AllanS
Active Member
- Oct 30, 2020
- 186
- Boat Info
- 1989 440 Aft Cabin
- Engines
- Twin Caterpiller 3208 (375 HP)
Hi, just took a short 3-hour trip along the coast, and while tying up at the dock, noticed my forward bilge was pumping water, not just once, but every 15 minutes or so. Went down in the ER to that bilge, and noticed a 1/2" plastic hose delivering clear HOT water directly into the bilge at a pretty good clip (guessing about 1 quart/10 min).
I checked under the engines, but no sign of raw water there. I checked the hot water hoses that run from the port engine to the hot water heater, but they looked fine, on both sides of a bulkhead between the ER and the compartment where the hot water heater reside. I did the "taste test" and the water coming from that hose was NOT salty, so I am suspecting hot freshwater leak.
I inspected all the hot water fittings I could access, under forward head vanity, under kitchen, etc., but no sign of leakage there. At this point, I suspected the hot water heater, and upon inspection, the cold and hot water fittings were dry, but there was a small drip from the pressure relief valve. I tried to see if that 1/2" gray tube connected to the hot water heater, but I could not trace it. Since the bilge pump was easily keeping up with the leak, and decided to check it in the morning, when I found it was still leaking, but not as fast, and the water was not as hot.
Is this a sign of an internal relief valve in the hot water heater that has gone bad? If so, can these be replaced? Should I set up a by-pass between the cold and hot water connections to confirm this? I'd have to check the make of the heater by going out to the boat, but I believe it is 11 gallon capacity..
I checked under the engines, but no sign of raw water there. I checked the hot water hoses that run from the port engine to the hot water heater, but they looked fine, on both sides of a bulkhead between the ER and the compartment where the hot water heater reside. I did the "taste test" and the water coming from that hose was NOT salty, so I am suspecting hot freshwater leak.
I inspected all the hot water fittings I could access, under forward head vanity, under kitchen, etc., but no sign of leakage there. At this point, I suspected the hot water heater, and upon inspection, the cold and hot water fittings were dry, but there was a small drip from the pressure relief valve. I tried to see if that 1/2" gray tube connected to the hot water heater, but I could not trace it. Since the bilge pump was easily keeping up with the leak, and decided to check it in the morning, when I found it was still leaking, but not as fast, and the water was not as hot.
Is this a sign of an internal relief valve in the hot water heater that has gone bad? If so, can these be replaced? Should I set up a by-pass between the cold and hot water connections to confirm this? I'd have to check the make of the heater by going out to the boat, but I believe it is 11 gallon capacity..