small leak (drip) behind the hot water tank.

[Fleetwood_Coupl]

I was poking around the hidden spaces in the rv looking for a possible place to mount a vac system. I took of the small door under the drawers and TV in the bedroom and found the hot water tank. Noticed a small wet spot and found what seemed like a loose fitting but it almost impossible to get to. The DW was able to contort herself around(yoga instructor) and get a few small turns on it, but it got worse before it got better now it's about the same, shut the hose off and will just use the tank pump until we can get it resolved. Does the tank slide out from the outside by just removing all the screws? Anyone got any ideas. I am thinking it might be the hose not the firing leaking. I will try to post a picture. [img][/img]

[Fleetwood_Coupl]

Another thing I figured out was you can take the cold bypass side and hook it to the output side of the valve and still have running water in the rv while you have the tank out.

[2112]

Very informative thread.

Thanks

[guardrail53]

Great to hear you got it fixed, as I was watching and learning! Old Biscuit is pretty sharp! And I learned a few things along the way! Thanks, Rail!:C

[Fleetwood_Coupl]

Yes I was about to post that all is resolved, and photo bucket spammed my PC with some crazy down loads and I am in the process of trying to fix it, back to using my phone.
It must have been messed up since we have owned it. I set it to 130 and our water has never been that hot. It's awesome!

[Old-Biscuit]

DO you have hot water now?

One thing for sure...you have a very good understanding on how your WH & hot water system work :B

[Fleetwood_Coupl]

In this photo is a brass valve used for winterizing the tank, which seems odd, because there is no way to get to it, from inside. I made the mistake of turning back and forth a few times, and after I re-installed the tank it was leaking, I had to mess with it several times and then it seemed to spring back closed and stopped leaking.

[Fleetwood_Coupl]

I removed the screw from the adjusting cap and replaced it with a standard 8-32 machine screw so I can now adjusted if needed. Inspecting the vavle I found a crazy amount of Teflon tape down in the valve and also under on of the outlet valves. Not sure if that was causing any of the problems, but as old biscuit suggested I soaked it in vinegar for several hours and worked the adjusting valve back and forth.

[Fleetwood_Coupl]

Once I was able to pull the tank( which was very easy thanks to the extra long electrical wire that they left) I was able to use a folding table and just sit it out on the table near the opening and then remove the mixing valve.

[Fleetwood_Coupl]

I finally had to give in and pull the hot water tank from the rv, got some good pictures and thought I would share with others. Turns out that grey looking valve was actually just a T fitting.

[Fleetwood_Coupl]

jetcare wrote:
Check the outside shower. Do you have the handles in the on position? If so, turn them off.

I checked that in the beginging but thanks for the reminder

[Gjac]

Fleetwood Couple wrote:
So today I drained and flushed the water heater, water inside was at about 155 on the meat thermometer, then tried to remove the relief valve to allow me to fill the tank with vinegar/water but it wouldn't budge felt like i was going to break it. I refilled the tank and turned it back on. Water heated back up and when tested at the sink it was very hot to the touch for about 1-2 minutes then back to lukewarm. I will try again tomorrow.
Merry Christmas Everyone!

When I removed my relief valve to change it I had the same concerns because it was in there for 18 years. I sprayed it with PB Blaster or Kroil oil and let it sit for several hrs. Tapped the valve slightly to get the oil into the threads and it came right out.

[jetcare]

Check the outside shower. Do you have the handles in the on position? If so, turn them off.

[Old-Biscuit]

Fleetwood Couple wrote:
So today I drained and flushed the water heater, water inside was at about 155 on the meat thermometer, then tried to remove the relief valve to allow me to fill the tank with vinegar/water but it wouldn't budge felt like i was going to break it. I refilled the tank and turned it back on. Water heated back up and when tested at the sink it was very hot to the touch for about 1-2 minutes then back to lukewarm. I will try again tomorrow.
Merry Christmas Everyone!

Make sure that the water heater 'bypass valve' is closed.

It may be a function of that lower valve.....that valve should allow cold water in to bottom of WH but with the other hoses it may also provide cold water to mixing valve AND a bypass function.
I would be playing round with it seeing as you now know that WH is heating water properly (155*F)..

[Fleetwood_Coupl]

So today I drained and flushed the water heater, water inside was at about 155 on the meat thermometer, then tried to remove the relief valve to allow me to fill the tank with vinegar/water but it wouldn't budge felt like i was going to break it. I refilled the tank and turned it back on. Water heated back up and when tested at the sink it was very hot to the touch for about 1-2 minutes then back to lukewarm. I will try again tomorrow.
Merry Christmas Everyone!