Hot Water Heater Leak April 18, 2019, 05:19:19 pm I was just about to go for walk with the dogs when I noticed the wet spot on ground near exhaust pipe had not dried. There is a leak from right about the pipe that is clearly coming from in the cabin. It soaked the corner of the exterior storage compartment. I think, though I'm not sure, that it's coming from the the hot water heater, which is right above the where it's leaking.I will try to post a video, but it's on my phone and I'm having problems with the connection. I turned off the hot water heater a while ago, and I just turned off the water pump. Should I drain the HWH? And if so, how do I do that? I see a tap on it, but unless I hook it up to a hose, it will just spill all over the wires, which can't be good (why install a tap above wires?!)Do I need to go home? This sucks.Lisa
Re: CRAP! Guidance, please- Leak from maybe the hot water heater Reply #1 – April 18, 2019, 05:57:48 pm It sounds just like what our Lazy Daze does. Just like boiling water on the stove can make the teapot boil over, something about the LD's water heater does the same thing it seems. We always have a little water and wet area beneath our water heater on our 2016 Lazy Daze when we turn on the water heater and the water is fully heated up. So, as far as I know, it's nothing to worry about. Our rig we had before this did the same thing.Jim & DebSanta Cruz, California 2 Likes
Re: CRAP! Guidance, please- Leak from maybe the hot water heater Reply #2 – April 18, 2019, 06:34:05 pm "I see a tap on it, but unless I hook it up to a hose, it will just spill all over the wires, which can't be good (why install a tap above wires?!)"Don't panic Lisa! And there's no need to go home, nor is there a need to drain the water heater tank. What you are experiencing is NORMAL under certain conditions. However, no ones water heater should be leaking as a routine condition.Water, when it is heated expands and the excess needs somewhere to go. That "tap" is not a tap as in a water tap! It is a 'pressure relief valve'. Do you see the little lever on the top? That is the lever that is used to relieve the pressure and allow a bubble of air to cushion the water so that it can expand.Here's how you correct the situation... You MUST allow the hot water in the tank to cool. Otherwise you could scald yourself when performing this trick. The first thing you do is turn off the water heater and the water pump. When the temperature of the hot water has decreased to the point that it won't burn you, open both faucets (hot & cold) at one or more fixtures. This will allow air to enter the pipes (a good thing). Now, go outside and lift the lever on the pressure relief valve. Yes, water will run out and yes it will dribble on the wires but not to worry, it's expected. Once the water has ceased to flow "snap" the lever back into place. LD says: "Do this with authority". Back inside you now close the open faucets, turn on the water heater and the water pump and you should not have any more leaks. You have reestablished the air bubble that was needed in the HWT. 4 Likes
Re: CRAP! Guidance, please- Leak from maybe the hot water heater Reply #3 – April 18, 2019, 06:40:21 pm Lisa, Jim and Deb, you should not have water there. If you have a few drops that you can see in the water heater compartment, either the drain plug is leaking or the pressure relief valve is leaking. The drain plug is fairly easy to fix. If that is the source of the leak, tighten it 1/4 turn. If the pressure relief valve is leaking, open it and snap it closed. Water may spray out, which is ok. It may wash away a piece of grit that is causing the leak. If you cannot fix it, get a pro to help. A persistent drip there will create problems down the road.Jim and Deb, your issue may be because you have lost the air bubble in the heater. When water is heated it expands, not a lot, but some. If there is no air space in the heater to compress, the water pressure will rise and the pressure relief valve will allow the excess pressure to drip out. Your manual will describe how to restore the air in the heater tank.Lisa, your rig is older, and your leak sounds like it is coming from a leaking heater tank, weeping out onto the floor under the heater, then dripping to the compartment below. Here is how to check. Get some paper towels. Wedge them into the spaces alongside the heater, doing your best to work them a little under the heater. In a few days, pull them out and see if they are wet. Alternatively, if you look at the floor under the heater and it is visibly wet, you don't need to put down paper towels. Your heater is leaking and must be replaced. Mine leaked after 8 years, just a tiny pinhole, but if I had ignored it, it would have kept the wood body and frame wet, leading to rot, and THAT would mean really big buck repairs. So, look at the floor around and below the heater exterior. If it is wet, do not delay. Replace the heater.Ken F in NM 1 Likes
