Antifreeze and water heater problems

[Travis]

Has anyone disconnected their water heater in a Hunter 29.5 or similar size Hunter with a 2GM20F engine. I can't seem to clean up my antifreeze and I think it's because my water heater that uses the antifreeze from the engine is corroded.

Has anyone had any experience with just disconnecting the outlet to the water heater and just looping the hose back to the inlet/return from the water heater. Thanks, I appreciate any input.

 

[Don Crowther]

I haven't done it but it should work. All your doing is taking the hot water tank out of the loop.

 

[twalker H260]

While looping the hose input to output will work fine for the engine, you should determine if the water heater heat exchanger is faulty as the antifreeze used in an engine is usually poisonous.

A pressure test on the heaters heat exchanger would likely tell you if you have a problem. -If there is a leak in the exchanger I'm sure others will be able to chime in on how to decontaminate your potable water system. (It would likely be only on the hot water side but I would decontaminate the whole system to be safe.)

 

[Dave602]

There should be no reason you can't do that. The antifreeze just runs through a coil. You can do on both sides. I do the house side during winterizing to isolate the water heater.
When I flushed my antifreeze system this year I used a wet vac and sucked water through the hoses until it was clean. That works very well. Also works on helping drain the water heater on the house side.

Good luck

 

[a65sailor]

You could use an automotive type radiator flush to clean out the coil in the water heater. Run it a while and change out all of the coolant.

 

[HernandoBeacher]

You might want to look at one of the water header bypass kits. They are inexpensive and would allow you to determine whether your problem is in fact the water heater. Depending on the location of your water heater, these kits also allow you to avoid having a large heat sink in the cabin in the summer. Ours is located beneath the aft berth making summer nights in Florida even more challenging.

http://www.westmarine.com/buy/camco--water-heater-bypass-winterizing-kit--329195

 

[Travis]

Thanks for the replies. I've drained and flushed the coolant 5 times. I can't believe the junk that came out of there. Lots of suspended solids, scale, etc. I should have done a drain and flush when I bought the point and launched it in 2010.

 

[srhummer]

I have done a loop on mine. Well two loops, one at the engine and one at the water heater. Did it until I can replace the hoses under the cabin sole. No problems at all.

 

[thinwater]

If you are seeing significant amounts of solids there is a problem.

• electrolysis. Either loose ground or low-quality make-up water (the pumping can induce a current). Always use distilled or DI water (not RO boat water).
• Air leak. Any air leaking into the system creates a fast-oxidizing situation that NO coolant can protect. You may need to pressure test. A small water pump seal leak, perhaps.

But flushing should NEVER be needed unless there is a mechanical problem that caused it. It is a symptom, not the problem.