Hot water and water heater

rasbury · July 16

I recently replaced the faucet behind the helm seat which I don't belive caused my problem but mention it because it was replaced. It only has cold water. Or it used to. So I was out on the water after replacing it, don't recall why I turned it on but it was like boiling hot water. I did not try any of the others. Now that faucet barley has any washer pressure while all the rest work fine. I've never messed with the hot water heater but I see there are hoses that I guess circulate engine hot water to support hot water when not at dock? If the heater is internally falling apart internally can that super hot water make it into the system? I'm a little upset that i spent 70 bucks for that faucet that worked perfectly and now does not. I drained the heater from the valve here at home and water drained out- I guess I need to get it running and see but I'm not understanding at all what is happening...any thoughts?

YYZRC · July 16

If your water heater is rotted out inside then yes, the raw water circulating will pressurize your water system and it could back flow to the cold side of a faucet.

rasbury · July 16

Oh great...so that goes on the list. I assumed tgat was happening @YYZRC- I'm guessing the water was hot enough to mess up that faucet? Bummer! I'll get the info off the hot water heater and get one coming...

aero3113 · July 16

Unscrew and check the screen on the faucet, it could be clogged.

PickleRick · July 16

I got the kuuma 6 gallon for sub 400 bucks about two seasons ago. Our Bayliner came to us dead with a bad heating element but was kept in place to hold extra water capacity.

Eventually the rust had everything smelling like pennies if you accidentally turned the hot water faucet on.

Install was easy. Installed with the push/pull disconnects to easily bypass the water heater for winterization.

Dream_Inn · July 16

Ras, does your motors have heat exchangers? (is it closed cooling) If yes, then it would be antifreeze that would be heating your water, so no leaking there. I doubt the hot water messed up the faucet. I agree with Aero that it is probably the screen on the tip of the faucet.

rasbury · July 17

Dream_Inn said:

Ras, does your motors have heat exchangers? (is it closed cooling) If yes, then it would be antifreeze that would be heating your water, so no leaking there. I doubt the hot water messed up the faucet. I agree with Aero that it is probably the screen on the tip of the faucet.

@aero3113

I guess I did not check that as i just installed it, and I will certainly check that. I thought being a cold water only faucet it was built different than a hot somehow- thanks I will check. While that might a solve the issue, what would be the explanation for scalding water shooting out of that faucet? I am closed cooling..

Lake_Bum · July 17

Definitely check the little screen on the faucet output. I chased a weak faucet on my RV, which ended up being a .79 cent screen that was clogged

rasbury · July 22

I will check that and i will check my connections- I did change out the water pump, I don't recall choices for hot vs cold lines as I did a pretty quick change out. If that filter isn't metal then the hot water might have messed it up- it had steam coming off of it as it was that hot. Being a cold water faucet (brand new, 80 bucks) i hope internally it is ok.

rasbury · July 31

Well @Lake_Bum, tip of the hat to your suggestion. I pulled that screen (more like a filter) and just a few granuals it seemed clogged it. Hard to imagine I've not had issue in the past. As far as the hot water, it was odd. I do have the boat home and plugged in but it is just a house connection. Don't know if I have enough amps to heat the hot water heater or not. Seemed like earlier I ran it and was indeed hot out of the cold- but my tank ran out. So after filling and later in the day the cold seemed fine and while the hot seemed warmer, it was not hot hot. Guess I need to run it- I will recheck the connections for the new pump later.
Something oddly satisfying for that faucet working smoothly. New pump much more quiet as well..it has been 105/115 feels like here in central Florida.

rasbury · July 31

So today all seemed good- cold was cool and the hot water heater for sure heating up. Will see when I run the boat- but it did weigh in on my sinking and being eaten by alligators paranoia- if your hot water heater takes a dump, how fo you stop that hot engine water if the heater is leaking? I see some valves or at least one on the heater...

aero3113 · July 31

@rasbury , keep a union fitting with you. If the heater does fail, take the union and connect the in and out hoses from the engine together.

aero3113 · July 31

Also, I’m taking most of @Lake_Bum ‘s credit!! 😂⚓️

Pat310 · July 31

@rasbury was the boat sitting out in the hot Florida sun for a time before you started getting the hot water from the cold tap? Without the engine running there is no air circulating in the engine bay and maybe the tank got hot 🤷‍♂️ Did you check the cold taps in the cabin?

rasbury · August 4

aero3113 said:

@rasbury , keep a union fitting with you. If the heater does fail, take the union and connect the in and out hoses from the engine together.

