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Hot / fresh water leak in water bay !
Hey all, once weather cooled down few weeks ago noticed a small water leak on right side of last bay where all the plumbing is. I have two stacked atwood 10.5 gal water heaters. Water (very small amount) was pooling on the tray in the lower heater and a little on the floor of bay itself. Also I could see some water in front of the carpeted area in dead center of coach in front of fresh tank.
It is for sure fresh water.
Seems to leak more when tank is full, but I only get water on left side mainly around hot water heater. I pulled the water combos today, cleaned everything and filled fresh tank, going to let it sit overnight and see if anything shows.
Bottom of lower water heated pitted in a few places but also letting it sit overnight with water in it and somewhat pressurized to see if anything weeps, so far dry.
Question, has anyone seen the Marathon plastic tanks leak? What about the Atwood tanks, where would you put your money on the leak coming from?
If the fresh tank has a pinhole leak I am about half the way to getting it pulled so no big deal, rather not buy a new water heater now tho….any insights really appreciated!
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16 Replies
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You have two stacked Atwood water heaters and since you said hot water is leaking, that’s probably where you’ll find the leak. Mine are AtwoodEHM11-AM and they have an aluminum tank and don’t use any anode rods. I assume you have looked behing the panel at the plumbing to be sure you don’t have a leaking line.
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Tom, I will post some pictures later. Have pulled apart alot of the drivers side, all dry, my plumbing is relatively simple on this 40 footer.
The water has all been in the same area, I suspect the hot water tank, and as of this morning the bay is dry with the hot water heaters removed and the fresh tank at 100%.
My setup is slightly different than yours but I think I have evrything pulled apart enough that I can see all lines and detect any leak.
I still have the issue where my pump will run about every four or five hours for 5 seconds to top off the pressure, have found no leak anywhere else in house so I think this is the pump losing a little prime or possibly related to my leak now but not 100% positive on this.
I do believe it has been leaking for sometime however in warm weather it is so hot in the water bay the water just evaporated as the leak is so tiny.
Any idea if you can replace just the water tank on the Atwood or do you need to buy a whole new assembly?
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Your pump cycling may be due to your very tiny leak. I just replaced my Headhunter pump because I had a tiny leak in the plumbing, a leak so small that the drip would evaporate before I could even find it. Since mine is all hard piped to the pump, I changed out the pump as a PM.
The heaters are not all that expensive, about 3500 and not sure if you could just replace the tank. I would change them both out if you’re going to do any. A bad check valve would also allow your water pressure to drop.
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Tom, a bad check valve on the heater itself? If I am understanding it right there cold inlet into the tank is a one way valve…its held good presure over night.
Can you buy the lower and upper units sperately? I see they are somewhat unique and work together, i.e. just one temp control for both. My top unit looks near new. (tank condition)
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Tom, You mentioned the AtwoodEHM11-AM. I googled it without the AM and the Atwater site came up with the listing of their water heaters. It says for that “one electric with heat exchanger.” Does that mean the engine coolant will heat the domestic water while going down the road? I have mentioned on PC before that my AquaHot is on its last legs and I am looking for a temporary solution until I can replace it. The engine coolant warming the domestic water is one feature I hate to loose even temporarily.
Davy -
Yes Davy, it heats the water when the engine is running. I turn it off, 190 degree water is a bit much.
G-man – I have a check valve on cold side to prevent city water presssure to the pump and the Headhunter has one on the inlet side. The one on the inlet side if not working properly could allow pressure to bleed off back towards the water tank then causing the pump to cycle.
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Thanks, Tom. I had planned to replace the AquaHot this year but I am going to wait a bit. Unfortunately the old AH may not last. The boiler itself is leaking and has been for several months now. I may install one of those for a temporary solution. I love the interior heat and bay heat from the AH so I do not want to eliminate it forever.
Davy
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I am not familiar with the aquahot, a lil but not sure its advantage over the Atwood. Plenty of hot water, can heat it off the webasto or engine going down the road. Easy to replace.
Well I still have no water with full fresh tank after 24 hours so think it was coming from the lower hot water heater tank, found what could be some pin hole leaks and cleaned them up and epoxied, so will see how it holds up, if it stop will put a new water heater on the list for later this winter.
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Davy, the only problem with removing the Aqua hot and putting in water heaters is that you loose the heat function from that unit. You will have to rely on electric heat, and may have to add heaters to your water bay if you don’t already have one. Aqua hot replacement is rather expensive as I’m sure you are aware.
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Davy
I was sure my Aqua hot boiler was leaking. I am very happy that new radiator cap from NAPA fixed the leak. The seal at the top of the old cap was as hard as brick. AH would only leak when up to operating temp. Electric, burner or engine heat would let it leak. Have had the electric on now for 3 weeks and no leak. I was looking at boiler stop leak to see if it worked. New cap was much better deal.
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Thanks, Jeff. I am aware of that. It is why I am only considering an electric heater as a temporary fix. I fully intend to replace the AH at some point. Hopefully sooner rather than later but it will not be before this winter for sure. I love the interior heat of the AH. We do have four toe kicks and four roof airs with heat strips rather than heat pumps. I also have electric heaters in both bays that are vulnerable to freezing. Plus I am planning to work in Texas, Louisiana and Alabama in January and February instead of Oklahoma, Missouri and Kansas as I have the last twelve years. That should help some.
Larry, I went through all the diagnosis this winter hoping against hope that this leak was not catostrophic. It is most definitely the boiler as I have detailed on threads here in the past. I wish I was wrong but I finally had to face the factsl. I intended to replace it this last summer but we had to go with different priorities when my daughter had a health crisis in April. I will get to it eventually.
Davy
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Davy I may have new Aqua hot at my business in Canada that was in motorhome that was in bad wreck my brother said it did not get hurt if it is good you can have it I will check on it to see if it is good and when we might be able to have it waiting on the insurance company to decide what they are going to do
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Davy,
Several days ago I was talkiing to Rudy Legett, he has an Aqua Hot service business in Houston. We’re discussing him becoming a PC Advertiser.
In the mean time, since you’re going to be in Texas, contact Rudy and see if he can help.
VRV Hydronic Service
Factory Authorized Aqua Hot Service
Rudy Legett
713.818.3234Mobile Service in greater Houston Area
jrlegett
@gmail.com -
Rudy is very good …. he overhauled our Aquahot in the Vantare and in our Holiday Rambler…. he won’t do anything you don’t need and usually has the parts required to do the job. Very organized too !!
Diane
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I will second the Rudy suggestion! He changed our mixer valve on our Foretravel and did an outstanding job!
Highly recommend him!
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