Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 04-12-2021, 08:49 AM   #1
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: St Charles MO
Posts: 52
Blew up hot water tank

Yes, it had been winterized and was empty. I had even left the drain valve open. I plugged in city water and it started dumping...oops...I closed the valve and started to hear the tank fill. Few minutes later water was coming from everywhere. It had blew out at the pressure relief valve. Anyone seen this before?

I spent some time on Friday replacing the unit....it was a HARD part to find...everyone had them on backorder.

Notice all the crud that dumped from the tank when I flipped it over. Here is what I discovered...
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_1817.jpg
Views:	242
Size:	329.6 KB
ID:	251773   Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_1818.jpg
Views:	185
Size:	223.9 KB
ID:	251774   Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_1820.jpg
Views:	190
Size:	369.7 KB
ID:	251775   Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_1822.jpg
Views:	169
Size:	308.1 KB
ID:	251776   Click image for larger version

Name:	IMG_1823.jpg
Views:	183
Size:	317.5 KB
ID:	251777  

__________________
Stephen
2006 Ford F250 6.0L Powerstroke CCSRW
2012 Prime Time Crusader 290RLT

Camping History: 2004 Jayco Jayflight 29BHS, 2002 Coleman Grand Tour Elite Niagara, Six Person Tent, Two Person Tent
stepheneadams is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-12-2021, 09:59 AM   #2
Senior Member
 
SeaDog's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: x
Posts: 12,423
If you were filling the WH without having a hot water faucet open or the pressure relief open on the tank with high city water pressure the blowout may have been caused by air being compressed in the tank. I'm a water king for city irrigation and with gravity flow to the system cement lines and plastic get broken by compressed air if the drains are closed prior to the system filling. Just one consideration for the possible cause.
__________________
Retired Navy
Jake my sidekick (yellow Lab) 10/04 - 05/20
2017 RAM 2500 CC 4X4 Cummins Diesel
2016 Flagstaff 26 FKWS
AF&AM & El Korah Shrine of Idaho
SeaDog is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-12-2021, 09:59 AM   #3
Senior Member
 
Homebrew's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 2,310
Sure does look like it expanded from freezing.
On my hot water tank I need to remove the anno rod to drain the tank, I just leave it out until spring.
Just wondering if your valve got clogged and never fully drained?
__________________
XLR Thunderbolt 300X12HP
2014 Ram 3500 DRW
Homebrew is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-12-2021, 10:10 AM   #4
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Space Coast of Florida
Posts: 3,967
Quote:
Originally Posted by SeaDog View Post
If you were filling the WH without having a hot water faucet open or the pressure relief open on the tank with high city water pressure the blowout may have been caused by air being compressed in the tank. I'm a water king for city irrigation and with gravity flow to the system cement lines and plastic get broken by compressed air if the drains are closed prior to the system filling. Just one consideration for the possible cause.
That’s what the pressure relief valve is for. If the pressure got that high the valve should have released it. Key word here is ‘should’ as there is a possibility the valve was defective...
__________________


2016 Siverback 33IK, Towed 50K+ mile
2018 Ford F-350 Lariat 6.7L V8 Diesel 4WD Crew Cab

"If you don't know where you are going, any road will get you there."
dalford is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-12-2021, 10:27 AM   #5
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2019
Posts: 1,413
my cooper pipes have that same split when frozen with water in them
__________________
2019 F150 4X4 7050 GVWR 1903 payload
2018 Avenger 21RBS 7700 GVWR
Mike134 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-12-2021, 10:29 AM   #6
Georgia Rally Coordinator
 
aceinspp's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: GA
Posts: 24,357
I would say it looked like it froze. I always drain mine at winter time and even use a syringe to suck out any left over water which can be as much as a 1/2 gal or more. When I refill in the spring I open the relief valve several times while filling this also help from creating all the air in the flines when turning faucets on in the camper. Later RJD
__________________
2020 Shasta Phoenix SPF 27RKSS (sold)
2018 Dodge Ram 2500 6.4 3:73 gearing. Traded 2015 Chevy 2500 6.0, 4:10
Traded 2015 30WRLIKS V-Lite
Days camped 2019 62
Days camped 2020 49 days camped 2021-74 2022-40 days 2023 5 days
aceinspp is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-12-2021, 10:50 AM   #7
D W
Senior Member
 
