Helia 44: Plumbing & Water Heater

[Cotemar]

Helia 44 faucets & starboard stern shower

[Cotemar]

Helia 44 Owners,

We have a Isotemp Basic 40 Marine Water Heater - 11 Gallons
It comes with a 750 Watt immersion heating element as standard.

After a few days at anchor we need to make Hot water, but the 750 Watt heating element heated water to slowly.
We upgraded to the 1200W Heating Element.

We have an 11kw generator and you need to load them up to keep them in good health, so this will help with that also.

Cost $72 and can be installed in a few hours as a DIY project.

http://www.isotherm-parts.com/index....oducts_id=1939
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[StarryHorizons]

Does anyone else experience the pressure relief valve for the Isotemp water heater relieving pressure when using the generator or engine?

For a while now, we've experienced pressure being released, but it was always slow. Recently it's become much more significant. The attached video is from heating the water with the generator and the drip is even faster when the engine is being used.

I've already replaced the relief valve once, so is it possible I just have two bad valves or is there something else I should also look at?

Thanks!

David

(I tried to upload the video here to CF, but not sure if it's working right, so here's also a link to view it: http://outchasingstars.com/wp-conten...f-Dripping.mp4)

[misfits]

It's called thermal expansion. Once the valve starts dripping, eventually it drips alot.
The water temp on the engine side of the heat exchanger is probably a lot hotterg than when you're using the electric heating element. Hence more thermal expnsion.

[StarryHorizons]

Originally Posted by misfits

It's called thermal expansion. Once the valve starts dripping, eventually it drips alot.
The water temp on the engine side of the heat exchanger is probably a lot hotterg than when you're using the electric heating element. Hence more thermal expnsion.

Thanks for the proper term. It makes sense that the engine would heat the water hotter than the electric heating element, but when we first got the boat, I don't remember any dripping at all. Hence my concern...

[Cotemar]

Originally Posted by StarryHorizons

Does anyone else experience the pressure relief valve for the Isotemp water heater relieving pressure when using the generator or engine?

Thanks!
David

David,

Unfortunately the pressure relief valves are doing what there designed to do, Relieve high pressure.

New ones do behave better, but as they are used and relieve pressure they just drip like in your video pretty much every time they come up to heat.

On our Mahe 36 we just put a milk jug under the valve to catch the drips and would empty it once a week.

Statement from Hot Water heater company support:
"It is normal for a relieve valve to release a small amount of water
particularly when it is heating up, so it may not need to be replaced. If
the relieve valve is dripping when the water heater is completely cold then
you may want to replace it".

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...tml#post526943
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[StarryHorizons]

Originally Posted by Cotemar

David,

Unfortunately the pressure relief valves are doing what there designed to do, Relieve high pressure.

New ones do behave better, but as they are used and relieve pressure they just drip like in your video pretty much every time they come up to heat.

On our Mahe 36 we just put a milk jug under the valve to catch the drips and would empty it once a week.

Statement from Hot Water heater company support:
"It is normal for a relieve valve to release a small amount of water
particularly when it is heating up, so it may not need to be replaced. If
the relieve valve is dripping when the water heater is completely cold then
you may want to replace it".

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...tml#post526943
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Well, I'm glad to hear that what we're experiencing isn't abnormal. Perhaps my memory is faulty and we've had some dripping since the beginning. I'll work on rigging up something to catch the drips.

Thanks for the help!

[Uncle Bob]

Originally Posted by StarryHorizons

Does anyone else experience the pressure relief valve for the Isotemp water heater relieving pressure when using the generator or engine?

For a while now, we've experienced pressure being released, but it was always slow. Recently it's become much more significant. The attached video is from heating the water with the generator and the drip is even faster when the engine is being used.

I've already replaced the relief valve once, so is it possible I just have two bad valves or is there something else I should also look at?

Thanks!

David


(I tried to upload the video here to CF, but not sure if it's working right, so here's also a link to view it: http://outchasingstars.com/wp-conten...f-Dripping.mp4)

Hi, what you have is normal. The hot water releasing from the heater as it expands allows calcium to build up on the expansion valve seat, slowly increasing the drip rate until it slowly drips constantly.
Had this same problem at my home and solved it by installing a matched pair of relief valves, one to each of the hot and cold lines at the heater. The cold valve is designed to release a couple of psi before the hot valve, and because the water is cold there is no calcium buildup on the seat therefore no constant dripping. Been years since I have had to replace a dripping valve, so thank you to an old time plumber.

