leaking carver heater

[robin_374310782]

wilst away on holiday last week our water heater started to leak out from under the insulation jacket and onto the lino floor covering under the seat (may be a half egg cup full per day). could anyone offer me advice on a cure? can i repair or do i have to replace the whole unit?

 

[james_374308220]

What sort age is your van amd water heater as the early carver water heater tanks (approx pre 1992) have no rust treatment inside the tank and are prone to rust problems causing pin hole leaks. I had a similar problem with the water heater on my old van and on removing the water heater found it was full of rust. The only cure is to replace the tank at a cost of approx

 

[robin_374310782]

my van is a avondale adonis 1993,in the service history it had a new heater module fitted in 2000 so maybe its time for another module.cheers rob

 

[Damian]

Robin, if the leakis inside the van, then it is NOT the module, befoer you change the first thing to cross your mind.

It is going to be one, or more , of three things

1,The cold water inlet

2, The hot water outlet, or

3, A leak from the centre bar holding nut on the end, or corrosion of the tank.

You need to establish exactly what is leaking, by removing the polystyrene cover and checking the inlet and outlet and the tank .

Whatever it is , it is curable, so dont throw it out before checking, and do not just go for the module.

 

[gary]

To add to Damian's no3, the tank can leak from the main seal between tank and the heat exchanger casting in the wall. Also very common on gas/electric models, the 240v mains electric element is held by two aluminium bolts, the heads of these corrode and allow the element seal to come loose and leak.

Outside the 'quick drain valve' above the drain bung commonly leaks as does the 'fusible plug' in the centre above the burner, this latter leak can find it's way inside through an ill fitting burner module seal.

Almost without fail any leaking water finds it's way inside the black control box of the burner module under the heater, for this reason the module should be removed, checked and dried out if required.

 

[robin_374310951]

To add to Damian's no3, the tank can leak from the main seal between tank and the heat exchanger casting in the wall. Also very common on gas/electric models, the 240v mains electric element is held by two aluminium bolts, the heads of these corrode and allow the element seal to come loose and leak.

Outside the 'quick drain valve' above the drain bung commonly leaks as does the 'fusible plug' in the centre above the burner, this latter leak can find it's way inside through an ill fitting burner module seal.

Almost without fail any leaking water finds it's way inside the black control box of the burner module under the heater, for this reason the module should be removed, checked and dried out if required.

thanks for your comments/pointers guys,can't get the insulated cover off so i'll have to take the bench seat out first will let you know how i get on . cheers rob