Our Whale water heater

[Richard n Ann]

It's been leaking when the water's hot for a while and I was hoping it's just a valve passing. Anyway got it out today and stripped it down.
Gharrrstly inside with limescale looks like it's coated cast aluminium so would citric acid be ok to leave in?

Some parts are corroded and I suspected a pin hole, I took the burner off the back and could see where it's been coming through and running down.

At least we now know what's inside them

 

[PeterCarole29]

Hi thanks for the photos Sorry to see the problem . I have seen on there site whale you can buy the body sections. it has helped me make a decision to buy a stainless steel water heater for our homebuild.
Many thanks Peter

 

[Richard n Ann]

Hi thanks for the photos Sorry to see the problem . I have seen on there site whale you can buy the body sections. it has helped me make a decision to buy a stainless steel water heater for our homebuild.
Many thanks Peter

It lasted 7 years. I'll look into that then the full heaters are about 600 quid, I wouldn't buy another as we hardly use hot water and when we do need a bit we've got the kettle.

 

[Richard n Ann]

Hi thanks for the photos Sorry to see the problem . I have seen on there site whale you can buy the body sections. it has helped me make a decision to buy a stainless steel water heater for our homebuild.
Many thanks Peter

Have you got a link for the new body sections?

 

[Richard n Ann]

Going to try this first anyway..

Quiksteel 16402 Aluminium Reinforced Epoxy Putty, 2 OZ Amazon product ASIN B005554XFI

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[Two on Tour]

Going to try this first anyway..

Quiksteel 16402 Aluminium Reinforced Epoxy Putty, 2 OZ Amazon product ASIN B005554XFI

That should do the job, there's a stick of that in the toolbox of the van and the workshop.
I used some to do a "get you home" fix on a friends very hot and leaking classic car radiator header tank some years ago, six years later he
finally got around to replacing the radiator when it sprang a leak at the bottom of his radiator, the fix was still holding.

 

[Richard n Ann]

Hopefully that's sorted it, used about a ¼ of it. Vac packed the rest so it will keep for next time

 

[Richard n Ann]

Anyone got any ideas on how to stop or slow down the corrosion, the insides are coated and it looks like a lot of the corrosion started at the joint edge where the coating stops. It's not all corrosion, some of it is limescale. (high mineral content Spanish water)

Maybe empty when not in use but it still wouldn't be dry anyway

 

[Two on Tour]

What about leaving an aluminum sacrificial anode inside the tank ?

 

[Richard n Ann]

Don't know anything about them heard of them on boats mind.

Maybe gpat will have some experience?

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[Richard n Ann]

Found these in ebay:

Magnesium Anode Rod For Suburban & OTHER Water Heaters UK | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Magnesium Anode Rod For Suburban & OTHER Water Heaters UK at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products.

www.ebay.co.uk

 

[Two on Tour]

I suggested an aluminum anode after reading this, but I guess you will not be drinking water from your hot tank or adding salt to it.

"What is a good sacrificial anode for aluminum?
The other most common sacrificial anodes are magnesium and zinc anodes. Benefits of using aluminum anodes are: They are better than zinc or magnesium anodes because they are more active. Unlike magnesium anodes, they are not dangerous in salt or brackish water."

 

[gpat]

Don't know anything about them heard of them on boats mind.

Maybe gpat will have some experience?

I have no experience of sacrificial anodes in aluminium tanks (only on steel pipes ). You wouldn't use the same material though. You have to use something that is more hungry for being oxidised than the metal of the thing you have or the same metal but encouraged by applying a charge

I will do some research for you and get back on here

I think once the corrosion has started though, its too late for sacrificial anodes

Ref - Sacrificial anodes are used to protect metal structures from corroding. Sacrificial anodes work by oxidizing more quickly than the metal it is protecting, being consumed completely before the other metal reacts with the electrolytes.

 

[Richard n Ann]

All back together and no leaks

Put an anode rod in :

 

[matty2161]

Hi Richard and Ann, I have a similar issue was wondering if you had any further issues down the line. Thinking about doing the same

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[Richard n Ann]

Hi Richard and Ann, I have a similar issue was wondering if you had any further issues down the line. Thinking about doing the same

No been perfect

 

[matty2161]

Great, thanks for coming back to me will give it a go over the weekend!

 

[Bluesbassman]

Hi Richard and Ann

Another year down the line is the tank still sound? Asking as the one in our motorhome (2016) is now leaking through the bottom when pressurised. Thought at first it was the big seal joining the two halves, but nope, it's definitely coming through the tank itself in the bottom corner. I had fixed an earlier leak from the the heater element seal, and whilst I had that out noticed the white build ups in the tank as in your photos.

And can I ask where did you get the sacrificial anodes from?

Cheers in advance

 

[Richard n Ann]

Hi Richard and Ann

Another year down the line is the tank still sound? Asking as the one in our motorhome (2016) is now leaking through the bottom when pressurised. Thought at first it was the big seal joining the two halves, but nope, it's definitely coming through the tank itself in the bottom corner. I had fixed an earlier leak from the the heater element seal, and whilst I had that out noticed the white build ups in the tank as in your photos.

And can I ask where did you get the sacrificial anodes from?

Cheers in advance

Yes still OK, last used about 3 weeks ago got the anodes from amazon I think