[Cotemar]

Helia 44 Owners,

Installed a new hot water tank by-pass system.

This hot water tank by-pass system allows the servicing or draining of the hot water tank without shutting down your boats water system.

This by-pass system allows for winterizing the freshwater system without disconnecting any Lines. Simply turn valves.

It saves 11 gallons of antifreeze, because you can leave the 11 gallon hot water tank empty.

Items needed:
1) Hepkey Plus 15mm demounting tool

2) A few feet of Sea Tech Water System Tubing - 15 Millimeter. $1 per foot.

3) Need 6 Sea Tech Metric Series Quick Connect Male Thread Adapter Connector
Size: 15 mm Tubing to 1/2" NPT. $3.89 each at Defender Marine

4) Need two 1/2" inch 3 Way Female SS316 Type “T” Ball Valves. $15 each on e-bay

5) Teflon tape

6) Plastic pipe tubing cutter
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[DotDun]

Originally Posted by Cotemar

Helia 44 Owners,

Installed a new hot water tank by-pass system.

This hot water tank by-pass system allows the servicing or draining of the hot water tank without shutting down your boats water system.

This by-pass system allows for winterizing the freshwater system without disconnecting any Lines. Simply turn valves.

It saves 11 gallons of antifreeze, because you can leave the 11 gallon hot water tank empty.

Items needed:
1) Hepkey Plus 15mm demounting tool

2) A few feet of Sea Tech Water System Tubing - 15 Millimeter. $1 per foot.

3) Need 6 Sea Tech Metric Series Quick Connect Male Thread Adapter Connector
Size: 15 mm Tubing to 1/2" NPT. $3.89 each at Defender Marine

4) Need two 1/2" inch 3 Way Female SS316 Type “T” Ball Valves. $15 each on e-bay

5) Teflon tape

6) Plastic pipe tubing cutter
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You can buy 15mm quick-connect ball valves at FreshWaterSystems and save a few connections.

[Cotemar]

Originally Posted by DotDun

You can buy 15mm quick-connect ball valves at FreshWaterSystems and save a few connections.

That is how I started, BUT.

The John Guest 3-Way Bypass Valves are 1/2 inch and then you have to use 15mm adapters

The John Guest 3-Way Bypass Valves only have a small 1/4 hole for water to pass through.

The John Guest 3-Way Bypass Valves are very flimsy and bendable.

With all the 1/2 to 15 mm adapters it would not fit in the area I needed it to fit into.
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[DotDun]

Originally Posted by Cotemar

That is how I started, BUT.

The John Guest 3-Way Bypass Valves are 1/2 inch and then you have to use 15mm adapters

The John Guest 3-Way Bypass Valves only have a small 1/4 hole for water to pass through.

The John Guest 3-Way Bypass Valves are very flimsy and bendable.

With all the 1/2 to 15 mm adapters it would not fit in the area I needed it to fit into.
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You don't need 3-way valves, you already have one shutoff on the supply to the tank, put one on the output side, 2 tees with a valve between them.

https://www.freshwatersystems.com/p-...alve-15mm.aspx


What am I missing?

[Cotemar]

Helia 44 owners,

2nd Water Tank Deck Fill added.

If you want to keep both of your large fresh water tanks fresh, you need to access both of them through their own Deck Filler.

It’s a DIY job that takes about 3 hours to complete.

Boat Water Deck Filler, Stainless Steel 1-1/2'' inch
Purchased on e-bay for $16 each
Boat Deck Filler Fuel Fill Petrol Water Diesel Marine Stainless Steel 1 1/2'' US | eBay
Need - 1-1/2” I.D. water hose X 14-1/2” long
Need - 4 hose clamps 2-1/2” I.D.

Tools needed:
Cordless drill
1” drill to drill into port on water tank
1-7/8” inch diameter hole saw
3 #10 x 1” long sheet metal screws
Boat Life – Life Seal clear sealant

[Cotemar]

Helia 44 Owners,

Hot Water Tank, Brown Water

If you notice that you’re getting brown water out of your hot water heater you may want to remove the cover holding the heating element and remove the loose piece of metal clanging around in the bottom of the tank.

When in there you will want to clean out and remove any sediment in the bottom of the tank.

Not sure what this Stainless Steel metal part does other than clang around the bottom of the tank and make rust.

A few FP owners have complained about this, so if you have this issue you will know what to do.

It takes about an hour and a half to remove and do a good cleaning.