water dripping from hot water heater access panel

[groundhogy]

I am trying to set up my 1990 excella 29 for the first time.
I have external camp site water hooked in with water hose. But there is dripping from the access panel. So when I opened to look, there is a small black hose coming from inside the bathroom area that is constantly dripping.
Also there is a ball valve under the sink that is labled "normal" and "bypass". What is this for?

Thanks,
groundhogy

[HowieE]

The valve most likely is the winter bypass for the hot water heater. When in the bypass mode no water will go into the heater and while you are winterizing any blow off will bypass the heater and purge the lines.

As for that rubber hose a picture would help.

There is a drain hose from the condensate tray in the frig but I doubt that the frig is above the heater.

[groundhogy]

ok, thanks for that info.

I am guessing that the hot water heater has a pinhole leak and is dripping into some sort of drain pan and the drain pan has a little hose that comes out of the box and tries to get the water to drip outside.

[groundhogy]

So.... I went into the bathroom and turned that ball valve from bypass to normal.
That dripping from the small black hose outside? It turned into a full torrent of water.
So now I am thinking that the water heater tank is just full of holes.

Comments?

[HowieE]

There should be NO pan associated with the hot water heater.

It may be the a previous owner rigged a system drain for winterizing and when you moved the bypass valve you opened it. Generally ball valves do not leak but sounds like you have found one that does.

A picture or 2 would help.

[groundhogy]

Ok, the water heater is ok.
when winterizing you put the ball valve in bypass mode and you go outside and
turn the base of that black hose which pulls off and the base looks like a wingnut
sort of. You turn that to empty the water tank for winter. So mine was just open and the water tank is ok.