Water Heater Hose Disconnect

[kaisetsail]

Hey there! I'm a new owner of a 1989 Ericson 34-2. I went out sailing recently and when I got back my water pump was making a lour humming sound like it had air in the system but I had just filled it up the previous day. I then noticed a leak in front of the ice box onto the floor. I realized that a hose going into my hot water tank cracked off the tank at one of the elbows. You can see in the picture attached where the elbow is supposed to be connected. I now have an elbow that I'm struggling to detach from the hose and the threaded part of the elbow is stuck in the hot water tank! I'm figuring out how to resolve those issues to be able to attach a new elbow.

My question for y'all is — can I disconnect my water pressure from going to the hot water tank temporarily so I can still use cold water without it gushing into that leak? I haven't been able to figure out how to stop the water from going thru the hot water tank so I can just use it while I work on this repair.

For context, I have a Seaward Marine hot water tank model no. F-600 and serial no. 931468. My water pump is Flojet Quiet Quad model no. 4405-143 serial no. 03I11905.

 

[peaman]

I think it is rare to have a "service valve" to isolate the hot water tank (or anywhere else, for that matter). So in that case, you will need to use your imagination and other resources to do so. The grey tubing in your photo shows that you have "Qest" brand tubing which is no longer available, but is compatible size-wise with PEX tubing, which is likewise compatible with "SharkBite Push-to-Connect" fittings, which are really easy to work with. See my thread here where I installed service valves at a new hot water tank. SharkBite fittings should be available at any good hardware store.

1. The hot water tank has two fresh water connections: one is cold in, the other hot out. If you can disconnect both from the tank, and then join the two together, you will have mission accomplished.

2. If you can disconnect the cold water line going to the water heater, you should be able to connect a valve to that line, whether or not you then connect the valve to the water heater.

Other solutions exist, depending on the urgency of the problem and availability of solutions.

 

[kaisetsail]

I think it is rare to have a "service valve" to isolate the hot water tank (or anywhere else, for that matter). So in that case, you will need to use your imagination and other resources to do so. The grey tubing in your photo shows that you have "Qest" brand tubing which is no longer available, but is compatible size-wise with PEX tubing, which is likewise compatible with "SharkBite Push-to-Connect" fittings, which are really easy to work with. See my thread here where I installed service valves at a new hot water tank. SharkBite fittings should be available at any good hardware store.

1. The hot water tank has two fresh water connections: one is cold in, the other hot out. If you can disconnect both from the tank, and then join the two together, you will have mission accomplished.

2. If you can disconnect the cold water line going to the water heater, you should be able to connect a valve to that line, whether or not you then connect the valve to the water heater.

Other solutions exist, depending on the urgency of the problem and availability of solutions.

thanks for all the helpful tips! do you have any ideas on how I can remove the cracked off part of the elbow that's now stuck in the water heater?

 

[C. Shamis]

If you’re looking for a quick fix, cut a clean end off the hose with the broken fitting. If the other end is “good” make a “loop” that bypasses the water heater returning back to the motor. But be careful to not run the water heater dry in electric mode or you can ruin the element.

Then you can fix the water heater whenever.

 

[C. Shamis]

As for getting out that fitting… hmmm… backing it out looks pretty doable. Buy a set of “Easy out pipe nipple extractors” and screw it in, the threads are reversed so after it bites the fitting should just back right out.

 

[william.haas]

I have one of these installed to bypass my water heater for winterization. Allows me to drain the water heater and not introduce antifreeze into the heater when I do the rest of the system. Search for Camco Water Heater By-Pass Kit. There are other similar products but that’s a starting point for you.

Maybe not relevant for this situation but a potential solution.