Water heater help ASAP plz?!

eric and mkirsch, you are both right. The only way the tank would "explode" is if pressure built too high and the relief valve failed.
Which it did not.
We are home now, I dried everything up last night and will continue the investigation.

I do believe there may be 2 issues. The water heater is leaking a small amount (that I can see so far). It must be small because it is holding pressure.

The leak in the bath is quite a bit larger (I think) and continued after I closed off and drained the water heater. Have not found this yet.

Still cannot explain the "crash" and camper shaking...maybe a raccoon jumped on the roof?!

Thanks to all for the suggestions.
Fun with campers!

If the tank had burst with enough explosive force to shake the whole camper, you'd see a lot more than just some "dampness." Water would be POURING out somewhere.

billtex wrote:
...
Wondering if the loud bang and frequent (hourly?) cycling of water heater = burst tank.
...

I don't buy it. Sure, a closed tank could be overheated to the point of bursting. However, this is not a closed tank. Rather it is an open tank attached to a closed system. So any excess pressure in the tank would also put pressure on every water fitting and check valve in the system. I have got to believe a water line, fitting, or sink faucet would be a weaker point of failure than the hot water tank itself.

My bet is on a propane build-up that ignited. Look up 'propane cannon' on Google. I remember picking berries as a kid and hearing those go off to scare the birds. Sounded just like a shotgun, but was actually a propane charge popping off.

Just my $.02!
-Eric

tattoobob wrote:

naturist wrote:
This is just a wild-eyed guess, but if there were a spider web or wasp's nest inside the burner, and conditions were just right, it could lead to gas/air not going where it should, not lighting properly, forming a cloud of gas outside the water heater burner, and exploding when the cloud DID hit the igniter. As i said, conditions would have to be just right, and it's a long shot, but I think I'd have a look-see at the burner for clogs or foreign material, and watch it closely while it goes through an ignition cycle to see that it works right.

I agree, I'm a licensed Plumber and if it has anything to do with gas other than changing a propane tank you should take it to a dealer, to me it sounds like 2 different problems, Make sure your face and hands are out of the way before you light it (fyi)

Just got home...I think you are right...,might be 2 different issues.
No ignition issue with heater, just frequent cycling.
Heater is flushed periodicaly (recent).
Still have not determined source of leak in bath...will have to do some investigating.
This is a tough one, spent a lot of time last week trying to track it down...

Thanks for all the help, Bill

naturist wrote:
This is just a wild-eyed guess, but if there were a spider web or wasp's nest inside the burner, and conditions were just right, it could lead to gas/air not going where it should, not lighting properly, forming a cloud of gas outside the water heater burner, and exploding when the cloud DID hit the igniter. As i said, conditions would have to be just right, and it's a long shot, but I think I'd have a look-see at the burner for clogs or foreign material, and watch it closely while it goes through an ignition cycle to see that it works right.

I agree, I'm a licensed Plumber and if it has anything to do with gas other than changing a propane tank you should take it to a dealer, to me it sounds like 2 different problems, Make sure your face and hands are out of the way before you light it (fyi)

This is just a wild-eyed guess, but if there were a spider web or wasp's nest inside the burner, and conditions were just right, it could lead to gas/air not going where it should, not lighting properly, forming a cloud of gas outside the water heater burner, and exploding when the cloud DID hit the igniter. As i said, conditions would have to be just right, and it's a long shot, but I think I'd have a look-see at the burner for clogs or foreign material, and watch it closely while it goes through an ignition cycle to see that it works right.

How often do you flush the heater tank? If not often, or it's been a while, it could be calcium build up. If there's enough mineral sediment, it will make loud banging/popping noises due to steam trying to escape the sediment/build up (or even one big one). That would explain the extra cycling, too since the sediment causes inefficient heating and can cause overheating which can damage the tank. Assuming the tank isn't damaged, I'd flush it and replace the T&P valve anyway. Just because you can "flip" the mechanical lever, doesn't mean it's functioning properly @150 degrees as it's designed. You don't want that thing failing.

Although, the way you describe the noise...I don't know. Then again, everything seems amplified while you're in a tin can. Maybe there is in fact a small, seepage as a result. You can still have a very slow drip and not have the pump cycle.

Edit: If there's water where there previously wasn't, that's kind of a no-brainer.

so what made the noise???

ticki2 wrote:
With the heater off , is there any water coming out of the heat exchanger tube ?

Not that I can see. The old cardboard/glass insulation...at least that I can access is wet.

I have closed off the water heater from the system. We'll see if it dries up. I suspect the heater has given up the ghost.

I left the system pressurized with the pump for a couple of hours last night. I only heard it cycle once/hr. Which is more than usual. (I am careful to keep the system tight...).

I suspect t is a small leak; small enough to wet the carpet, not bad enough to see water flowing.

With the heater bypassed we should be fine fir rest of the trip.

Thanx All!

If you pressurized the system with the water heater in it and the pump shut off and didn't cycle on and off, you don't have a leak.