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Disassembling A Rheem RTG64XLP |
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On January 14, 2013 a freeze-up had destroyed our old Rheem PTG2-42PVP 4.2 GPM tankless water heater (a cheaper indoor variety that I had installed outdoors, so I was asking for it). It was also rather ineffective due to the low GPM.
A week later, I ordered a new Rheem RTG-64XLP 6.4 GPM Low NOx Outdoor Tankless Propane Water Heater on Amazon.com. It arrived on the 29th but I did not go to work on it until February 7, after my wife returned east. It did not come with a power cord so I had to run to Home Depot for that, but it was operational the next day.
On April 15, I completed installation of new heat tapes on all plumbing so that there could be no more freeze-ups.
Sometime around December 10, the pipes froze. Nothing burst, though the water heater developed a slow leak. I don't know the exact day because I was too busy dealing with a persistent power loss; it would go out at night and return the next day after the sun had come over the hill. That is another story also told on on this year's web site. According to the Weather Underground, nighttime temperatures went below freezing from December 5 to the 11th. The 10th got down to 25. On the 14th I opened it up, found the leak and called Rheem tech support. Fortunately, nothing had broken. A connection between two valves had become microscopically distorted, so it leaked. I could not even see the distortion when I took it apart.
The tech diagnosed and sent me a new Water Bypass Valve (20-51138-00) and a Water Control Valve (20-51136-00) at a cost of $262.42, 40% of what I had paid for the heater ($650 + $45 S&H + $52 tax). I was surprised that they had allowed me to make the moderately complex repair myself, but I did and it has worked fine ever since. The power problem is also fixed, so the water heater's internal "Freeze protection to -30°F" and my heat tapes will be able to do their jobs the next time around. |
 Hanging it on a fence panel |
 New parts from Rheem |
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Continued in 2015 |
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Copyright © 2014, Van Blakeman |