Atwood water heater different leak

hgpezi wrote:
Any suggestions?

Yep. You have a hairline crack in the weld where the drain plug sits ... it's a simple repair but you'll have to remove the water heater from the trailer and strip it down to just the tank so you can get to that weld. We camped with friends last month who had this exact problem with their own Atwood water heater, in their case in the weld where the pressure relief valve screws into the tank. After eliminating the obvious leaky connections it was clear the tank itself was leaking from a crack that we couldn't see with the WH still mounted in the trailer. Removing it is simple, 'though I'd suggest you take pics as you go along so if there's any question later when you reinstall you'll have pics to refer to. Once the WH has been removed from the trailer you'll have to strip it of ALL parts until you're left with just the tank and the black sheet metal base pan attached to it. To separate the two you have to destroy the metal rings and gaskets that secure the base pan to the tank but Atwood sells a replacement ring and gasket set that any dealer can get you. Once the tank is free of the base pan you'll most likely find a hairline crack in that weld quite easily ... once you know where that crack is just have it aluminum welded ... cost my friend $20. Once welded and you're sure the tank is otherwise fine it's time for reassembly but you WILL need a new ring and gasket set. A tip - use something that's 2.75" in diameter as a drift, that will ensure that the metal rings will go on straight ... get 'em crooked and you'll be buying yet another ring and gasket set. ;)