Broke Hot Water Heater in Roca Azul

[Belgique]

I should sample some of the ideas you gave me on my Tequila thread!

Hot water heater has been leaking for a week but left it alone for fear of making it worse. It's worse. Had to go in and the elbow fitting going into the tank on the cold water side is broke. As in total broke with part of it threaded in. Haven't seen a RV Mobile Tech around here 🙂 so I'm on my own.

I'm assuming that there is no one that can fix this thing between here and Tucson. It is an Atwood 6 gal. The '08 Winnie tubing is pre-PEX. It looks like it fits on a barb and the compression nut clamps it down. There's no removing it without cutting it and then no replacement stuff here I assume. There is an elbow fitting to the tank that the hose goes on.

I'm thinking that my only option is to somehow get a plug into the tank fitting so that I can at least use the cold water. Home depot stuff is probably metric? It has a winterize by pass on it but water still goes in no matter which way the lever is. And it has a motor aid on it if that makes a difference.

Am I missing something that is an easy fix? I think I'll go ahead and get a new heater in Tucson but we don't plan to be there until 20 May. Goal is to at least have cold water.

Now to find some Tequila!

[almcc]

Belgique wrote:

PS: lesson learned and a suggestion (even for US travels). Pick up an assortment of the brass Shark Bite fittings for your rig and a small length of PEX. It is cheap and take up no space. No crimp tool required. My Wnnie is 1/2". #6 extractor that Newman suggested saved the day for me because there was no way that sucker was coming out any other way.

That's a great suggestion! I carry an assortment of PEX stuff that's suitable for the piping in our RV, even in the US it sometimes isn't carried in some local hardware stores. Our neighbour at the RV resort we stay at had a leak in his almost new RV, the folks on the assembly line hadn't crimped the PEX clamps tight enough, a re-crimp with my PEX crimper solved the leak.

[Belgique]

Brian: gave the plug a little turn more and all is well. Yes on teflon. No leaks and hot water! I love the SharkBite brass. No need for a tool and it would have been hard to use one in the avail space. Thanks for all your help.

[briansue]

I can tighten more if I need to.

Did you use teflon tape or goop? If the threads leak could need help. If the sharkbite leaks try pushing it in further - if not all the way seated they can leak. The other plastic fittings work pretty much the same way as sharkbite but are much cheaper - though sharkbite probably has longer life expectancy.

Good job on the repairs - now you can come work on mine....

[Belgique]

Victory! 1 hour each way to Autozone in horrible Ajijic Saturday traffic and they had a #6. No other store anywhere did. I have been in all of them. Brian, even the welder guy didn't have a #6, only a 5.

That sucker was not going to come out with anything else. It took a heavy duty rachet on the extractor it get it out and it did come out clean. Pex and brass Sharkbites went on in seconds and all seems well. I have a slight drip at the plug but hope that will seal itself. I can tighten more if I need to.

Pete, sorry I missed you and the beer offer. I smelled so its better anyway. Water heating now.

Folks, thanks all of you. Your suggestions all played a role and we appreciate it.

PS: lesson learned and a suggestion (even for US travels). Pick up an assortment of the brass Shark Bite fittings for your rig and a small length of PEX. It is cheap and take up no space. No crimp tool required. My Wnnie is 1/2". #6 extractor that Newman suggested saved the day for me because there was no way that sucker was coming out any other way.

[Belgique]

Thanks to all for the overnight posts. I too came up with the hacksaw idea at 0300. It's a short ride so I think I'll try the irrigation and welder folks first. If they don't have an extractor, I'll hack saw.

Petereth...that's might nice of you. I have a ton of other tools but will holler if I fail.

HOT WATER TODAY!!! Or go see the Tequila store!!!

[peterth]

almcc has the answer, it worked for me, I used a jig saw and very carefully cut into the fitting and broke it out worked good and had clean threads. If you need tools or help let me know and I will come over there,we are just over in Ajijic

[almcc]

I had a similar problem years ago, I was able to use a small box cutter or a hack saw blade (blade only) to cut into the PVC fitting on the inside, I made the cut(s) deep enough so I could use a screwdriver against the outside metal edge of the WH to pry against the cut fitting to break it in two. Even doing a single cut and breaking it may allow the fitting to loosen enough so you can back it out.

You have to be careful with cutting, don't go too deep or you will cut into and damage the WH threads which will cause leaks. Same applies with the prying, just go deep enough into the space between the PVC and the metal threads so you don't damage them.

It's good to try if you have some time!