Re: CRAP! Guidance, please- Leak from maybe the hot water heater Reply #4 – April 18, 2019, 06:46:34 pm Quote from: Kenneth Fears - April 18, 2019, 06:40:21 pmLisa, Jim and Deb, you should not have water there. If you have a few drops that you can see in the water heater compartment, either the drain plug is leaking or the pressure relief valve is leaking. The drain plug is fairly easy to fix. If that is the source of the leak, tighten it 1/4 turn. If the pressure relief valve is leaking, open it and snap it closed. Water may spray out, which is ok. It may wash away a piece of grit that is causing the leak. If you cannot fix it, get a pro to help. A persistent drip there will create problems down the road.Jim and Deb, your issue may be because you have lost the air bubble in the heater. When water is heated it expands, not a lot, but some. If there is no air space in the heater to compress, the water pressure will rise and the pressure relief valve will allow the excess pressure to drip out. Your manual will describe how to restore the air in the heater tank.Lisa, your rig is older, and your leak sounds like it is coming from a leaking heater tank, weeping out onto the floor under the heater, then dripping to the compartment below. Here is how to check. Get some paper towels. Wedge them into the spaces alongside the heater, doing your best to work them a little under the heater. In a few days, pull them out and see if they are wet. Alternatively, if you look at the floor under the heater and it is visibly wet, you don't need to put down paper towels. Your heater is leaking and must be replaced. Mine leaked after 8 years, just a tiny pinhole, but if I had ignored it, it would have kept the wood body and frame wet, leading to rot, and THAT would mean really big buck repairs. So, look at the floor around and below the heater exterior. If it is wet, do not delay. Replace the heater.Ken F in NMThanks very much for explaining, Ken!! I will do as you say as soon as I can. I appreciate the help a lot. It will be nice not to have to always deal with the little puddle and hot escaping water ;-)Thanks again!Jim & DebSanta Cruz, CA
Re: CRAP! Guidance, please- Leak from maybe the hot water heater Reply #5 – April 18, 2019, 09:27:21 pm Lisa, FYI this site does not support videos.
Re: CRAP! Guidance, please- Leak from maybe the hot water heater Reply #6 – April 18, 2019, 09:27:47 pm Ours had a small leak at the inlet fitting and I just had to tighten it a little to seal it up. If yours was mine I would look at the back of the water heater and see if I could see where the water was actually coming from and make my decisions based on that. If all the fittings are dry then the leak is elsewhere. I think if I was out and wanted to stay a while longer, I'd turn the pump off and bleed off the pressure on the water system and only turn the pump on when I needed a little water. If there is no pressure I dought the leak would persist although it would still need attention at some point. Turn off the heat to the water heater and start it as needed. Just my thoughts.Jon.... 1 Likes
Re: CRAP! Guidance, please- Leak from maybe the hot water heater Reply #7 – April 18, 2019, 09:54:45 pm "We always have a little water and wet area beneath our water heater on our 2016 Lazy Daze when we turn on the water heater and the water is fully heated up."Reading between the lines I get the impression that you may turn on your water heater and leave it that way until it's time to travel, am I correct?I have found, thru experimentation that it takes roughly 20 minutes to heat the water to usable temperature. That starts my day, out of bed the 1st task is to hit the HW heater switch. By the time I'm ready to wash this old face the water is ready for me. Once finished the next thing is to move the HWH switch to 'off'. The water in the tank will stay warm enough for most chores during the day and by dinner time another 10 minutes of heating will get me past bed time. This way you don't waste propane heating water that you will not use and it virtually eliminates any leakage problems in relation to the pressure relief valve. Oh, another thing... it also eliminates the lime staining on the coach wall under the water heater. 1 Likes
Re: Hot Water Heater Leak Reply #8 – April 18, 2019, 10:48:21 pm Ken F, you meant if she finds water under the water heater tank to replace the tank (not the water heater), correct?Steve S, best description of creating that air bubble in the HW tank I have seen so far. Thanks.
