I discovered some water leaking out from under my ten year old hot water tank/heater yesterday afternoon. None of the connections appears to be leaking. I leave on a three week sailing trip on Saturday morning. Anyone got any suggestions for a quick fix short of pulling the tank and heater? Thanks. Gary Wyngarden S/V Shibumi H335
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Hot Water Tank Leaks
If you have the Seaward type of hot water heater, it's probably leaking from the pressure relief valve when the water temp reaches its upper limit. I had the same problem and I called Seaward where they advised me that they had a bad batch of pressure relief valves a few years ago and they sent me a new one for free. Well, I replaced the valve and it was still leaking when the water got hot. Then they said that the pressure was getting too high due to the small capacity of the tank and should be solved if I installed an expansion tank which I did and solved the problem. If you want an easy and quick fix, install a piece of vinyl tubing at the end of the pressure relief valve and stick it in a paper cup wedged under it. After leaking 1-2 ounces it stops until you reheat the water again. Hope this helps.
If you have the Seaward type of hot water heater, it's probably leaking from the pressure relief valve when the water temp reaches its upper limit. I had the same problem and I called Seaward where they advised me that they had a bad batch of pressure relief valves a few years ago and they sent me a new one for free. Well, I replaced the valve and it was still leaking when the water got hot. Then they said that the pressure was getting too high due to the small capacity of the tank and should be solved if I installed an expansion tank which I did and solved the problem. If you want an easy and quick fix, install a piece of vinyl tubing at the end of the pressure relief valve and stick it in a paper cup wedged under it. After leaking 1-2 ounces it stops until you reheat the water again. Hope this helps.
Leaker?
Gary: Our Seaward leaked after about 13 years. Check arouund the bottom, there is usually signs of rust. We had it replaced. It also solved most of our problem with the pressurized water system cycling. We added an accumulator too.
Gary: Our Seaward leaked after about 13 years. Check arouund the bottom, there is usually signs of rust. We had it replaced. It also solved most of our problem with the pressurized water system cycling. We added an accumulator too.
Bronze Fitting
Don't know how your water heater is plumbed but ours came from the factory with Quest(sp?) plastic pipe fittings connected to the heater. I had a water leak for a couple years, unable to be fixed under waranty, and finally tackled the problem myself. Replaced the plastic Quest fittings to the tank with bronze ells. To connect the Quest plastic pipe to the bronze ells I used a bronze to plastic connection that had a compression ring (slips over the outside of the pipe) and a brass insert (goes inside the plastic Quest pipe) and this cured the problem. No more leak.
Don't know how your water heater is plumbed but ours came from the factory with Quest(sp?) plastic pipe fittings connected to the heater. I had a water leak for a couple years, unable to be fixed under waranty, and finally tackled the problem myself. Replaced the plastic Quest fittings to the tank with bronze ells. To connect the Quest plastic pipe to the bronze ells I used a bronze to plastic connection that had a compression ring (slips over the outside of the pipe) and a brass insert (goes inside the plastic Quest pipe) and this cured the problem. No more leak.
Leaking hot water heater
If you do not have time to replace the hot water heater before your trip you can disconnect the water inlet and outlet and use a tubing connector to connect them. This will leave you with no hot water during your trip but it will stop the leaking and allow you to sail.
If you do not have time to replace the hot water heater before your trip you can disconnect the water inlet and outlet and use a tubing connector to connect them. This will leave you with no hot water during your trip but it will stop the leaking and allow you to sail.
Lower the water pressure.
Gary, my B361 was leaking from the pressure relief valve of the water heater since new. Only when the original water pump failed and was replaced, the leak stopped. I had noted that the pressure switch of the water pump was set too high but the dealer insisted that that was normal. With the new pump, the water pressure is much lower, and the hot water leak is no longer there. Try adjusting the pressure switch, if your pump has adjustment, or change it for a new one if not. They are not that expensive.
Gary, my B361 was leaking from the pressure relief valve of the water heater since new. Only when the original water pump failed and was replaced, the leak stopped. I had noted that the pressure switch of the water pump was set too high but the dealer insisted that that was normal. With the new pump, the water pressure is much lower, and the hot water leak is no longer there. Try adjusting the pressure switch, if your pump has adjustment, or change it for a new one if not. They are not that expensive.
Thanks
Thanks for the ideas guys. I'll definitely check them out this week. Randy, I'll let you explain to my wife that she wouldn't have any hot water for three weeks. Her number is ... ;-) Gary Wyngarden S/V Shibumi H335
Thanks for the ideas guys. I'll definitely check them out this week. Randy, I'll let you explain to my wife that she wouldn't have any hot water for three weeks. Her number is ... ;-) Gary Wyngarden S/V Shibumi H335
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