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10-29-2014, 05:05 PM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 99
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Leak at water heater
Help! When we left yesterday I discovered a water leak at the water heater. Looks like its dripping out the burner. Cleaned it all up and when we stopped for the night I hooked up the water and fired the burner, worked fine and no leak. This morning it's wet again at the bottom of the burner, not running out just a seep. Trailer is two years old and water heater has been cleaned and had a new anode rod every year. Would this be a connection or a leaking tank? Can I get to it from the basement or does the whole thing come out the side? Just need some advise here as I don't know if I should tackle this or have it done. Thanks in advance.
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John & Kay
Cash,the dog
2018 GMC Denali 3500 DRW Crewcab
2013 Redwood 36RL Full paint D/W W/D 2 A/C's and all the other stuff.
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10-29-2014, 05:35 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 420
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are you sure it's not leaking from the pressure relief valve and running down? When you empty the hot water and reheat an entire tank it builds up pressure and some times causes a drip from the valve. Depending where the valve points it could run down anywhere.
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2014 31SL: 2014 F350 6.7 litre crew cab:
Steve & Gloria
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10-29-2014, 05:41 PM
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#3
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Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 99
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Pressure relief valve is dry, that was the first place I went. We were in some heavy rain a couple of weeks ago and it blew on that side pretty hard. My first thoughts were that it blew in there and since we were on electric it didn't dry out. Wishful thinking.
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John & Kay
Cash,the dog
2018 GMC Denali 3500 DRW Crewcab
2013 Redwood 36RL Full paint D/W W/D 2 A/C's and all the other stuff.
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10-29-2014, 05:48 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 7,101
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Could it just be sweat? I've had sweat drip down in the burner and make some sizzle occasionally.
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Brad & Dory - Lone Tree, CO
CURRENT - 2013 Itasca Meridian 42E/2013 Wrangler 4dr Sahara
SOLD - 2014 Redwood 36RL/2014 F350 DRW
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10-29-2014, 06:11 PM
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#5
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Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 99
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Wouldn't think it would be sweat as it hasn't done it before when we were in a lot more humidity. We're in Amarillo now headed to South Texas and it's really dry here. If you spit here it never hits the ground!
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John & Kay
Cash,the dog
2018 GMC Denali 3500 DRW Crewcab
2013 Redwood 36RL Full paint D/W W/D 2 A/C's and all the other stuff.
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10-29-2014, 06:13 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 7,101
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just a thought. Texas is usually far more humid than us.
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Brad & Dory - Lone Tree, CO
CURRENT - 2013 Itasca Meridian 42E/2013 Wrangler 4dr Sahara
SOLD - 2014 Redwood 36RL/2014 F350 DRW
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10-29-2014, 07:18 PM
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#7
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Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 99
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More info. Just took the burner tube and igniter out of the hole to see better. The water seeps into the burner space from the side of the space about six inches in. Not being familiar with the system, I'm going to assume that the tank is leaking. Does this sound right?
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John & Kay
Cash,the dog
2018 GMC Denali 3500 DRW Crewcab
2013 Redwood 36RL Full paint D/W W/D 2 A/C's and all the other stuff.
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10-29-2014, 07:36 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 7,101
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I would guess a fitting at the back end, but you probably won't know till you get in there. It's all wrapped in insulation.
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Brad & Dory - Lone Tree, CO
CURRENT - 2013 Itasca Meridian 42E/2013 Wrangler 4dr Sahara
SOLD - 2014 Redwood 36RL/2014 F350 DRW
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10-29-2014, 08:00 PM
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#9
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Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 99
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So thru the basement? Don't know if I can get my big belly in there!
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John & Kay
Cash,the dog
2018 GMC Denali 3500 DRW Crewcab
2013 Redwood 36RL Full paint D/W W/D 2 A/C's and all the other stuff.
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10-29-2014, 08:22 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 7,101
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That's how my tech got to mine - he disappeared way back in there and was squatting behind it. But he was a small guy.
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Brad & Dory - Lone Tree, CO
CURRENT - 2013 Itasca Meridian 42E/2013 Wrangler 4dr Sahara
SOLD - 2014 Redwood 36RL/2014 F350 DRW
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10-29-2014, 09:02 PM
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#11
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Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 99
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Think I'll wait til we get to south Texas to try anything. I know a couple really good mobile rv guys that can bail me out if I get in trouble. I also found out that the tank is under warranty for three years if that what it turns out to be. Thanks for the replies.
