&$*!@**!##! Hot Water Heater

[Dan]

I'm trying to get at the element of my hot water heater to replace it. It's snug and framed in under the setee so I can't lift it out. The screws to get at it are up agains the bulkhead on one side, and against the front of the setee on the other. I'm all out of ideas. Anyone?

 

[Bryce22345]

water heater

Dan,I have a 410 with a Seaward water heater. had a problem with it last year and thought it was the element. called seaward and they indicate the element rarely if ever fails. there's a thermocouple that looks like a "red dot" circuit breaker on the side of the unit, under the inspection panel. just press it to reset it. Seaward indicated it was caused by the heating element not being submersed in water and over heating. I apparently had a water tank go dry while the hot water was running.BryceH410

 

[Dan]

Thanks, Bryce!

Bryce:I am hoping against hope that you're right! The 410 is the same boat from the companionway forward. I'll be on the boat tomorrow and will look for the red button!

 

[Jeff B]

Not quite acurate.......

On any electric water heater, if the element becomes exposed to air while energized, Its gone!! No ifs, ands or buts!The "Red Button" Bryce is referring to is the reset button on the thermostat. On the backside of the thermostat is a thermal overload disc, if the tank get too hot it will trip the reset.If the reset button is ever tripped, it can be ONLY 1 of 2 things.1. Electrical surge/short in the system2. The thermostat has gone bad and it's not telling the heater to stop heating, (turning off the electricity to the element at the designated temp), it gets too hot and trips the resetA thermocouple is only on gas water heaters. It is a safety switch of sorts. It is located right next to the pilot light and is temperature sensitive. If the pilot light is out and not warming the thermo coupling then NO gas will be sent to the burners. The thermo couple HAS to be warmed by the pilot light in ordered for the gas valve to send gas to the burner.I'm assuming that the heater on your boat is electric due to the hazards of having a gas heater on a boat.To check if you element is bad, use a simple 2 lead tester. Touch 1 lead to either pole (wire connection), and 1 to the tank. Light means OK, no light means element is toast. P.S. If you touch each lead to each pole you'll just be completing the circuit and it will always light, thus giving you a false reading.JeffBeginner Sailor / Journeyman Plumber

 

[Don12364]

Jeff - Not Quite Accurate

Jeff et al,I have tripped my immersion heater thermostatic cutout during an engine overheat after we ran flat out for about an hour. We were the committee boat and were trying to get to the finish of a race and eventually the engine overheat alarm sounded. No problem just ran some hot water off and continued at reduced speed.Next time we plugged into the dock there was no hot water. The red button had popped.We did it again, unintentionally, on another occasion and it popped again. We are now wise to this one.

 

[Dan]

Jeff, Donalex and Bryce (re: water heater)

Unfortunately the red button had not popped and so it wasn't in need of being reset.The first thing I WOULD try to do would be to test for current at the heater. But to get to the leads, I have to take off the cover. To take off the cover, I have to remove the heater. And I can't figure out how to do that.Do I have to remove the entire settee? Does the entire settee come out without breaking anything? I started removing every screw I saw, but nothing budged.(and now I have to do the same for my air conditioner to replace the compressor)Any other thoughts?

 

[GuyT]

Dan, you dont have to check current at the heater.

If you turn on the ac main breaker and the water heater breaker and nothing else, you could measure the current back at the ac main. That should be fairly easy, no??

 

[Bryce22345]

water heater

Dan,you might call Seaward at 562-699-7997 and see what they have to say.Bryce