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| Marine water heater | Rate Topic |
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| Posted: Fri Dec 2nd, 2005 07:52 pm |
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1st Post |
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Ken Paulson Member 
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Marine water heater - This is going to be a shot in the dark but I am at my wits end trying to get a fix. I have a houseboat with a 17 gallon electric water heater which, as far as I can see, does not incorporate a sacrificial anode. Our hot water has a sulforous odor which an anode might eliminate and I am trying to find one which will fit. From what I have been able to dig up, the manufacturer is no longer in business. The water heater was made by the General Processing Corp. and has the model number 4217C. The unit itself is no more than 30 inches high by about 24 inches in diameter. As I stated, this is a shot in the dark and any information will be appreciated. Thank you
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| Posted: Sat Dec 3rd, 2005 07:32 am |
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2nd Post |
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eleent Member
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Hello: This response is likely a shot in the dark back atcha! Let's start by determining what the tank's metal is. Marine heaters are sometimes stainless steel. If so, it probably does not have an anode. Try a magnet on the tank metal. If it does not stick, or sticks quite weakly, it probably is stainless. Some stainlesses are magnetic, so this is not a definitive test. Contrary to what you've been told, water sitting unused in a tank that has an anode will likely develop odor in time. So, look once more for that anode. It may be combined with the hot outlet. If no anode can be found, all that's left to try is to clean the tank by flushing and then adding hydrogen peroxide to the refill water. This will help kill off any anerobic bacteria that may be getting smelly in the tank. Hope that helps. Yours, Larry
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| Posted: Sun Dec 4th, 2005 04:37 pm |
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3rd Post |
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Ken Paulson Member
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Thank you for the rapid response. I can only guess what the innards of this particular water are made of, especially being nearly 10 years old and having a name like "Speed-O-Matic". I have removed the "hot" side of the heater and there is no evidence of an anode. One other possibility I have not checked out yet is the over pressure valve. This will have to wait for warmer weather as the plastic fittings could easily shatter at present ambient temperatures in Minnesota if I make an attempt at disassembly. I think that this is one of those situations where we will have to either purchase a new marine water heater ($450.00) or put up with the odor. No problem for me but the first mate has a sensitive nose and wiil let me know about the odor every time she uses the hot water. Oh well, we all have our cross to bear. Thank you for the information.
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| Posted: Sun Dec 4th, 2005 09:39 pm |
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4th Post |
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RKG Member
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Many marine water heaters use aluminum tanks. You can generate an odor problem if, by mistake, you use a chlorine-based tank cleaner in an aluminum tank. More likely, however, is the fact that water allowed to stand in a marine installation, particular one that uses plastic hose, will trigger an odor based on decaying critters. Just run the water a bit, and the odor should go away.
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| Posted: Mon Dec 5th, 2005 07:46 pm |
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5th Post |
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Ken Paulson Member
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RKG -- The unheated water from the supply tank has no discernable odor thus making water heater the culprit. If chlorine based cleaners or bleach are used in a marine water system, and sometimes this is necessary for sanitation, the entire system should be rinsed completely several times, or until no chlorine odor is present. I make it a point to use as much water from the tank as possible when in the marina just so that the system is being used. Water is only conserved when underway or anchored. I firmly believe that a sacrificial anode is necessary somewhere in the water heater if one were meant to be installed. That may not be the case but I have more work to do when the weather gets warm to determine what can be done. Thanks for the help.
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