D W's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: ALASKA (World's Biggest Campground)
Posts: 6,631
I'm in the "It Froze" camp. If the school of thought is that excessive water pressure did this, then the supply lines would have burst before the water heater.
__________________
'07 K3500 Silverado LT Crew Duramax (LBZ)
2016 Salem 27RKSS
1984 CHEV SCOTTSDALE K20 2GCGK24J0E1XXXXXX (Chevrolet Legends-Class of 2019)
"...exhaust fluid? We don't need no stinkin' exhaust fluid"
D W is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-12-2021, 11:56 AM   #8
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2020
Posts: 4,854
When you drain the water heater do you manually open the relief valve? If not, it likely had water left in it that froze.
NavyLCDR is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-12-2021, 02:27 PM   #9
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: North of Seattle, WA
Posts: 17,288
Quote:
Originally Posted by D W View Post
I'm in the "It Froze" camp. If the school of thought is that excessive water pressure did this, then the supply lines would have burst before the water heater.
Me too. Water pressure from a residence won't split a tank like that. It will blow out through the TP valve before that as well as causing the hose to swell like a salami.

Most residence water, whether on a well pump or city water, doesn't exceed 50-60 psi.
__________________
"A wise man can change his mind. A fool never will." (Japanese Proverb)

"You only grow old when you run out of new things to do"

2018 Flagstaff Micro Lite 25BDS
2023 f-150 SCREW XLT 3.5 Ecoboost (The result of a $68,000 oil change)
TitanMike is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-12-2021, 04:37 PM   #10
Senior Member
 
Dennis King's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 257
Watwr Tank Exploding

The pressure relief valve is so high it can not possibly drain your tank. Remove the Anode rod and most will drain out
Dennis King is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-12-2021, 04:46 PM   #11
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2020
Posts: 4,854
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dennis King View Post
The pressure relief valve is so high it can not possibly drain your tank. Remove the Anode rod and most will drain out
Good point. stepheneadams said he even left the drain valve open. Most RV water heaters require you to remove the anode rod or a drain plug to drain completely, not just open valve. Unless the owner specifically installs a drain valve in the anode rod/plug port.
NavyLCDR is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-12-2021, 05:11 PM   #12
Site Team
 
wmtire's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Northeast Louisiana
Posts: 33,739
It sure does seem like the OP may have left their water heater tank full of water for the winter....and if they used the temperature and pressure relief (T&P) valve at the top of the tank to falsely believe it was a drain, they absolutely did leave it full of water.


We keep 5 videos from Suburban in the FAQ section, These videos cover various aspects of the water heater, including winterization, anode rod/drain port, and the T&P valve.


Even if the member had an Atwood brand, they function similar except for the anode rod. The Suburban and Dometic/Atwood have drains (no valves) at the bottom of the tank.


This link to these videos may can help:


https://www.forestriverforums.com/fo...es-135977.html
__________________
2011 Flagstaff 831 RLBSS

A 72 hour hold in a psych unit is beginning to intrigue me as a potential vacation opportunity.
wmtire is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 04-12-2021, 05:56 PM   #13
Senior Member
 
Homebrew's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 2,310
I assumed he had a valve in place of the anode.
If he was referring to the T&P valve then it definitely froze!
__________________
XLR Thunderbolt 300X12HP
2014 Ram 3500 DRW
Homebrew is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-13-2021, 09:22 AM   #14
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 1,738
Quote:
Originally Posted by TitanMike View Post
Me too. Water pressure from a residence won't split a tank like that. It will blow out through the TP valve before that as well as causing the hose to swell like a salami.

