Forum Discussion

sundowners's avatar
sundowners
Explorer
Oct 21, 2013

Suburban water heater leak

Hi
during the summer our water heater started to leak:(----
Water is coming out of the burner tube (where the LPG flame goes)-------are there any seals in there that may have blown------or is it cracked---toast----the whole thing was fitted new in 2010 so I don't think it would have rusted through ??
Can these tanks be taken apart ??----if I remove it, is there any chance of fixing it ??------------this is our first trip away without having hot water and we miss it:(

Thanks for any help
Nigel & Pamala------soggy UK
  • enblethen's avatar
    enblethen
    Nomad
    Oct 21, 2013
    Tank is either rusted through or had a bad weld during manufacture.
    New tank time!
  • I_am_still_wayn's avatar
    I_am_still_wayn
    Explorer
    Oct 21, 2013
    enblethen wrote:
    Tank is either rusted through or had a bad weld during manufacture.
    New tank time!

    I disagree with this assessment.
    The water heater is just several years old. Perhaps it is leaking at a fitting on or near the tank and the water is dripping on the tank and running down to where you see it dripping. look at the connections at and around the heater before deciding the heater itself is leaking.
  • sundowners's avatar
    sundowners
    Explorer
    Oct 21, 2013
    Hi
    Thanks
    Is it possible to get at the welds to inspect/repair them----------a new tank will cost me a LOT of freight and import duty/tax------it is worth me doing a bit of work, if it will do any good
    Thanks
    Nigel--------still raining here:(
  • enblethen's avatar
    enblethen
    Nomad
    Oct 21, 2013
    Welding the tank could damage the glass lining. This can cause more places to rust out later on.
    Sounds like an internal leak which would be hard to get to. Only way I can think of is with an automotive type flexible video scope.
    Is there any salvage locations in th UK that might have a used tank?
    You may want to contact Suburban. Maybe they would replace under a warranty!
  • dougrainer's avatar
    dougrainer
    Nomad
    Oct 21, 2013
    The water heater has to be replaced. There is NOTHING other than a leak in the tank that would cause water to come out the burner flue. The odds are it froze last winter, but not enough to split until it heated up a few times. Doug
  • sundowners's avatar
    sundowners
    Explorer
    Oct 21, 2013
    enblethen wrote:
    Welding the tank could damage the glass lining. This can cause more places to rust out later on.
    Sounds like an internal leak which would be hard to get to. Only way I can think of is with an automotive type flexible video scope.
    Is there any salvage locations in th UK that might have a used tank?
    You may want to contact Suburban. Maybe they would replace under a warranty!


    A nice idea--- but at three years old !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    Nigel & Pamala------Still soggy UK
  • sundowners's avatar
    sundowners
    Explorer
    Oct 21, 2013
    Just been looking at their warranty ------3 year for tank---does not cover o/seas (UK)----also does not cover freight (the most expensive part of replacing ours)--------ours is JUST over 3 years old---
    Nigel
  • Chris_Bryant's avatar
    Chris_Bryant
    Explorer II
    Oct 22, 2013
    dougrainer wrote:
    The water heater has to be replaced. There is NOTHING other than a leak in the tank that would cause water to come out the burner flue. The odds are it froze last winter, but not enough to split until it heated up a few times. Doug


    What Doug said.

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