Hot Water Tank Leak

Aug 31, 2010
19
Hunter 290 Solomons Island, MD
Has anybody had experience with hot water tank leaks on Hunter? I emptied the tank last fall, bypassed the tank externally, and filled lines with anti-freeze. Spring time, I reconnected and filled with water. Now, the water pump runs every couple of minutes. If I bypass the tank, the water pump does not leak. Fairly sure water is collecting, so fresh water leak appears to be the problem. So the question is, has anybody had experience with leaking tanks. Do I need to remove tank, or can covers be removed to reveal likely failure mechanisms? Hoping it is just a fitting, or other. Thanks for any input.
 
May 24, 2004
7,129
CC 30 South Florida
It looks like you have found your leak in the heat exchanger. How old is the water heater? The problem is that after you get one leak others are likely getting ready to spring. Make sure it is not any of the outside fittings and start looking for a replacement.
 
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Rick D

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Jun 14, 2008
7,132
Hunter Legend 40.5 Shoreline Marina Long Beach CA
Ditto, Benny. I have replaced three tanks over the years. The failure tended to be in the tank fittings. There isn't anything practical to do to repair it. I'd replace it after a good examination to eliminate any other source. You may not see the leak readily if it is simply saturating the insulation.
 
Feb 16, 2012
198
Hunter 45 CC Alamitos Bay, Long Beach
I have the same problem, 2006 Hunter 45 CC, small leak coming from the hot water heater, however it only leaks when the fresh water pump is "ON", which suggests that it is a very small leak in the tank itself. So mine is the original hot water heater, and I got almost 12 years out of it.
Jeff
 
Apr 11, 2010
946
Hunter 38 Whitehall MI
One thing to check before assuming it is the water heater. Make sure the pressure relief valve hasn't failed. If for some reason it's failed it could be allowing the water to get past.
On our boat the pressure relief valve is plumed into its own through hull that is located in such a place that you could miss water flowing out of it.

Replacing that would be a lot less headache and cost than the water heater itself.
 
Jun 4, 2004
255
Hunter 376 Annapolis MD
Ditto on checking the pressure relief valve. I had one fail and leak as described. It was not obvious. It was an easy fix.
Allan
 
Aug 31, 2010
19
Hunter 290 Solomons Island, MD
Thank for the input. No apparent leaks on the entry/exit fresh water lines, thermostat, or drain. I have not enabled the hot water, nor run the engine, so hot water pressure is not the culprit. I was resisting pulling the tank, but sounds like that is where I need to go.
 

Bogart

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Mar 13, 2018
34
Hunter 45CC Queensland
I realise this is a bit of an old thread, but maybe I can reactivate it with a minor twist on the above issue.
I seem to have a leak in the hot water tank under the aft bunk on our 45CC. I have checked the water manifold, and the cold water pipe to the tank, but there does not appear to be a valve to turn off the cold water supply to the tank. Has anyone found such a valve?
If not, what is the solution? I'm thinking I just turn off the tank supply and the water pump and then, when I disconnect the hoses, the water from the tank will just run into the bilge.
Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
 
Dec 14, 2003
1,393
Hunter 34 Lake of Two Mountains, QC, Can
I realise this is a bit of an old thread, but maybe I can reactivate it with a minor twist on the above issue.
I seem to have a leak in the hot water tank under the aft bunk on our 45CC. I have checked the water manifold, and the cold water pipe to the tank, but there does not appear to be a valve to turn off the cold water supply to the tank. Has anyone found such a valve?
If not, what is the solution? I'm thinking I just turn off the tank supply and the water pump and then, when I disconnect the hoses, the water from the tank will just run into the bilge.
Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
Am not familiar with your model but if you want to find out if your hot water tank is leaking, shut off the water breaker, then disconnect the cold water line at the inlet and the hot water line at the outlet and connect them together. Some water will get into the bilge as you mentioned. Once cold and hot water lines are connected, turn breaker back on to pressurize the system. Turn on faucets to get air out of system, then shut them off. If your pump shuts off, then the system is leak free and the problem is the tank itself. Good luck.
 
