Water leak...

[thomas861]

My hot water heater had started making noises when it runs. I figured it was probably the element so I picked up one and a new anode rod. Cut everything off and replaced both. Cut everything back on and about 1/2 later I had hot water. Happened to go outside and noticed water dripping from the bottom of the RV just to the right and below where the water heater is. I checked and no leaks from around the element or the anode rod where I opened them up ?? I cut off the water and leaks stop. Also found water along the wall at the base of the stairs to bedroom.

Any ideas ? I can't image what I could have done. Just opened it up and flushed it out using a plastic fitting for my water hose and changed the rod and element.

Just called a mobile RV service......sigh

[thomas861]

RV tech will be here later but talking with him, he seems to think something might be loose behind the tank. Nothing directly related to what I changed but maybe along the lines of a water pressure issue through the lines when I refilled the tank and cleared the air from the lines.....

I have no idea how you get behind it to check. I went in the basement and looked inside with a flashlight and saw nothing. I could only see the top of the hot tank though.

[thomas861]

This is what the element and anode rod looked like.

[Jim & Mary]

Twice after replacing my anode rod I had a leak around the anode rod threads despite the fact that I had tightened it pretty snug. Using lots of teflon tape seemed to stop it.

[travelin' texans]

Looks like someone NEEDS a water softener badly.

[atom ant]

Hopefully he is a small fella You have to take the basement wall down and crawl in over the furnace. My technician went in there when we had an issue with ours during the PDI, and he completely disappeared!

[thomas861]

Originally Posted by travelin' texans

Looks like someone NEEDS a water softener badly.

Possibly. But we've been on the road almost entirely since we moved into the RV full time in August. I'm not sure which water it was that got me. I'm thinking possibly New Mexico.

[Jim & Mary]

This is our third winter in the desert southwest (Arizona) and the water is some of the hardest we've encountered. We use the RV Pro10000 and have to regenerate about every 20 days or so to stay on top of it.

[atom ant]

Originally Posted by Jim & Mary

This is our third winter in the desert southwest (Arizona) and the water is some of the hardest we've encountered. We use the RV Pro10000 and have to regenerate about every 20 days or so to stay on top of it.

Jim, I may be interested in installing one of those now that I have room. How do you know when it needs regenerated, and does it cut down on pressure much?

[Jim & Mary]

Brad

If I wait until I have hard water I've waited too long. After 2+ winters I guess I just know that it has to be done. I had a neighbor the first winter who said he did it once a month, my preference is more often. The RV PRO 10000 has a bottle of hardness test strips for a scientific approach. Check out the PDF.

[atom ant]

Thanks Jim. If I could get it to last the summer season, I would be good. I would have to pull it anyway in the winter anyway, and store it at my house.

[Jim & Mary]

Sorry Brad, forgot to address the pressure question. We still have plenty of water flow for the kitchen sink and/or the shower, but tried to use to deliver soft water to wash the truck and the flow rate was pitiful. For everyday use though, I'm pretty happy, and the price wasn't too bad. Camping world carries it, found it in the Mesa store.

[atom ant]

Ya, looking at it now. Looks like under $200 amazon. I could live with not being able to wash outside, as I would probably use the campground supply anyway (I only have an outside shower, so no place to hook up a hose).

Someday, an onboard power washer! or not..........

[spindrift]

Because I'm cheap...

https://www.rvupgradestore.com/Porta...-p/88-2130.htm

[travelin' texans]

That's he one I have. I hook it up at every stop, we have good tasting tap water & crystal clear ice cubes. It's mounted in a crate with a sediment filter prior to the softener & then through the original RW filter with a charcoal filter.