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Old 06-15-2012, 11:22 PM   #1
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Lightbulb New User -Heavy water leak.

Hello everyone,

This is my first post, and will not be my last. Since we bought this camper we have had a lot of issues. I am not a mechanic by any stretch of the imagination.

I've got electrical issues, water issues, fridge issues, but thankfully no sewage issue.

The bill of sale did not have a model or a serial number but I have found it in the RV. CAF362BH LE. Cardinal Forest River.

After hours of searching online I found most of the users manual, only to realize its the most generic useless thing ever. Oh, wait.... if I needed instructions on how to turn the handle to raise the TV antenna I'm covered. Everything else, you are SOL.

This afternoon I got home to the sound of water running under the counter, and also out of the side of the RV from the outside. Attached is a picture of the apparatus outside. It wasn't the valve at the top leaking, it was the bottom screw type valve AND the black rubber seal to the left of it (with the writing behind the pipe).

The other picture attached is the picture of the something tank? thats under the counter that is pouring water like Vancouver skies.

My question is... what is it? And how do I remove it? Do I have to pull out the counter? or unscrew that entire panel outside and pull all the gas stuff out with it?

PS... the valve on the second picture by the word COLD is turned off and the leak still went on for a good 5 minutes.
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Old 06-15-2012, 11:56 PM   #2
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For some reason the pics didn't attach. Here goes again.
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Old 06-16-2012, 12:13 AM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tailspin
For some reason the pics didn't attach. Here goes again.
First pic is hw heater.
Second is hw bypass valve.
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Old 06-16-2012, 07:25 AM   #4
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the bottom piece of the 1st pic is the Anode Rod - rod should be replaced for piece of mind and put some teflon tape around the threads to keep it from leaking unless it is the colar around the rod.

Just blew the pictures up and looks like you do not have an anode rod in there - some jackass put one of the Boat Plugs in the hole and it probably got too hot for it and melted some of the rubber

you have a Suburban Hot Water Heater cause it looks just like mine - replace the Anode Rod and that will fix that leak

the 2nd pic maybe as simple as taking it apart and cleaning the connections and putting it back together or could be the hot water heater is rusted out - hard to really say by pictures

I would pull the anode rod out and inspect the hot water heater with a Flash Light to see what you have
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Old 06-16-2012, 08:23 AM   #5
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Yes Shep,I see the (Boat Plug) nice catch. It is better than a (Corn Cob). Youroo!!
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Old 06-16-2012, 08:25 AM   #6
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Originally Posted by youroo View Post
Yes Shep,I see the (Boat Plug) nice catch. It is better than a (Corn Cob). Youroo!!
I dont think the Corn Cobb would last too long cause it would have gotten eaten by a racoon or something
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Old 06-16-2012, 09:19 AM   #7
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Originally Posted by sherdep
I dont think the Corn Cobb would last too long cause it would have gotten eaten by a racoon or something
If its a corn cob the coon already got it! Lol
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Old 06-16-2012, 11:01 AM   #8
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Thanks you guys.

Does anyone happen to know how to remove it? Do I have to pull the counter/sink apart or will it come out the side panel from outside? If nobody has the same model I'll probably just renovate under the sink and pull all the supports and dividers out.
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Old 06-16-2012, 12:50 PM   #9
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My concern is why there is a boat stopper in your anode port.

If the PEX tubing is leaking, you will have a job on your hands as well.
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Old 06-16-2012, 01:00 PM   #10
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the boat plugs will loosen (turn the T handle piece) and then you should be able to pull out provided it isnt melted to the threads


you should be able to get the PEX pieces from home depot to do some sort of a repair - not sure what you are asking though cause am unfamiliar with your model trailer
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Old 06-16-2012, 08:38 PM   #11
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Depending on how long the previous owner had been running the tank without an anode rod the inside of that tank could be in rough shape.....

When you take that plastic plug out keep an eye on how many metal fragements come out with the water. The annodes job is to protect the inside of the hot water tank from corrodeing, without one the inside of the tank begins to corrode, eventually to the point that the wall of the tank will give way.

If not too much metal debris comes out buy a new anode rod, and after applying teflon tape, see if the it will thread into the tank, or if the threads being damaged was the reason why the previous owner went to a boat plug.

Sorry this could end on needing a new tank if it has been without an anode for long enough.
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Old 06-17-2012, 11:19 AM   #12
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This forum is incredible. I pulled the boat plug, seal was melted, but got half a pound (exaggerating here) of metal filings and rust chips.

One last question....

To remove the actual entire hot water tank, for this model (or probably any of these cardinal models); Is it better to pull the entire thing out the wall from the port outside where the boat plug was? Or remove the counter & walls from the inside of the vehicle by the sink?

There does not seem to be an easy way of accessing it to remove the tank.
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Old 06-17-2012, 11:21 AM   #13
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it will pull out of camper from the side .
do not pull it from inside.
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Old 06-17-2012, 02:05 PM   #14
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Here is what is involved if you want to attempt it yourself.
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Old 06-18-2012, 09:40 PM   #15
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Herklou, you the man!

That video helped a ton. Non-mechanic pulled W/H with no damage to structure or wires. It was different and not as easy to access as the video but the theory was the same. Tomorrow I do part two and buy the replacement to stick in there.

Just FYI to everyone that wondered, the inside of the tank is totally rusted. There is a hole near both ends that I could pop my screwdriver thru the rust. All the tubing looks ok. I guess I won't be able to tell until I hook up the new one.

First I fix this problem, then I try and diagnose the electrical. Woot!
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Old 06-18-2012, 10:04 PM   #16
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Been my experience that nothing is as easy as someone else makes it look.

Oh, and it always takes exactly twice as long as it is supposed to.
Glad I was able to help SOMEONE this week. Sheesh it was a tough one.
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Old 06-18-2012, 10:16 PM   #17
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Great support guys! I enjoy reading threads like these. Solutions are found and even how to videos. It doesn't get any better!
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