Most residence water, whether on a well pump or city water, doesn't exceed 50-60 psi.
Many mountain regions have water pressure as high 160 but of course the residences have regulators. However regulators can fail and water filter housings split open and other things begin to fail in the residence.
The TP should have saved it but without more inspection one can only speculate.
aircommuter is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-13-2021, 11:25 AM   #15
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: North of Seattle, WA
Posts: 17,288
Quote:
Originally Posted by aircommuter View Post
Many mountain regions have water pressure as high 160 but of course the residences have regulators. However regulators can fail and water filter housings split open and other things begin to fail in the residence.
The TP should have saved it but without more inspection one can only speculate.
The high pressure you mentioned connected to an RV I seriously doubt enough pressure would build in a hot water tank for it to split. The water system would spring so many leaks in the plastic fittings, hoses, etc there would be water flowing everywhere.
__________________
"A wise man can change his mind. A fool never will." (Japanese Proverb)

"You only grow old when you run out of new things to do"

2018 Flagstaff Micro Lite 25BDS
2023 f-150 SCREW XLT 3.5 Ecoboost (The result of a $68,000 oil change)
TitanMike is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-13-2021, 12:02 PM   #16
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 1,738
Quote:
Originally Posted by TitanMike View Post
The high pressure you mentioned connected to an RV I seriously doubt enough pressure would build in a hot water tank for it to split. The water system would spring so many leaks in the plastic fittings, hoses, etc there would be water flowing everywhere.
Freezing would also have split those hoses and fittings. Unless the OP was diligent about draining everything except the tank.
aircommuter is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-13-2021, 05:35 PM   #17
Olemax
 
olemax's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: NW North Carolina
Posts: 58
Freezing water will not burst pex piping used in homes and RVs. It will burst steel tanks and plastic fittings and valves used in RVs.
__________________
Olemax - NW NC
2011 Sabre RETS
2012 Silverado 3500HD CC LB
2006 Sierra 2500HD CC SB (sold)

olemax is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-13-2021, 07:18 PM   #18
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: St Charles MO
Posts: 52
More info. There are two drains under the trailer at tge HW tank. One is fresh water tank and other is hit water. I opened pressure valve but it was closed during tge einter.

I missed something during wintering. I discovered the three plastic valves the other day after I removed a panel in the basement. Never could figure it out last year and assumed the hot water drain was the only requirement.

Bought this last summer after we sold the bumper pull.
__________________
Stephen
2006 Ford F250 6.0L Powerstroke CCSRW
2012 Prime Time Crusader 290RLT

Camping History: 2004 Jayco Jayflight 29BHS, 2002 Coleman Grand Tour Elite Niagara, Six Person Tent, Two Person Tent
stepheneadams is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-13-2021, 07:37 PM   #19
Senior Member
 
rracer5's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Part Timing It Now
Posts: 3,452
Quote:
Originally Posted by stepheneadams View Post
More info. There are two drains under the trailer at tge HW tank. One is fresh water tank and other is hit water. I opened pressure valve but it was closed during tge einter.

I missed something during wintering. I discovered the three plastic valves the other day after I removed a panel in the basement. Never could figure it out last year and assumed the hot water drain was the only requirement.

Bought this last summer after we sold the bumper pull.

That answers the question. The valve below is your low point drain for the trailers plumbing but, not the WH. The only way to drain the WH is to pull the plug (Atwood) or anode rod (Suburban).
rracer5 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-13-2021, 07:39 PM   #20
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2020
Location: St Charles MO
Posts: 52
Figures. Costly lesson for me. $750. Did labor myself..
__________________
Stephen
2006 Ford F250 6.0L Powerstroke CCSRW
2012 Prime Time Crusader 290RLT

Camping History: 2004 Jayco Jayflight 29BHS, 2002 Coleman Grand Tour Elite Niagara, Six Person Tent, Two Person Tent
stepheneadams is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
hot water, tank, water, water tank

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Forest River, Inc. or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:28 AM.