water leak- hot water tank vent

[glacierrunne]

It's beening raining for two days and I've got a water leak .I think is coming in around the hot water tank vent. My Suzie Bell is a '80 Caravelle and I plan on trying to find a different vent cover. The vent cover is cracked where the latch is and thus does not keep the cover straight and tight. Any advise? I am also going to seal around the hot water unit. Anybody else have this problem? Don

[Zeppelinium]

you shouldn't have this problem if the flange of the heater is properly sealed against the skin. Get a roll of the plumber's putty (it's already formed into a 1/8" thick by 1" long ribbon). Slice it in half lengthways and it's the right width to put between that flange and the skin. You don't have to do much to move the water heater enough to do this, just take out the 12 screws and slide it out about 1/2". The propane line should allow this small movement.

One other place you can have a leak is right at the top of the heater face. I noticed on mine that there little slits right where the flange makes the 90 degree bend. I'd take a small amount of the putty and roll it into a long "worm" and apply it to the inside of the flange. You'll know you have these slits by going inside, diming the lights, and looking "out". You'll see the sunlight.

[glacierrunne]

Thanks for the advice. I can see the black plumber's putty between the flange and the skin. It looks like some of it is missing on one corner and the PO tried to seal it with a white colored sealer. Tuesday I'll get the supplies and reseal the flange and see if that solves the problem. Thanks again, Don