Leaking Atwood gc6aa-10e water heater

[ksbowman]

Last winter when we were in Florida I decide to put in a dedicated outlet for an electric heater. While I had the access panel off I noticed some water on the vinyl flooring under my water heater. I watched it every day and checked all the piping connections and never found them leaking. I would put two paper towels under it (water heater) and each morning they would be wet by the next morning. I chose just to change paper towels each morning and wait till I got home to find out where the leak was coming from. After pulling the water heater this summer I found the nipple that the heating element screws into had a very small seep where the weld on the nipple to the tank started and stopped. Evidently the slag where the weld over lapped wasn't cleaned properly. A simple air test on the tank and a little soapy water revealed it. I don't have a TIG welder to weld aluminum but, a friend of mine does and for a case of beer he welded it up. This saved $400-600 for the price of a new water heater.

[ksbowman]

You are correct Old-Biscuit. While I had it out I thru in a new heating element and am saving the old one in case I need it. I'm lucky as Coplay RV salvage is only a couple hours away in Mo. and they have a great supply of new and used parts. It's the largest RV salvage around.

[RoyB]

I have had my water heater pressure relief valve on the outside leak at times. When this happens I just operate the spring loaded switch a couple of times and it usually quits dripping...

Roy Ken

[Old-Biscuit]

Fortunately you have an Atwood WH with aluminum tank and where leak was you didn't have to completely disassemble the WH just pull it.
New tank alone would run you $200

IF it had been a Suburban.......
No welding repairs (glass-lined tank)
No replacement tanks
Have to buy complete WH (salvage yards are alternative)

[path1]

Love it when stuff like that happens.