[Sentoa] Water Heater Leak

[Jim Waskowich]

Most water heaters have 2 electrical thermostat switches - a "normal" cycling switch and a high limit switch.  If your relief valve is lifting on electrical power only and not while running the engine then it is possible that the cycling switch is defective, ie it is not shutting off the electrical element when the normal operating temperature limit is reached.  This is usually about 140 deg f.  If you have a meat thermometer you could check the temperature of the hot water when the valve lifts to see if that's the case.

Also, the relief valves have a habit of "weeping" once they've lifted.  That is, they don't always close completely.  You may need to flush the valve by operating the override lever a few times.  Don't be shy about this operation - pop the lever open, alow the the water run and then let the valve snap shut.  Repeat several times.  Do this with the water hot to help flush any particulate or other buildup through the valve and make sure to hold it open long enough to allow the water to run clean. 

Jim Waskowich
Grand Adventure
NT37-142


--- On Tue, 8/18/09, Cook, Carey <CCook at sandc.com> wrote:

> From: Cook, Carey <CCook at sandc.com>
> Subject: Re: [Sentoa] Water Heater Leak
> To: "South East Nordic Tugs Owners' Association (SENTOA)" <sentoa at lists.samurai.com>
> Date: Tuesday, August 18, 2009, 5:19 PM
> 
> 
>  
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>  
> I too have experienced having my
> hot-water heater pressure 
> relief valve leak into the bilge.  I think it only
> occurs when the water 
> tank level is low, though that is speculation.  Oddly,
> it doesn't seem to 
> do it when water is hot from the engine, only when the
> heater is electrically 
> powered.  Thoughts?
>  
>  
> Carey Cook
> 32-138 --
> LeeLoo
> Racine, WI
> (berth)
> 
> 
> 
> From: 
> sentoa-bounces+ccook=sandc.com at lists.samurai.com 
> [mailto:sentoa-bounces+ccook=sandc.com at lists.samurai.com]
> On Behalf Of 
> Kirk Glenn, CPA
> Sent: Tuesday, August 18, 2009 1:34 
> PM
> To: 'South East Nordic Tugs Owners'
> Association 
> (SENTOA)'
> Subject: [Sentoa] Water Heater Leak
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Our fresh water
> was disappearing at 
> a faster rate than I could account for. I tried to blame
> the “Admiral”  but 
> she told me to go jump in the lake. I was checking out the
> keel bolts in our 
> Sabre 38 – Yes before I succumbed  to the dark
> side I too was a sailor- and 
> low and behold the water was crystal clear, fresh and
> hotter than hell. Being of 
> sound mind I soon deduced that the leak was from the water
> heater. No tank leaks 
> but alas the high pressure relief valve was leaking. I
> probably would have 
> discovered this earlier but the valve had a hose on the
> overflow that emptied 
> into the bilge.  
> 
>   
> Learning
> opportunity # 
> 623 
> 
>   
> Kirk 
> Glenn 
> First Light 
>  
> 37-73