Forum Discussion

nxtchpt's avatar
nxtchpt
Explorer
May 20, 2014

Hot water leak

Is it possible that when I turn on my hot water heater that it would provoke a leak in the tank?

I have a 2008 HR Neptune. I shut off all of the water to the coach, turned on the water pump, no apparent leaks in the wet system. Soon after turning on the Hot water power (120V - street power) the leak started.

The DRIP is coming out of the passenger side rear corner of the rig...there is no water inside anywhere proximate to the tank.

Thoughts? Experience?
Class A

5 Replies

  • ksg5000's avatar
    ksg5000
    Explorer
    May 21, 2014
    Open up outside access panel and see if you see relief valve or anything else that is wet - then gain access to the inside portion of the tank (often under a bench seat) and see if you can identify where it's leaking (may just need to tighten something) .. if that doesn't work then you have to follow the hot water lines until you find where the leak is. If you have outside shower -- make sure you check that as well.
  • DougE's avatar
    DougE
    Explorer
    May 21, 2014
    When you first fire up the water heater the water expansion due to the temperature rise will sometimes create enough pressure to open the pressure relief valve. I just cracked a hot water faucet slightly while firing up the heater the first time and then had no problems with the normal operating temperature swing later. Some codes now require homes to have an accumulator tank due to this expansion issue.
  • BTPO1's avatar
    BTPO1
    Explorer
    May 21, 2014
    nxtchpt wrote:
    Is it possible that when I turn on my hot water heater that it would provoke a leak in the tank?



    In answer to your question, Yes since as the water heats up it builds pressure and will start leaking if it has a flow path. The next thing I would do is find where it is leaking from and go from there. JMO
  • robsouth's avatar
    robsouth
    Explorer II
    May 21, 2014
    full-timer wrote:
    It sounds like it may be the water heater relief valve leaking. May be as simple as reseating it.


    X2
  • full-timer's avatar
    full-timer
    Explorer
    May 20, 2014
    It sounds like it may be the water heater relief valve leaking. May be as simple as reseating it.

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