Hi,
I need advice on how is the best way to repair a crack in the filler neck of my Aqua Hot. It has about a ½ in crack in the side of the top of the neck, (see pictures attached). Aqua Hot works great, but you have to refill it after it cools off, (it will not draw back from the overflow tank,it is sucking air threw this crack)
Has anyone had this problem? Hopefully I can repair without taking out the Aqua Hot.
Thanks
John
John,
The neck can be soldered to repair the leak.
Having said that, the job is challenging to say the least. Hopefully, Roger Berke will also reply as he has done this repair.
Roger is in Quartzite, I am in the Houston area and have a source for soldering help. Plus, you may have copper plumbing solder experience making this a DIY project or approach a experienced person in your area for soldering help.
Accessing the leak with the torch will determine if you can do this in the coach or only after removing the heater. Some can be done in the coach, so be somewhat optimistic there.
I believe J B Weld has been used to affect this repair. It is a 13 psi area. But the Official Aqua Hot approved repair procedure is soldering. If J B Weld turned out to not work on the first try, what a job to get it off to get to the leak to solder for the second try.
Sure hope this helps and certainly wish you well in getting it fixed.
John
I have never seen a neck split like it appears to have done in your photo. Most of the time, the solder joint that connects the brass filler neck to the steel riser on the boiler tank breaks. I have done a number of those type of repairs.
The filler neck and the rubber gasket are readily available and not that expensive.
The difficulty is in being able to solder new neck on without burning the coach down. If the Aqua-Hot on your coach is out on the drivers side turned sideways, there should be plenty of room at the top to do the repair.
Sometimes the Aqua-Hot has to be removed from the coach to properly do the repair.
There are a number of online parts sources. Search for "RV Hydronic Heater Parts".
- Roger Berke -
www.Forum.RVHYD.com (http://www.Forum.RVHYD.com)
Thanks for the reply,
Problem is now repaired, I took motor home to a old radiator repair place, we were he was able to replace the radiator cap neck, (old one was cracked) and solder a new one on it. Then I re insulated the area and closed it up.
pictures attached.
Thanks for the help