I need to figure out that hose size...

rasbury · August 4

I did get the boat in the water Friday- for sure was the fuel as it ran as it should. Little difficulty getting it running but once some fresh, treated with seafoam, hit the plugs it was good, so that was a win.
As far as the water, I guess I need to check the connections- the helm faucet was again scalding hot. So, that was a minus but maybe an easy fix. My marine radio for some reason has stopped working...sigh. next is the radio , the marine radio, the compass and check the water heater- it does not appear to be leaking.

grouch0jr · August 5

rasbury said:

... the compass ...

Do you have the compass and it's just giving you issues? Previous owner removed mine, I found it hidden away somewhere and it needs repairs. It's a Danforth and apparently can get it repaired here:
https://www.vikingcompass.com/daco.html

rasbury · August 6

grouch0jr said:

rasbury said:

... the compass ...

Do you have the compass and it's just giving you issues? Previous owner removed mine, I found it hidden away somewhere and it needs repairs. It's a Danforth and apparently can get it repaired here:
https://www.vikingcompass.com/daco.html

I had reached out to them- all the liquid ran out and it's all nasty- I assumed it would beca replace but may not spend that kind of money..

PickleRick · August 6

I don't know how you can call yourself a boater unless you have a functional compass and sextant on your vessel at all times.

mbnarney · August 6

I just replaced my compass. The old one was a ritchie f-50. Got the same for under a hundred$. If that doesn't work the wife will tell me when I make a wrong turn.

rasbury · August 7

I had taken a picture with a tape measure..looks like 3" but may be 3 1/2 so I will have to get better measurements.

mbnarney · August 7

@rasbury, Mine was 3.5 inches

Rich_ · August 11

Viking compass had the parts to refurbish my Ritchie 5” Globemaster years ago. Huge savings over a new

rasbury · August 13

So i got to the boat today. Radio working(marine) so plus there. I pulled the rocker for the hatch and have that ordered. I pulled the control for the jabsco - is getting power. The control head smells burnt. Them things pretty pricy for 350 all things considered. I have a courtesy light to replace (have) the compass and figure out what is going on with the hot water heater. I don't see how anything would be hooked up wrong. Do what the heck is that valve for? I did abd never have messed with it.

ww

rasbury · August 13

What pressurizes the hot water side? It really is not making sense- looks like water goes in but never comes out!

Grahamu · August 15

The valve enables you to bypass the hot water tank. In it's present position in, your photo, the pressurized cold water (blue) goes into the tank where it is heated and then exits via the red pipe under pressure. If you cut the tie wrap holding the valve open and turn the handle you will bypass the tank and all hot water taps and showers will receive cold pressurized water. This is use full when winterizing as you do not want antifreeze going into the tank. If you do this make sure the electrical breaker for the tank is turned off. Also do not drain the tank until finished winterizing.

TonyG13 · August 16

Grahamu said:

The valve enables you to bypass the hot water tank. In it's present position in, your photo, the pressurized cold water (blue) goes into the tank where it is heated and then exits via the red pipe under pressure. If you cut the tie wrap holding the valve open and turn the handle you will bypass the tank and all hot water taps and showers will receive cold pressurized water. This is use full when winterizing as you do not want antifreeze going into the tank. If you do this make sure the electrical breaker for the tank is turned off. Also do not drain the tank until finished winterizing.

@Grahamu - Is spot on with the description, but I am noticing that the hot water side tee does not have a valve, so if you did winterize with antifreeze it would backfill into the hot water heater and defeat the purpose of isolating the heater - and add an extra six gallons of antifreeze to the system if filled. Should be by-pass valves on both hot and cold side to work correctly.

Grahamu · August 16

@TonyG13, I mentioned not to drain the tank until finished winterizing. With the tank full of water it has nowhere to go and prevents antifreeze from entering on the hot water connection.

YYZRC · August 16

Next time your boat is in the water, start the engine and, with the freshwater pump turned off and the engine running, open a faucet (hot or cold). If water comes out, you have a rotten heat exchanger in the water heater.

PickleRick · August 16

You guys run antifreeze through your water heater?

I bypass the water heater before running antifreeze through the rest of the system. I don't even put antifreeze in the holding tank, I drain it empty and leave the quick disconnect unhooked. I run antifreeze through the rest of the system using the disconnected tank inlet line stuffed into a tub of antifreeze. I then use compressed air to gently blow the system everything out if the system.

The only thing I do to my water heater is open the drain valve at the bottom. I leave it open all winter. We don't get down to 0 F but it does drop to single digit over night lows with day times not getting above freezing for several consecutive days once or twice each winter.

I'd think what works for me would be golden in Orlando where it's warm enough for troops of wild macaques to become an invasive species issue.

Grahamu · 1:05AM

PickleRick said:

You guys run antifreeze through your water heater?
Read the post, I specifically said keep the tank full with fresh water.

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