249109 is a reply to message #249079]

Mon, 05 May 2014 11:22

roy1

Messages: 2126
Registered: July 2004
Location: Minden nevada

Karma: 6

Senior Member

A new tank is most always the best way to fix it but I successfully repaired a foot long crack in my holding tank. I used a polyethylene cutting board for fill material and a large soldering iron to melt it in.

Roy Keen Minden,NV 76 X Glenbrook

[Updated on: Mon, 05 May 2014 11:23]

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Re: Leaking water heater [message #249125 is a reply to message #249109]

Mon, 05 May 2014 16:12

Loffen

Messages: 1087
Registered: August 2013
Location: Norway

Karma: 1

Senior Member

Yes Roy, I will try to do the same, did it with the fresh water tank ant it worked out fine.

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