Hot water heater lplug leaked and soaked insulation in underbelly

[DanG in PA]

I have a 2019 174bh and had a dripping leak at hot water heater plug. I assumed it would just run down side of trailer and onto ground. After a two week trip my insulation under the underbelly liner is soaked even back to under bunk. Anyone had this happen? I am concerned the leak maybe came from somewhere else but I have no indications of other leaks.

[Randel J]

I suppose it's possible for the hot water heater plug to leak/drip, but like you, I would think it would just drip down the side of the trailer and fall to the ground. Have you actually watched the water leak from the plug and drip on ground?

After a camping trip, when the heater is purposely drained by removing the plug, the water does in fact run down the side of the trailer and falls to the ground. That's what it is supposed to do. I suspect you have another slow water leak somewhere else causing the soaked insulation problem.

[Marcm157]

Unless you completely understated the size of the drip I think it's highly unlikely that's what caused the soaking you are describing. If the water heater leak is fixed I would put some water in your fresh water tank and pressurize the system using the water pump not city water supply. If the pump cycles frequently after it reaches full pressure you know you've got another leak to look for.

[DanG in PA]

Thank you for the replies. I did fill my fresh water tank and pressurized the system while I had cuts in the underbelly. No leaks on line coming from tank under pressure. Previously it was wet from where that line entered under bunk all the way to the water heater. All wetness below floor level and soaked insulation. I am baffled. The only leak was at the water heater plug. I did not fire up the water heater but it was full and under pressure. Would it leak after I fired up? There were no holes in underbelly (before I cut them). I did drive 500 miles in heavy rain one day but again, no holes in underbelly. I sealed drain plug in water heater; caulked above the window over water heater and closed the underbelly back up. I’ll keep watching it.