Damn.. found a drip and wet base on my water heater..

[hollywood8118]

Returned to the boat this week and found a drip at the port to the internal heat exchanger on my 20 g. water heater. I shut off the two isolation valves at the engine and pulled the hose. I noticed the barbed fitting that appears to come out of a welded "bung" is a bit loose and leaking around the edges. This isn't a threaded fitting and the leaking fluid appears to be engine antifreeze ( a light greet tint in the bilge ). The tank is under system pressure and no leaking of domestic water is happening out of the open fitting. Anybody ever seen something like this?
Hollywood

 

[Comodave]

Don’t know if the heat exchanger is replaceable or ir it will require a new water heater. Do you know the brand and model?

 

[SteveK]

Returned to the boat this week and found a drip at the port to the internal heat exchanger on my 20 g. water heater. I shut off the two isolation valves at the engine and pulled the hose. I noticed the barbed fitting that appears to come out of a welded "bung" is a bit loose and leaking around the edges. This isn't a threaded fitting and the leaking fluid appears to be engine antifreeze ( a light greet tint in the bilge ). The tank is under system pressure and no leaking of domestic water is happening out of the open fitting. Anybody ever seen something like this?
Hollywood

Yes I found same, except mine is at back where tiny people can get to, so I just abandoned coolant heating that tank, I have two.

 

[Flatswing]

Returned to the boat this week and found a drip at the port to the internal heat exchanger on my 20 g. water heater. I shut off the two isolation valves at the engine and pulled the hose. I noticed the barbed fitting that appears to come out of a welded "bung" is a bit loose and leaking around the edges. This isn't a threaded fitting and the leaking fluid appears to be engine antifreeze ( a light greet tint in the bilge ). The tank is under system pressure and no leaking of domestic water is happening out of the open fitting. Anybody ever seen something like this?
Hollywood

If it’s original replace the tank. Other leaks are in your future so why wait.

 

[hollywood8118]

Thanks for the reply, it appears to be around 6 years old if the serial number has anything to do with the date of mfg. Now trying to figure out if I replace it with a exact replacement unit for $700 or go to a Raritan 20g. Round water heater at $1200.00. I know the raritan in our last boat was 15+ years old and was still ticking.. but not dripping!.
Now al
I have to do is move a few systems out of the way to manhandle the ackward beast out of the E.R... the joys of yachting.
Hollywood.

 

[Terrence]

Returned to the boat this week and found a drip at the port to the internal heat exchanger on my 20 g. water heater. I shut off the two isolation valves at the engine and pulled the hose. I noticed the barbed fitting that appears to come out of a welded "bung" is a bit loose and leaking around the edges. This isn't a threaded fitting and the leaking fluid appears to be engine antifreeze ( a light greet tint in the bilge ). The tank is under system pressure and no leaking of domestic water is happening out of the open fitting. Anybody ever seen something like this?
Hollywood

Your water heater likes you; it just told you it's going to retire completely pretty soon. Electrolysis is reaching that point and soon it will be your heating coil which means the party is over. Buy a new one and make sure you change the Anode once a year.

 

[luna]

If you enjoy moving things in order to manhandle the beast out of the E.R. on a 6 year cycle, then replace with a like unit.
This method provides a bit of additional comfort, as you now know that it will be easier to do it the 2nd time. In about 6 years.

Me, I would spend almost double and enjoy the 15+ year replacement cycle as it is less work and the tank is more reliable.
I change my anode on a 4 year cycle, but that duration is largely dependent on your potable water's properties.

 

[t/t CVN69]

Waaaay back a buddy and I were running sisterships down to consecutive hull numbers. We were constantly trading stories of what was failing, whether mainsheet lead blocks or.....water heaters. Bottom line - I had a catastrophic failure, informed him, and he had the very beginnings of a drip. Moral of the story is that it ain't gonna fix itself. Bite the bullet and replace it before you end up having to rearrange your engine room or replace carpet or refinsh/replace wood soles. Best of luck!

 

[hollywood8118]

Oh I will be replacing the unit, just putting it out there. Since it was the engine circuit I isolated it for now. The less costly unit is an exact plug and play vs re plumb too.
HW

 

[ranger58sb]

I have to do is move a few systems out of the way to manhandle the ackward beast out of the E.R... the joys of yachting.

When we replaced our original cube-shaped Atwood, I dismantled it to do the removal. LIghtweight bendable box around the outside, football container inside, relatively easy, actually. Then we replaced with a different shape, Torrid, horizontal cylinder, within a gallon of original capacity. Didn't have to move anything else to get the new one into place.

-Chris