Hot Water Heater Leak

[reynoben]

Hi All,

My hot water heater has sprung a leak this spring and was looking for some information. It is leaking at the cold water intake. I thought it was the threaded connection, so I drained the hot water heater, removed the connection, used teflon tape and reconnected the cold water line. It was still leaking. I then realized it wasn't the threaded connection that was leaking, but instead it was leaking where the gray connector piece goes into the hot water heater. This connector is covered by some hard, white paste. It is slowly leaking through that white paste. It's not a lot, just a very slow drip. I've never seen this paste before in household plumbing, so I am not sure what it is, if I can buy it somewhere and apply it myself. Any thoughts? Pic attached.

Thanks,
Ben

[TWP723]

Did you use Teflon tape?

[reynoben]

Yes, as per original post. It is not leaking at the threaded connection. It is leaking through the white compound where the gray connector goes into the hot water tank.

[Grumpy]

Looks like a plastic nipple, they probably used teflon pipe dope when it was installed.

[Sundancer330]

It looks like pipe joint compound was used, take it apart and clean it good then apply joint compound and tighten, compound usually seals better than teflon tape.

[reynoben]

Thanks guys. I assume the gray nipple connector is threaded on the end that fits into the water heater as well? So I can clean away the paste and simply unscrew it?

[TWP723]

Originally Posted by reynoben

Thanks guys. I assume the gray nipple connector is threaded on the end that fits into the water heater as well? So I can clean away the paste and simply unscrew it?

That was the area I was talking about. It looks like plumbers dope. I'd take that connector off and inspect it. If it's ok just tape it and try it again.

[reynoben]

Ok thanks. Apologies, I wasn't sure if the other end was threaded and simply unscrewed from the water heater

[jloco]

I had a similar issues last week. Like you, very slow small leak. I tightened the black nut and it seemed to stop leaking, but I had to leave my seasonal, so I didn't have a lot of time to recheck it. I'm thinking my leak may also be where the aluminum connector connects to the tank nipple. I'll be camping this upcoming weekend and will monitor it to find out for sure.

[Jagiven]

That white stuff, is plumbers pipe dope. Professional plumbers use it all the time, usually with Teflon tape, but Teflon tape is not required.

Mine leaked in that same spot twice before over the years. 1st two times I just tightened the fitting a bit, and it stopped leaking. This year, I removed the grey pipe nipple, cleaned it up, and applied new pipe dope and Teflon tape. So far it is leak free.

[TWP723]

Is it me or should these connections last longer? I couldn't tell you the last time I've had to do this anywhere in my home. Even my outdoor bibs have lasted years and years without needing resealing. My hot water heater has never needed resealed. I have tons of things in my home with Teflon taped connections and have never had one leak. I just don't get it. Is this what we should expect from the manufacturers? Careless assembly I guess.

[norty1]

I have had that same thing happen before. I think it's vibration from the josteling of road travel.

I like to use teflon tape because if it leaks, a quick partial turn will usually seal it.

The other end of that aluminum nipple looks threaded into the tank input also. Maybe see if needs some teflon while all is apart?

It seems like a lot of connections. If it were mine, I might try and eliminate the middle threaded connection with an adapter.

[reynoben]

Thanks all for the replies. I removed the threaded end going into the tank. There was very minimal compound used. I cleaned it up, wrapped it in teflon tape and threaded it back in. Ran water through it last night without any leaks! The trailer is only 2 years old. I agree, you'd think it would last longer

[TWP723]

Good news!

[Grumpy]

Originally Posted by TWP723

Is it me or should these connections last longer? I couldn't tell you the last time I've had to do this anywhere in my home. Even my outdoor bibs have lasted years and years without needing resealing. My hot water heater has never needed resealed. I have tons of things in my home with Teflon taped connections and have never had one leak. I just don't get it. Is this what we should expect from the manufacturers? Careless assembly I guess.

As Norty said it's from all the vibration, bouncing and most importantly temp changes. You don't have the critical hot to cold to hot temp changes (seasonal and on/off) in your house.

[TWP723]

Originally Posted by Grumpy

As Norty said it's from all the vibration, bouncing and most importantly temp changes. You don't have the critical hot to cold to hot temp changes (seasonal and on/off) in your house.

Yeah, I guess. But still...it can be better than what it is. We can see galaxies light years away but can't make a properly sealed drain. Maybe I'll become a millionaire and figure this out. Got to be a solution. lol

[Meadowlea]

I’ve been told by other members pipe dope connections don’t turn, with Teflon tape it does. An RV is a moving object and you don’t want things to come loose.

[ttavasc]

Originally Posted by reynoben

Thanks all for the replies. I removed the threaded end going into the tank. There was very minimal compound used. I cleaned it up, wrapped it in teflon tape and threaded it back in. Ran water through it last night without any leaks! The trailer is only 2 years old. I agree, you'd think it would last longer

Had the same problem at the start of our second season I think and found exactly what you describe - almost no compound on the threads. I think we all know how this happens..... Cleaned and reinstalled with sufficient compound and thread tape and no further issues. I do carry a small jar of compound and a roll of yellow PTFE thread tape just in case.

[stateboy]

Originally Posted by ttavasc

I do carry a small jar of compound and a roll of yellow PTFE thread tape just in case.

Yellow is for gas lines and white is for water lines. Grab yourself a roll of white and you'll be ready for all your different pipe thread leaks.

[ttavasc]

Originally Posted by 36fire412

Yellow is for gas lines and white is for water lines. Grab yourself a roll of white and you'll be ready for all your different pipe thread leaks.

Yellow can be used for gas and water lines so no need to carry multiple types.