Cracked water heater tank

It is not really that big a deal. I created my own leak last year when replacing the control board. The mounting holes were in different spots and I put a screw through the tank. A screw hols is a quick easy repair on an aluminum tank, no way in heck was I going to pay nearly $300 on a new unit. Welding shop quoted me $25 to patch a hole, a crack may be a little more. The one pictured above however is toast. I think the clamp rings were $10

The parts on the pan all unscrew, and the clamp rings holding the pan on the tank are one time use. You don't try to remove them, you cut them off with snips or a dremmel. New clamp rings can be had at most rv supply houses and are not that expensive. Installing the clamp rings is not that hard either. I used a large screwdriver and hammer and gently worked side to side till they were in place.

Gene&Ginny wrote:
Been there, done that. See pix below, you ain't gonna weld that.

The previous owner of my TT didn't drain the tank for the one Winter he owned it. Since that was under the foam it is the one thing I never saw when I inspected the trailer. I did replace just the tank since it was a lot less expensive than a new water heater. Most of the work was easy. The hard part was to remove the litle rings around the flame tube that held the tank to the panel. Putting new rings on to hold the new tank to the panel was even worse.

If he cannot fix it and guarantee it leak free for the $50 fee, they will return it to you and they will pay the shipping both ways. You cannot lose!!

click

Been there, done that. See pix below, you ain't gonna weld that.

The previous owner of my TT didn't drain the tank for the one Winter he owned it. Since that was under the foam it is the one thing I never saw when I inspected the trailer. I did replace just the tank since it was a lot less expensive than a new water heater. Most of the work was easy. The hard part was to remove the litle rings around the flame tube that held the tank to the panel. Putting new rings on to hold the new tank to the panel was even worse.

BobsYourUncle wrote:
When I did the same thing to mine I just bought a whole new unit.

A heck of a lot easier than fiddling around with all the seized on parts trying to swap it all over.

I wouldn't bother welding it. You will forever wonder if it is going to burst some time when you are away.

This

When I did the same thing to mine I just bought a whole new unit.

A heck of a lot easier than fiddling around with all the seized on parts trying to swap it all over.

I wouldn't bother welding it. You will forever wonder if it is going to burst some time when you are away.

Steve Clark wrote:
It's an Atwood

Can you see/access where the tank cracked or is it behind the frame/pan assembly?

If behind frame/pan assembly......all of that will have to come off in order to get tank welded.
Not worth the hassle.

Caveman Charlie wrote:

AirForceAngler wrote:
If you were able to take the tank out, what's your concern about putting the replacement in? Not sure I'm following here.

I wonder if he just has the tank and none of the controls that are mounted on it. ?

Ok, my bad. I was assuming he had the whole unit as a replacement.

It's an Atwood

What Brand?....Suburban or Atwood?

Atwood is aluminum tank.......good weld shop can repair
Suburban is glass-lined steel tank.....forget about welding it.

You need to completely strip all parts off old tank....hardest part is removing the clamp rings that go over the combustion/exhaust tubes in order to remove tank from frame/pan assembly. Then you will need new clamp rings to reinstall tank to frame/pan assembly and swap parts over.....control board, burner assembly, gas valve, gas line, t-stats, AC/DC wiring, electric element, hot/cold nipples.......that's why most times it's just easier to replace with new unit.

I have pulled the whole heater and tank out. I can't seem to figure out how to get the tank off of the heating unit on the front. The crack is in an area where I don't think it can be fixed without taking the tank off.