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Fleetwood_Coupl's avatar
Fleetwood_Coupl
Explorer
Dec 21, 2014

small leak (drip) behind the hot water tank.

I was poking around the hidden spaces in the rv looking for a possible place to mount a vac system. I took of the small door under the drawers and TV in the bedroom and found the hot water tank. Noticed a small wet spot and found what seemed like a loose fitting but it almost impossible to get to. The DW was able to contort herself around(yoga instructor) and get a few small turns on it, but it got worse before it got better now it's about the same, shut the hose off and will just use the tank pump until we can get it resolved. Does the tank slide out from the outside by just removing all the screws? Anyone got any ideas. I am thinking it might be the hose not the firing leaking. I will try to post a picture. [img][/img]
Class A
  • azrving's avatar
    azrving
    Explorer
    Dec 22, 2014
    It's probably the hose end thats bad. I'd try to replace the hose without pulling the water heater. Can you cut through the panel that's in the way without it being visible. It may be hacked looking when you get done but if it cant be seen who cares. Looks like a Home Depot hose.
  • Fleetwood_Coupl's avatar
    Fleetwood_Coupl
    Explorer
    Dec 22, 2014
    I am thinking about going in from above there is a thin wood panel above it that is below where the bottom of the drawers are, not sure why they wasted all that space.
  • Gjac's avatar
    Gjac
    Explorer III
    Dec 22, 2014
    I would try to tighten the fittings first, there is a plumbing tool that I can't remember its proper name but it is about a foot long with a T handle on one end and a adjustable sideways wrench on the other end made to get into tight places like that. Mine leaked there also and I tighten it about a half turn and it fixed the leak.
  • Fleetwood_Coupl's avatar
    Fleetwood_Coupl
    Explorer
    Dec 22, 2014
    I just happen to have one of them wrenches. But mine is to long to get in there due to the panel above. So tomorrow I plan to use a hole saw and cut an access hole to slide it down through and see if that will fix it.
  • Old-Biscuit's avatar
    Old-Biscuit
    Explorer III
    Dec 22, 2014
    There will be three (3) lines/hoses connected to that device........it is a 'mixing valve'. Cold water in, hot water in and a controlled hot out.

    You have an Atwood XT model water heater
    The mixing valve regulates/control the water heater hot water final output.

    Closing the cold inlet valve will stop leaking......you can continue to use city water (or water pump) just will not have hot water until you stop leak.

    Could be fitting isn't tight enough. Found most of my sink connections only hand tight.
    BUT that one area of hose in mirror doesn't look good.
  • Fleetwood_Coupl's avatar
    Fleetwood_Coupl
    Explorer
    Dec 22, 2014
    Thanks, thank good info to know. I was wondering why there wasn't an adjustable thermostat. A few weeks ago it got down to 9 degrees F and the next morning the hot water was froze. Not the cold just hot. I flipped the LP switch on and after a few minutes it started dripping and about 30 min later it ran normal, now I also suspecting this is where it was froze and yes that hose looks very suspect. I will keep you posted.
  • Old-Biscuit's avatar
    Old-Biscuit
    Explorer III
    Dec 22, 2014
    Fleetwood Couple wrote:
    Thanks, thank good info to know. I was wondering why there wasn't an adjustable thermostat. A few weeks ago it got down to 9 degrees F and the next morning the hot water was froze. Not the cold just hot. I flipped the LP switch on and after a few minutes it started dripping and about 30 min later it ran normal, now I also suspecting this is where it was froze and yes that hose looks very suspect. I will keep you posted.


    The water heater has a preset t-stat (160*F) and the mixing valve is factor set for an outlet temp of 130*F.

    Not having the water heater ON in freezing temps will allow water in tank and in lines to freeze.

    Best to leave it ON when using RV in temps below freezing. A little extra propane (or electric) is much cheaper than busted plumbing lines/split water heater tank etc.

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