Water heater leaking

[Martin]

I have a 2015 R27 and when the water heater is switched on and the water is heated it drips from the black overflow pipe connected to the water heater located in the compartment where the battery charger and inverter are. Is there a reason for this and how do I fix it

 

[SJI Sailor]

That sounds like overflow from the pressure release valve .. which is normal as the water expands and builds up pressure with heat. Does that sound right?

Solutions might include a diversion line to the bilge, opening a faucet when heating from being cold, and/or simply collecting the water in a container.

 

[knotflying]

Same here, sounds like the pressure relief valve. Have you exercised it? Sometimes dirt and such and lack of use make for a bad seal. While under pressure put a bowl under the hose and open the release lever and then close it. See if that resolves the problem. If not you can either run the hose to the bilge, which is just hiding the issue. Or just replace the valve.

 

[Martin]

Thank you I will try that

 

[Gin]

I'm wondering how many forum members have monitored the amount of water they lose when their system heats up (which is when my valve weeps). As discussed in past threads on this topic, some loss of water evidently is normal due to the expansion of the water as it heats in a closed system. But, does anyone know what "normal" should be? A few ounces? A cup? More?

Gini

 

[dbsea]

Mine will dribble here and there, but what I don't like about this is that it dribbles onto the painted plywood mount that the water heater is mounted on. How long until that plywood rots???

 

[SJI Sailor]

With our 11ga heater, going from all cold at 55F to all hot after being underway, we collect just under 2 cups overflow.

I know because I have a plastic container there to capture it. (Although mostly we just turn off the pump and open a hot water valve, which avoids the issue.)

BTW, when the boat was new that valve was leaking directly onto the painted plywood floor in the pump "room". I caught that before any damage was done but asked the dealer about it. Their technician looked and apparently decided to cap it, a bad idea that I discovered later -- when the water heater gasket blew out (not catastrophically, just leaking; but a pain to replace).

 

[marksandyham]

Adding an accumulator tank/expansion tank will fix the problem. This is a code requirement for a home or building that has a backflow or check valve on the incoming supply.

 

[Osprey]

Adding an accumulator tank/expansion tank will fix the problem. This is a code requirement for a home or building that has a backflow or check valve on the incoming supply.

My solution is a suggested in the quote. Back in 2012 I had pressure build up sufficient to blow the water hose off the heater connection. After the second such incident I installed an accumulator. This ended the issue.

 

[dbsea]

Adding an accumulator tank/expansion tank will fix the problem. This is a code requirement for a home or building that has a backflow or check valve on the incoming supply.

My solution is a suggested in the quote. Back in 2012 I had pressure build up sufficient to blow the water hose off the heater connection. After the second such incident I installed an accumulator. This ended the issue.

Hmm, I have a 2.5gal accumulator tank in my system and mine still dribbles here and there, a few oz of water...

 

[SJI Sailor]

Same here, we have an accumulator tank, too, and still have overflow. Probably the accumulator is ahead of a check valve or something (had few options on how to install it due to the space). OTOH the accumulator is great for reducing overall noise etc. (I wish marine water heaters would use dedicated overflow accumulator tanks like home heaters. But not a huge issue for us.)