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John & Kay
Cash,the dog
2018 GMC Denali 3500 DRW Crewcab
2013 Redwood 36RL Full paint D/W W/D 2 A/C's and all the other stuff.
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10-29-2014, 09:39 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 7,101
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Oh definitely. It would be rare that the tank corroded through, but I have heard of them leaking at a weld. I saw a fella that pulled one out of his Montana that had been seeping for a couple of years and rotted his subfloor. He never noticed until his floor got soft. Tiny leak at the weld.
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Brad & Dory - Lone Tree, CO
CURRENT - 2013 Itasca Meridian 42E/2013 Wrangler 4dr Sahara
SOLD - 2014 Redwood 36RL/2014 F350 DRW
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10-29-2014, 10:35 PM
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#13
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Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 99
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That's what this looks like, there is a weld right there. I just went and talked to the "water heater tech" at the local rv dealer and he was pretty adamant that it was a leak in the tank. Said to call suburban and they should take care of it. I'll do that as soon as we get settled down south. Right now it drips once every five minutes so it should be ok until Monday. Thanks again.
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John & Kay
Cash,the dog
2018 GMC Denali 3500 DRW Crewcab
2013 Redwood 36RL Full paint D/W W/D 2 A/C's and all the other stuff.
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10-29-2014, 11:05 PM
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#14
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Site Team
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 5,407
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Slow leaks are like termites.......they do damage without being noticed.
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SOB "The RV Wiseguy"
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10-30-2014, 12:36 AM
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#15
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Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 99
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Fortunately this one runs down the burner chamber and outside. Spot on the ground the size of a softball after 24 hours.
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John & Kay
Cash,the dog
2018 GMC Denali 3500 DRW Crewcab
2013 Redwood 36RL Full paint D/W W/D 2 A/C's and all the other stuff.
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10-30-2014, 03:22 AM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,136
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Ugh... Don't forget that on an RL, after you take the basement wall down, the furnace with all its ducts is there in front of the water heater. You can barely see the WH. Mine had a loose wire that prevented it from working and it was all I could do to even touch the top of it where the wire bundle was to check it.
I was fortunate and could diagnose & repair my problem without enlisting the dealer. During the diagnosis, the dealer wanted to pull the whole thing out, but that required that they cut through and disturb all the sealer around the WH frame
(which is painted during the full body paint job).
Not offering much hope, but cosmetically, it will come out better is it something that can be repaired from the inside...
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Mike & Pam '12 36RL, Kodiak Discs, 17.5" G114s H-Rated, SRE4000 w/HD Shackles, Joy Rider Shocks, Flex Air, 5.5 Onan, W&D, DW, 4 Scare Lights, (2) 6V Trojan T-145s; Progressive EMS-HW50C, Winegard DTV Sat, Sony/Denon 4K Home Theater, WiFiRanger EliteAC Pack, weBoost 4G-X Cell Booster.
2022 RAM 3500 Limited CC, LB, 4x4, DRW, Max Tow, Cummins HO, AISIN, 4.10, Mopar 30K w/OEM Prep, Transfer Flow 70gal Aux Tank/Toolbox.
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10-30-2014, 06:14 AM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 7,101
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5th time,
Exactly what happened to mine- a wire came off of the electric igniter in the back. When I got to the Dealership, the mechanic had neatly removed the furnace ducts and pushed them to the side and he was back in there with his legs crossed like Buda fixing it. I couldn't believe he got back there.
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Brad & Dory - Lone Tree, CO
CURRENT - 2013 Itasca Meridian 42E/2013 Wrangler 4dr Sahara
SOLD - 2014 Redwood 36RL/2014 F350 DRW
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10-30-2014, 11:33 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 153
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AA sounds like that man was a star in the Hobbits movies! 
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10-31-2014, 12:06 AM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 7,101
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Come to think of it, he wasn't wearing shoes and had hairy feet 
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Brad & Dory - Lone Tree, CO
CURRENT - 2013 Itasca Meridian 42E/2013 Wrangler 4dr Sahara
SOLD - 2014 Redwood 36RL/2014 F350 DRW
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