Re: Hot Water Heater Leak Reply #9 – April 18, 2019, 11:27:34 pm How do I see the floor under the HWH? So far as I can tell, it's behind some drawers. There is nothing coming out of the pressure valve or any other area in the exterior panel for the HWH. I haven't found any water on the floor inside my LD, but if you mean behind the cupboards or something, I don't know. I will see if I can figure out where the HW tank is from inside. I know the guy who worked on it was looking for it behind the drawers, but I got out of the vehicle at that point.EDITED TO ADD: I can't figure out how to take out the drawers!AND one other thing- the past couple days I have occasionally heard the water pump randomly go on and did not know if that was normal or not. I have since read that can be a sign of a leak in the water system. I'm guessing that may be the problem. Lisa
Re: Hot Water Heater Leak Reply #10 – April 18, 2019, 11:41:52 pm Ok. I got the drawers out, and i DO see a leak under the stove area. Unfortunately I can't reach it because under the stove is the fuse panel. So great, the leak is right behind the fuses. Not good. Maybe that's why one of my ceiling vent fans went out? I'm not sure how I'm supposed to get to that. The hoses and PVC pipe under the fridge area are fine. Now I'm really worried. Water leaking behind the fuse panel is not good. I do think this is related to having the water pump on. So I will turn that off again now and only turn on when I really need it.Lisa
Re: Hot Water Heater Leak Reply #11 – April 19, 2019, 11:28:18 am Quote from: Lazy Bones - April 18, 2019, 09:54:45 pm"We always have a little water and wet area beneath our water heater on our 2016 Lazy Daze when we turn on the water heater and the water is fully heated up."Reading between the lines I get the impression that you may turn on your water heater and leave it that way until it's time to travel, am I correct?Thanks, Steve. Yes, I think you're right that we leave the water heater on too long. We will pay more attention and turn it off as soon as the water is hot. Appreciate the tip to end the leaks. Thank you!Jim & DebSanta Cruz, California
Re: Hot Water Heater Leak Reply #12 – April 19, 2019, 11:38:37 am Steve makes a good point about RV water heaters. Unlike a regular household water heater, there really is no need to keep the water heater on constantly which is what most people are used to at home. Since a RV water heater is typically only 6 gallons, some people may suffer from "hot water anxiety" (the fear of running out of hot water) but since the tanks are only 6 gallons, as Steve already pointed out, they heat up fairly quickly. Water and propane conservation are your friends when RVing. 1 Likes
Re: Hot Water Heater Leak Reply #13 – April 19, 2019, 12:37:12 pm Quote from: Jane and Scott - April 18, 2019, 10:48:21 pmKen F, you meant if she finds water under the water heater tank to replace the tank (not the water heater), correct?I wouldn't replace anything until the actual source of the leak is found, it could be as simple as a loose plumbing fitting.On the back of the water heater are the water inlet and outlet, check them.Your rig is plumbed with the older tubing that was prone to cracking the fittings, make sure this isn't the problem and not the heater, before spending any more money .Larry 3 Likes
Re: Hot Water Heater Leak Reply #14 – April 19, 2019, 01:48:53 pm I see the leak. At least one of them. It's at the metal fitting between the hose and what I have to assume is the HW tank. I can't see the tank because it is wrapped in insulation and covered by some kind of cardboard enclosure. But the water is dripping right next to a bundle of wires that I'm pretty sure go to the circuit breaker box, as that is what is directly in front of it (and preventing me from doing more thorough investigation- the area is between the drawer openings on either side, making it very difficult to see or reach everything.I'm worried because my electrical flickered on and off a few times last night, and the fan in the breaker box was on a long time. So I shut off all the breakers last night when I went to bed and just ran off the house battery and propane (only needed a ceiling vent on). Turned electric back on this morning and the fan kicked in almost immediately though I barely have anything on. I'm worried the electrical is related to the leak.This morning the leak is still happening and I've found two additional wet spots under the LD. Same side as the first leak, but each one further towards the rear. I am bummed.We're heading home today and I may stop at the RV shop down the road, but likely just wait til we get home to deal with it. What a drag.Lisa
Re: Hot Water Heater Leak Reply #15 – April 19, 2019, 03:07:55 pm Lisa, a leaking fitting could be very good news. To be sure about the leak source, wrap some paper towels around each of the fittings. If a fitting is leaking, the paper towel will show it. As several pointed out, if a fitting is leaking, tightening it may stop the leak. Note that a leaking fitting may be leaking where it enters the tank, OR where the hose attaches to the fitting.Meanwhile, as others pointed out, if you have a leak, try to keep pressure out of the system. To do so, turn off the pump, then drain the residual pressure by opening the faucet and filling a glass, or a water bottle.If you trust your skills, and you know what is dripping, you can try to tighten it. First, turn off the pump and drain the pressure by opening a faucet. Then, disconnect from 120 volt power if you are connected, because of the wires. Then, with a wrench that fits, try to tighten either the hose connection or the fitting by about 1/4 turn. If it turns easily, go farther with it. Bear in mind that you may need to remove the hose from the fitting to tighten the fitting. If the hose comes out at a right angle, that is almost certain, but if the hose comes straight out from the tank, that may not be necessary. Once you have tightened the source of the leak, mop up all the water you can see, get everything as dry as possible, then turn the pump on. Look for leaks. If you see none, wrap a paper towel around the fitting again, and give it a day.A few cautions - you may have the older, grey plastic lines. They tend to be somewhat brittle. You may want to have a pro do the work so, if they break a line, they will have what they need to fix it. If you have either PEX tubing or braided vinyl flexible hose making the connection, you don't have to worry too much about the line, but you do not want to snap off that fitting.Ken F in NM
Topic: Hot Water Heater Leak (Read 297 times)
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