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Phoenix WH passing water out of the condensate drain when off

JUGHNE
JUGHNE Member Posts: 11,268
in THE MAIN WALL

Have a HTP Phoenix PH 199-119 that locked out with the F09. Worked for 7 years without a glitch.

The condensate drain was partially plugged. When opened it drained out a full flow of water and then continued to dribble.

It has had a small flow of water for 2 days, without firing. When turning on the WH,

the fan starts and the water flows quicker. It will fire though.

So it seems the internal fire tube has a pinhole somewhere.

This is right at 7 years old. Has anyone else had this type of bad luck?

Commercial warranty on tank only 3 years.

Any other brands recommended

Comments

  • Larry Weingarten
    Larry Weingarten Member Posts: 3,579

    Hi, What is the water quality like? Softened? Maybe going with glass-lined is a good direction. 🤔

    Yours, Larry

  • hot_rod
    hot_rod Member Posts: 23,275

    is it in a heavy use commercial setting? What temperature does it run?

    Sounds like a weld or metal pinhole

    Even glass lined, high btu tanks don’t last-long in high demand systems

    Bob "hot rod" Rohr
    trainer for Caleffi NA
    Living the hydronic dream
  • pedmec
    pedmec Member Posts: 1,060

    Don't feel bad. Its very common. That's why i don't like commercial water heaters. Short warranty periods and short life spans. Just changed a 2 year old cyclone water heater. It made the warranty period by 2 days. A lot of our hotel chains use PVI water heaters.

  • JUGHNE
    JUGHNE Member Posts: 11,268

    Water quality is excellent, no chlorination, no softener.

    SS tank. 140 is max temp.

    Nursing home, one tub and 20-30 seldom used hand sinks….so light usage.

    For my area AO Smith is just about the only other option.

    Thanks for the input.

  • Larry Weingarten
    Larry Weingarten Member Posts: 3,579

    Hi @JUGHNE , One last thing I'd check is pressure. Does it vary much, or spike? I use a fun diagnostic tool; a recording pressure gauge. It gives me a chart of pressure over 24 hours. At a minimum, using one of those gauges with the red pointer that tells you the highest pressure, might give you some useful info. 🤔

    Yours, Larry

  • JUGHNE
    JUGHNE Member Posts: 11,268

    Static pressure with no water flow is right at 40 PSI.

    Opening the T&P for a few seconds it drops slightly and comes back up.

    There is an expansion tank on the system.

  • Larry Weingarten
    Larry Weingarten Member Posts: 3,579

    Hi, It sounds like the conditions are good for a long-lived tank. I think I'd go with a glass-lined tank, but only one that you can add a second magnesium anode to. Also, make sure the anode it comes with is magnesium rather than aluminum.

    Another load the tank may be seeing is recirculation. That can add a significant load, particularly if the line is underground or poorly insulated.

    Yours, Larry

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