Gotta get a new water heater

[Capt Gill]

Originally Posted by gamayun

I just changed mine, which was rusty and leaking. It's very easy to do. Just make sure to get the right kind of high temperature hoses. I also installed shut off valves because you'll drain the coolant if you ever need to deal with an issue on the heater side. I went with Isotemp. It's a little more expensive than other brands, but I am hoping it is sufficiently high quality that it won't break for as long as I own the boat because the sink has to be pulled to get the danged thing out of the cabinet. And I'll soon have the new countertops installed so wouldn't want to damage all that again either....

Wondering how your w/heater is fairing now. I just removed my second Spa 20V (1st one purchased May '13) and now will be on my 3rd one just under the 5yr warranty. I asked each time, "is there something I'm doing wrong that causes this ?", but get no response. The issue is ( I removed the s/s cover to inspect inside) rust at all the weld points, however the tank shows no rust except where it's welded together. See attached photos (this is the second tank, the first one had same issue).
Photos are not uploading, so no photos.

[Capt Gill]

The w/heater photos.

[GRIT]

Now that's interesting. It looks like they use the wrong welding rod.

I'm about to purchase one myself. I'll have to inspect it before the warranty runs out...

Cheers, and thanks for the info.

Paul.

[Capt Gill]

Originally Posted by GRIT

Now that's interesting. It looks like they use the wrong welding rod.

I'm about to purchase one myself. I'll have to inspect it before the warranty runs out...

Cheers, and thanks for the info.

Paul.

Paul, that was my thought, wrong type of welding rod, but who knows and if that's the case why haven't they corrected it? On the plus side, the customer service is v. good and accommodating. Two-year warranty and five-years for the tank are better than most I only wish they'd be a bit more candid as to what their take is on the cause of the problem. BTW, the 5 yr. warranty is from the first purchase date and is not extended in the case of a warranty replacement, i.e. if my third w/heater has the same issue I'm out of luck.

[GRIT]

Yeah, it's just a numbers game these days. Nobody seems to worry about quality anymore. It's a shame.

We're your tanks leaking, or did you find the rust through routine inspection? Also, did they take it back because it looked so bad, or did it leak?
I've had folks refuse to take a product back, even though it was obviously going to fail, because it hadn't yet failed.

Paul.

[Cool Hand Luke]

Mine is in okay shape, but the water that comes out of it smells like 9-week rotten eggs. Ugh. It might as well be rusty... at least that would valid quicker replacement.

[Capt Gill]

The first tank was leaking, I couldn't tell where from(nothing obvious externally)until I removed it and noticed rusty water that accumulated in the insulation drain out when tilted; then upon removing the tank heating element assy. and inspecting the tank interior I found all the welds were rusted. Isotemp replaced it promptly.
Two years later the second tank was not leaking when I asked to have it replaced, however, when I decided to relocate it as it was under my bunk, not ideal being in Mexico, so when draining the tank the water (about the first liter) was rusty, so again on this two-year-old replacement tank, I removed the access cover, sure enough all the welds were rusty. This time photos were taken (Checking the original purchase date there were ten days left in warranty). The warranty states the customer pays the shipping to and them from the warehouse. however after stating the expense for shipping from Mexico, they settled for my promise to destroy the old unit and send photos to them; as I said, excellent customer service, however, the question remains, i.e. what's going on with the quality control? The 316SS tank shows not a spot of rust, but what's going on with the welds? I'll be monitoring my third w/heater if the situation reoccurs I'll post it here.