Leaky Carver Cascade 2

Next thing on the list was the Carver Cascade.  After testing the water heater, both on gas and electric I found the bottom of the polystyrene to be a little damp.  Obviously water was getting out from somewhere and after removing all the polystyrene insulation and the element cover I found the source.

Behind that white oval shaped cover is the main powered heating element, the gas burner is at the other end.  The element is held in by two nuts/bolts with an o-ring sealing the joint.  I suspected that the joint just needed nipping up and that would be that.  I was wrong.  If you have ever stripped a thread or broken a bolt then you will know the feeling I got when I tried to nip up the nuts.  One of them just turned and turned, oh dear...

So I drained the system down and removed the cylinder from the heater.  It seems that the bolt head that has been immersed in water for who knows how long has been slowly dissolving over the years.  One head was missing completely and the other was well on its way.

Looking on Ebay I came to realise this must be a fairly common thing as seal kits were readily available.  The kit I ordered came with two replacement nuts and bolts, o-ring seals for the cylinder, bolts and element. 

Easy to fit and I now have a leak free water heater.

Simon