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Water Heater Tank Removal


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I don't use my hot water tank ever as I have no use for it, but it was leaking so I have removed it from my Dolphin yesterday, and I would like to ask for some advice please:

1. Where can I get a cover that will be able to completely seal the opening?

2. Where can I get the caps to stop the water lines?

3. Would I be able to use the space to create an extra fresh water supply tank?  If this is possible, any idea how?

Thank you for your assistance.

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You can get plugs for the gas and water lines at most plumbing/hardware stores. Depending on how your RV is plumbed you might have to use a short pipe nipple to couple the two lines together so your hot faucet would work, even if there was no hot water. 

For the hatch just cut and glue a piece of plywood to fit inside the cover. Mount a RV style lock on and you would have a small outside storage.

Water would be a problem as most water heaters are pressure fed and below the fresh water tank. About the easiest way would just put a 5 gal container in the space and just pour it into the main tank when it gets low.

Edited by WME
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Thanks for your advice!

Do you know the specs of the PVC fittings?  I would like to get some idea what I need to get, especially for the short pipe nipple to couple the cold and hot water lines together.

The extra water storage container is a good idea.  Thank you again!

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Just take the RV to your local Ace, let them look at the fittings and get you the right one. I think their 1/2". Follow the gas pipe back and see if it can be capped below the floor. so you can slid the water container in and out easier.

A water leak is just annoying, but a gas leak can be dangerous. Get help!!  

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My ACE hardware would not have anything. Must be some are better then others.  I cursed my water-heater for years. Never used it, it adds extra weight, and made a mess every fall when I drained it to winterize. I finally got around to removing it this Spring. I did it in a sort of hurry with little planning.  To my surprise - I needed NO fittings to close off the water lines.  Bottom connection on the heater-tank was a plastic TEE. I just removed the bottom cold connection TEE, then removed the top hot connection - and screwed them together and that was that.  Now have cold water coming out of the faucets in "hot" or "cold" mode. Stereo cold water is fine with me.  I blocked the propane line with a male flare plug from Home Depot.  I closed off the outside with a translucent fiberglass roof panel I had in my scrap pile. Maybe someday I'll paint it to make it look better.   Works fine and lets natural light in so when I open the closet - I can see inside.

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9 hours ago, WME said:

Just take the RV to your local Ace, let them look at the fittings and get you the right one. I think their 1/2". Follow the gas pipe back and see if it can be capped below the floor. so you can slid the water container in and out easier.

A water leak is just annoying, but a gas leak can be dangerous. Get help!!  

Thanks again!

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1 hour ago, jdemaris said:

My ACE hardware would not have anything. Must be some are better then others.  I cursed my water-heater for years. Never used it, it adds extra weight, and made a mess every fall when I drained it to winterize. I finally got around to removing it this Spring. I did it in a sort of hurry with little planning.  To my surprise - I needed NO fittings to close off the water lines.  Bottom connection on the heater-tank was a plastic TEE. I just removed the bottom cold connection TEE, then removed the top hot connection - and screwed them together and that was that.  Now have cold water coming out of the faucets in "hot" or "cold" mode. Stereo cold water is fine with me.  I blocked the propane line with a male flare plug from Home Depot.  I closed off the outside with a translucent fiberglass roof panel I had in my scrap pile. Maybe someday I'll paint it to make it look better.   Works fine and lets natural light in so when I open the closet - I can see inside.

Thank you Jdemaris.  It looks like the setup of the pipes is a bit different on my rig?  I'll check to see the feasibility of your suggestion but thank you nonetheless!

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The water connections on the heater-tank should be male 1/2" pipe thread.  So to plug your water-lines you need a male 1/2" pipe-thread plug.   On my rig, the propane line and fittings are 3/8" .  On some other rigs 1/2" is used.  Use a flare-cap if capping a fitting on the propane. Use a flare-plug if plugging a line.

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Thanks again Jdemaris!  I bought a couple of 1/2" plugs from local hardware store and after I plug them in I find that water still comes out from around the pipe.  The plug must be too deep so the water tube wasn't sealed properly.  I resorted to filling the plug partially with my glue gun and then waited a bit for it to cool down and plug it on.  And it worked!  No water leaking out finally!

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What ever works.

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