Truma Water Heater Leak

[Doug S]

Hi - I'm getting ready to leave home in a few days and am going through the standard "get ready" list. I found the water pump wouldn't shut off and also saw water leaking outside from the hot water heater. I turned off the bypass valve and the pump and the leak stopped. I checked the overpressure relief valve and didn't see anything obvious, but when I clamped it back in place and tried again, it leaked much worse than before. Is this common/simple?  - Thanks in advance - Doug

[Galway Girl]

I’m sure you’ve done this but just to check a few things:

1:  Strainer in place and fully seated.  

2: Pop off sealed, try open and close a few times to make sure it seals. 

 

If neither of those work you may have a split in the back side of the black mixing chamber.  (Looks like a big themos ) This could happen if you didn’t drain and leave strainer out in cold weather.  (That would be a big repair bill.$

[jd1923]

Bummer just a few days before your trip, and sorry but most things Truma take long. 

Check into what Craig wrote. Then if you need further troubleshooting, re-open the bypass, remove any access plates/covers inside and out so you can see inside as much as possible. Start the water pump again and recreate the leak. Keep it running until you can eyeball what part or connection is actually leaking.

Don’t worry, if water gets in the basement it will drain out of the weep holes along the hull bottom.

[Doug S]

Thanks for the ideas. I had turned off the bypass last winter, but I didn't know there was a way to drain it. In any case, there was no obvious problem in August when I picked it up for the summer from storage (heated). I'm hopting the mixing chamber isn't cracked for whatever reason. I'll go after the strainer. I think the leak is a lot larger after I opened and closed the overpressure valve. I attached a photo. I haven't looked at their manual yet. 

Truma.docx

[Doug S]

I realized that you remove the antifreeze version of the filter by pulling down further on the lever. I removed the heater/screen filter and saw that the o-rings were fine and nothing was distorted. I put it back in carefully and that part no longer leaked. I can't see any obvious crack in the mixer, but the rear wall has obviously been sprayed. I guess it could be a leaky hose or the the mixer itself. It leaks about 5 ounces a minute - the pump runs, then turns off, then 20 seconds later it runs again for a few seconds, etc. Kind of interesting - the fellow who checked us out at Oliver on delivery day only said you "could" put the yellow plug in the flue when driving. It also says you can't use it below -4 °F. It must be winterized. The instructions are clear: you must put the yellow plug in.