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JoshInReno's avatar
JoshInReno
Explorer
Oct 17, 2017

Water Heater when draining leaks into trailer

I am going to do my best to describe the situation, so please bear with me.

When I pull the rod out of my water heater to drain, the outside edge of the flashing used to house the water heater is diverting water back into the trailer onto the floor under where the water heater sits. There is a raised lip that the water being drained encounters on its way out. Is there a product on the market that will somehow elevate the water flow over this lip?

Found a picture online that better illustrates what I am talking about:



See where the tape has been installed on the bottom with the raised edge underneath it? That is where mine leaks under and into the trailer. Maybe the Eternabond tape is the answer I've been looking for.
  • Before pulling the anode, just take a piece of aluminum foil and make a "chute" to direct water outboard.

    It will slip up under the boss into which the anode is screwed.
  • Our previous fiver leaked inside while draining the water heater. I sealed with silicone. Also after I unscrew the drain plug I then screw a 8" long nipple in to allow the water to drain totally outside.
  • They must have used 2 full sized tubes of silicone on mine....it's ugly, but it doesn't leak when I drain it.
  • ScottG wrote:
    From the factory they use silicone and lots of it.
    It's a good location for silicone. It doesn't see UV and it can stand up to being under water.


    That's a good idea.
  • Dry out the water heater compartment completely, then get some caulking and reseal that seam where the water heater compartment joins the inside wall of the camper. If you can reach it, caulk from the inside of that same seam.

    When I drain mine, there is always a little water puddling at the bottom of the water heater compartment, on that aluminum edge. I watch for leaks there also, because I have an outside, flip down stove and sink right next to it, and it does leak onto the floor of the camper, inside the bottom cabinet when I splash water over and into that compartment. Careful examination, and I found the silicon type caulking they used to seal that compartment water tight was wiggling loose. I recaulked it early this spring and it's been good ever since.

    Water runs down-hill. If you have a lip, that last bit of water will never go over it. But, you can keep it from running through the seam and onto the floor of your camper.
  • From the factory they use silicone and lots of it.
    It's a good location for silicone. It doesn't see UV and it can stand up to being under water.