Water tank exploded

[dkoldman]

Since it was bought in March, in a temperate zone possibly without great chances of springtime long term freezes , I don't doubt that the op was told what they were told upon delivery.

I highly doubt, with great prejudice, that they were told to not winterize the vehicle at the beginning of every frost season. We're in that next frost season after their purchase.

And those saying to fall back onto the dealer as faulted...
Google how selective interpretation and ignorance of circumstance works.

Dealer has sold hundreds, the op has been slightly involved in one....

While having the heater fixed, op should pay an extra hour labor for an in-depth rv review now that the op has some experience to Help retain info.
Uneducated was the correct word for the situation. An hour of in-person review and this forum Will fix that fast based on op's very pleasant and thorough writing skill.

Wisconsin and no winterizing of every darn thing you own?

Call a residential flood clean-up company and get fans and heaters and an insurance claim started(if insurance will cover)

There was another thread where OP had bought a heated water hose and was hell bent on using it to a trip to Indiana with known zero degree temperatures in the forecast. It was as if he used the forum to get comfort that his idea was valid. He never came back, but it is a good assumption that he used selective interpretation from a few of the post to validate his plight. Assuming he tried the new heated hose, I wonder if he suffered a similar fate.

I agree with assumptions about what this OP may have been told in March. It is akin to when we 1st bought our pool, the pool company said we didn't have to worry about winterizing. Skipped the instructions on how to winterize, but he knew our controller would always force the pumps on to circulate water with freezing temperatures. But he didn't factor in what happens when you had both freezing temperatures and loss of power for week

 

[Lt Keefer]

700, I wish. It was $2500. Certainly cuts into vacation money. Lol.

Thanks for the info tho.

You got ripped off. A water heater is less than 500 and an hour or two to install. Your dealer took your vacation right out from under you.

 

[TheGoodLife-THOR]

I've replaces the on-demand WH twice in my 2017 Vegas 24.1 even after winterization and it costs $700 + for parts alone. The key is to disconnect Water Heater and physically blowing it out so there is NO residual water in the copper coils.
RK

The tankless water heater in our 2022 Quantum KW29 has an antifreeze feature for any residual water remaining in the coils where the burner will start for a brief period when the temperature falls below 38º. I winterize the water system with compressed air but also use that feature as needed for extra insurance.

 

[16ACE27]

The tankless water heater in our 2022 Quantum KW29 has an antifreeze feature for any residual water remaining in the coils where the burner will start for a brief period when the temperature falls below 38º. I winterize the water system with compressed air but also use that feature as needed for extra insurance.

That feature only works if:

A - Power is available to the WH, and
B - Propane is available to the water heater

 

[TheGoodLife-THOR]

That feature only works if:

A - Power is available to the WH, and
B - Propane is available to the water heater

A. check
B. check
Also a good idea to verify the WH ignites when switching it on. Sometimes ours will take an extra off/on cycle of the switch.

 

[Bob Nodine]

You got ripped off. A water heater is less than 500 and an hour or two to install. Your dealer took your vacation right out from under you.

They may have been over charged but I suspect most of that bill was labor for checking out and repairing all the things that were broken or stressed by the freezing water. Remember the dumb ass dealer told them they did not need to winterize so more than just the water heater was subject to damage.

 

[MLP-THOR]

I do not live where I have to winterize, but am I wrong if the OP were to just dump the water out of the hot water tank and blow all the lines out he would be good to go? That includes not having any fresh water in the tank. He states that he goes out every two weeks in that freezing weather. If I had to winterize every two weeks and then de-winterize, I would wait for spring.

 

[16ACE27]

I do not live where I have to winterize, but am I wrong if the OP were to just dump the water out of the hot water tank and blow all the lines out he would be good to go? That includes not having any fresh water in the tank. He states that he goes out every two weeks in that freezing weather. If I had to winterize every two weeks and then de-winterize, I would wait for spring.

In the OP's climate you have to remove water from all locations that may freeze, not just the water heater.

You can use the RV when winterized but just use bottled/container water instead of the onboard water system and make sure to put antifreeze in the waste tanks and dump them when done. You would have to shower in the bath house though.

 

[ATLPanther]

I live due east of Atlanta about 60 miles so our climate is pretty temperate. I blow out the lines and empty the water heater and the fresh water tank. I keep it inside an enclosed Pole barn. Yet one year the water that was in the valve by the toilet pedal froze and busted the line in the pedal so I wound up replacing it but it was an easy fix. Only my feelings were really hurt.

 

[MJC68]

I live due east of Atlanta about 60 miles so our climate is pretty temperate. I blow out the lines and empty the water heater and the fresh water tank. I keep it inside an enclosed Pole barn. Yet one year the water that was in the valve by the toilet pedal froze and busted the line in the pedal so I wound up replacing it but it was an easy fix. Only my feelings were really hurt.

This is why we spend the $10 and the extra 10 minutes to pump the pink stuff through the system.

 

[HMCSW]

Okay, we were dumb (and uneducated) and didn't winterize our Thos Axis 25.1.

We were told if we took it out every 2 weeks we didn't need to. Well, after these cold temperatures, we found a broken water tank. Yup, it exploded. Can see all the ice inside the huge crack. Ugh!

Anyone have a clue how much something like this will cost me to replace?

Thanks.

I removed our tank to replace the rotted flooring. Thor used plywood under tank and basement flooring. All rotted. It is easy. Call Thor and they can give you a price on the replacement. The might ship it to you. The flooring material they would only send to dealer. Should not be too expensive.

 

[dkoldman]

This is why we spend the $10 and the extra 10 minutes to pump the pink stuff through the system.

Or spend 10 seconds to hold the toilet pedal so all the water is out. My manual specifically says to NOT put pink stuff in the toilet. It does not say so as if it will cause damage, but because they say it is not necessary. But point here for OP with busted toilet pedal is if you don't do all of the procedures properly you may have freeze damage.