[briansue]

Here's a little map. The place that sells a lot of irrigation stuff - and maybe plumbing too - is sort of where I put the green flag. The do a lot with drip irrigation in the tent greenhouses so they have all kinds of parts for that stuff. The welder's shop is where I put the red dot - he lives across from the Roca swimming pool on the main road - 4th house up from the turn in. I can't think of a plumbing place off the top of my head but I know a guy who lives in Ajijic who might - he is in a very small RV park there - used to live in Roca. Roca is the blue tent.

[Belgique]

Its the PVC fitting that the cold-in PEX attaches to. It broke off flush with the tank so no vice grips etc. Horst was zero help. I showed him and he said no. Maintenance guy in the hat said no. Teo was off. A lady who's been here forever has a lead that I'll work in the AM...he does all her maintenance. And/or I'll scour the plumbing shops between here and Chapala.

It really isn't a mega issue. We'll enjoy the trip even if we bypass the heater.

Appreciate the help.

[qtla9111]

Belgique wrote:
Just an interim update. Got the parts I need but cant get the dang old plug out. Bought a 1/2 extractor but need slightly bigger. Newman has been a tremendous help off line and we've tried a bunch of things to no avail. Going to try some places tomorrow for a bigger extractor. Brian, tried all your suggestions without luck either they don't have it or couldn't find someone. Have a lead I'll work in the AM. Worst case is I'll just bypass the heater until we get to Tucson. Took cold showers in the Army (but I was a heck of a lot younger then!)

BTW, Mexican Home Depots are amazing. Really first class exhibition of stuff. Bright and cheery. Staff very knowledgeable and went all over the store try to find the extractor...had 3 people with me at one time. Great experience.

I'll report tomorrow.

Good news so far and great for Home Depot Mexico (for all the naysayers)

[briansue]

I can't really tell from the pictures exactly what the part still in the tank is - looks like plastic and still sticking out - no way to get something like vicegrips on it? Horst may have extractors? He speaks German and Spanish but his English is weak - but he has tons of tools and does all kinds of mechanical stuff there - even rebuilds engines etc. If he is there he may have ideas. Where are you parked? Horst is the second to the last on the right as you drive past the first group of RVs - his has a wooden structure and roof - permanent - garden etc. I think he is a full time resident there. Martine has been repairing everything at Roca for 40 years - he is one of those fix anything guys. I emailed Teo and boss brother Rafy to see if they can come up with anything and Teo emailed back that he will try. Rafy and brothers who own Roca also own tire stores in Guad and know how to find stuff in Guad. There is another brother - on the tip of my tongue but can't remember - they are usually there on weekends - with dad there too. Very nice people.

[Belgique]

Just an interim update. Got the parts I need but cant get the dang old plug out. Bought a 1/2 extractor but need slightly bigger. Newman has been a tremendous help off line and we've tried a bunch of things to no avail. Going to try some places tomorrow for a bigger extractor. Brian, tried all your suggestions without luck either they don't have it or couldn't find someone. Have a lead I'll work in the AM. Worst case is I'll just bypass the heater until we get to Tucson. Took cold showers in the Army (but I was a heck of a lot younger then!)

BTW, Mexican Home Depots are amazing. Really first class exhibition of stuff. Bright and cheery. Staff very knowledgeable and went all over the store try to find the extractor...had 3 people with me at one time. Great experience.

I'll report tomorrow.

[briansue]

Here's a picture from the Watts website - I think this is what you need - Watts calls it "Quick Connect" - not sure if they have Watts brand in Mexico - 3519B Quick-Connect Male Elbows - Polysulfone - other companies make other methods and names - these Watts type require no tightening or tools - just slip the PEX in - make sure it goes in as far as it can go - never leak.

[briansue]

There are any number of those "slip" fittings where the tube goes into a sort of plastic thing and is then gripped and for some reason does not leak - they work. Some of them do not even need to be tightened up with a threaded nut thing - they just push in and hold - in fact I think one brand is called "Push". First you need to get the old one out. The guy with the cowboy hat is named Martine. There is also a German mechanic in the park named Horst. If all else fails you can try to find one of the 6 or so Zertuche locations around Guad - they are huge and have every kind of fitting - I can map you to the biggest one that has the most stuff - you would have to go up the road north from Chapala. Good luck with Home Depot. If I understand this correctly the part you need is all plastic and would not involve welding - I only mention the welder in Joco because he is a great guy and will either help or send you to someone who can help. A couple years ago I had an air leak in an airbag where the fitting screws in and he fixed it right up and charged a few pesos. There are guys around there who are great - not RV specific guys but guys who know how to figure stuff out.