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pateco

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Aug 12, 2014
2,207
Hunter 31 (1983) Pompano Beach FL
My tank sprung a leak so bad that it ruined part of my cabin sole in the galley over a single weekend. I have bypassed it, but cannot replace it without removing galley cabinets, as it will not fit through the lazarette opening. I have considered cutting it up with a sawzall, and replacing it with one that will fit. This however is at the bottom of my current project list.
 
Sep 26, 2008
546
Hunter 340 0 Wickford, RI
I replaced my 10 year old water heater after it started to show all the above signs of failure. Check the pressure relief valve, that's usually a first sign things are getting old. Then the rear connection tubes leading back to the engine. And finally, as with mine, it was a small pin hole in one of the welded seams. I have posted pictures in my albums of photos showing the process. Check them out. It's not a hard process to replace, but as stated above, start looking for a replacement.
 

SFS

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Aug 18, 2015
2,066
Currently Boatless Okinawa
My tank sprung a leak so bad that it ruined part of my cabin sole in the galley over a single weekend. I have bypassed it, but cannot replace it without removing galley cabinets, as it will not fit through the lazarette opening. I have considered cutting it up with a sawzall, and replacing it with one that will fit. This however is at the bottom of my current project list.
Damn Chip, I'm really sorry to hear that. Karen and I thought about taking ours out yesterday because we won't be using it. But as you said, it clearly won't fit through the laz opening, and I'm not about to start a carpentry project a day before departure. At some point in the future, I will cut mine up with a sawzall and pass it through the laz. I started salivating when I saw all the storage space I could have without that beast there.
 
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rptm67

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Apr 14, 2018
5
Hunter 41DS Bayfield
Hi All,

I have 2008 Hunter 41 and have exactly same leak from heat exchanger, I bypassed the water heater my pump stop and proved the leak is from heater also I have notice when heater is on and water is warm my pump run more frequent which tells me heat exchanger expands and I get more leak, pressure valve and all the lines are dry.

Is there any fix for stopping leak or do I have to replace the what heater?
attached is the Pics taken from water heater

Thanks


IMG_2436.JPG
IMG_2432.JPG
 

Rick D

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Jun 14, 2008
7,132
Hunter Legend 40.5 Shoreline Marina Long Beach CA
Is there any fix for stopping leak or do I have to replace the what heater?
Nothing practical. Replace it. Be sure when ordering to get the fittings in the same place. It varies.
 
May 8, 2017
43
Hunter Legend 35.5 Lake Balaton
It looks like you have found your leak in the heat exchanger. How old is the water heater? The problem is that after you get one leak others are likely getting ready to spring. Make sure it is not any of the outside fittings and start looking for a replacement.
Hi Benny and hi All,
The previous owner disconnected the lines from the engine glycol coolant to the heater and connected the coolant in with the coolant out using a short pipe. That means, I have no warm water made by the engine running. However, I can make hot water with shore power when available. My guess is that he found some coolant leaking into the water heater via heating coils. Can I rectify the situation without throwing out and having to buy I new heater? Can you comment this plse?
 

Rick D

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Jun 14, 2008
7,132
Hunter Legend 40.5 Shoreline Marina Long Beach CA
Hi Benny and hi All,
The previous owner disconnected the lines from the engine glycol coolant to the heater and connected the coolant in with the coolant out using a short pipe. That means, I have no warm water made by the engine running. However, I can make hot water with shore power when available. My guess is that he found some coolant leaking into the water heater via heating coils. Can I rectify the situation without throwing out and having to buy I new heater? Can you comment this plse?
No, it is not repairable (practically). I have taken one apart and examined it after failure. I could determine no easy or practical or enduring fix.
 

MitchM

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Jan 20, 2005
1,011
Nauticat 321 pilothouse 32 Erie PA
hot water heater thoughts:
when you install one, put 2 way brass bypass valves into the cold water inlet line which connects to the hot water output line from the heater. . 12 oclock open position on new cold inlet valve is open to flow cold water into hw heater , closing it to 3 o'clock sends cold water into the hot water out put line bypassing the tank . when both hot water and cold water valves are closed at , 3 o'clock position, all cold water 'in' bypasses the hw h tank and flows to the hot output line not into the h w heater tank. this allows you the option of taking h w heater tank completely out of your system (such as if heater springs a leak...)