EK System 2000 hot water tank

HeatingHelp

This discussion was created from comments split from: Replacing Hot Water Storage Tank with Hot Water Heater - System 2000.

guvnor

Hi Guys,

jumping onto this thread & hopefully can get an answer.
so we installed a EK System 2000 in 2008 & overall it has been great. Had to have the water tank replaced under warranty as it was leaking in 2012 & now it’s leaking badly again from the base.
Our installer has maintained it faithfully every year but never replaced the anode or back flushed/cleaned the water side.
As an Aerospace Engineer I really like good quality simple systems so looking to replace this very poor quality tank with a stainless or “plastic” tank.

Does anyone have an opinion about the Rheem Marathon range or another good quality robust tank & if so what are the downfalls of doing so.? I understand the centre pipe is shorter in the EK tank for instance.

Thanks Guvnor.

EdTheHeaterMan

The above comment needs to be moved to a new discussion @HeatingHelp.com

SuperTech

@guvnor the quality of the tank is not the problem. The quality of the service you are receiving on the tank is. Checking the anode rod condition takes me less than 5 minutes. I service a lot of EK systems and I replace the anode rods all the time.

Also the quality of your water may be a problem. It might not be a bad idea to have it checked.

A powered anode replacement for the sacrificial anode rod would be a good idea.

Roger

@guvnor , thank you for your post. With your engineering background, I’m sure that you know that the root cause of a failure is important to understand in order to get better results going forward. The longevity of the tank is almost always related to site specific conditions, and not the quality of the tank; we would never offer a poor quality tank.
If the anode rod is largely consumed, that means that the site specific conditions in your application corroded that sacrificial element and then attacked the tank. If the anode rod were changed, or replaced with electric anode rod, that would prevent the same failure going forward. If it failed for lack of dielectric isolation, then dielectrically isolating it would prevent the same failure going forward.
In some site specific conditions, we have seen stainless steel tanks fail in fewer years of operation than glass lined tanks (and vice versa).
We would have to complete an engineering analysis on the Marathon tank to see if it could be properly converted to work with thermal purge. This has to do with our unique dip tube design, how it could be installed, and the thermostat location among other design criteria.
If you’d like for us to be more involved, please ask your heating professional to contact us and reference this thread.

Thank you,

Roger

Roger

Thank you for your reply, @SuperTech - we were responding at the same time, and I have to say yours was much more concise!

Best,

Roger

guvnor

Thanks for the replies it’s most appreciated.
I have well water which is tested for biological nasties but not PH or minerals.

Rather disappointed that the “reputable” maintenance company has never checked/replaced the anode. They are very specific with cards left attached to the system what’s been done.

Obviously with my background & now with EV conversions I’m somewhat particular with good maintenance and design practices, however definitely not obsessive.

Therefore would like to follow up with EK directly.

Again thanks.

Robertw

Good morning @guvnor. Feel free to give us a call. I'd be happy to answer any questions you may have.

908-735-2066

Pico

@Roger @Robertw @SuperTech

We just had our EK1 "serviced" which we have done mostly annually, sometimes every other year (installed 2009). Here's the report:

checked ignitor and cleaned air band and burner. System is operating properly at this time.

That will be $$$ please.

This is an EK dealer and I assume they have had training. No mention of anything checked on the storage tank.

See below for a 30 sec video of the base of our tank. The floor is moist, but not wet. The bottom edge of the tank is also moist but not wet, but this seems like trouble brewing.

Is there a manufacturer/factory standard for what items need to be checked annually/periodically? Prior year (2023) maintenance report (still no mention of the storage tank):

• Cleaned electrode and flame sensor ( flame sensor connector a little Loose )
• Cleaned intake
• Took reading on amp on blower And pump ( All Below max amp )
• Took reading on whole system amp below max rating
• Check contact for pitting check thermal camera on pump
• One circulator pump was really hot ( taco )
  
• Check nominal voltage on low side and high
• Check zone valves
  
• Unit is running
  
• 165 water temp
  
• 15 psi on water pressure

Going back further in our records, I see the following:

• remove and clean flame sensor/spark-rod
• tune burner to manufacturer spec 6.5% O2 with digital combustion analyzer (86% efficiency)
• check flue exhaust temp
• check safety and controls

Can anyone comment? Seems like there are many more things which could/should be checked and/or adjusted unless the System 2000 "just works."

https://photos.app.goo.gl/NaBXRirgfo1qfWuY6

Robertw

  @Pico, The yearly boiler maintenance schedule I have attached, assuming you have a Frontier boiler. The boiler maintenance is just that, a maintenance on the burner and checking the boiler safeties. A system maintenance may be requested as its more involved, purging of zones if needed. Checking thermostat batteries ect. And further yet a hot water storage tank maintenance may include anode rod inspection , draining and flushing the tank, thermostat calibration , testing of safeties etc. Water quality in your area will affect how in depth and how frequently these procedures will be needed.  All of  the above procedures may or may not be included in your “Yearly” maintenance. All service companies are competing for your business and may advertise lower yearly tune up prices. But obviously time is money and all of the above listed may not be performed based on price vs time restraints. Best bet is to ask the company on the phone prior to the techs dispatch , what they will be checking and testing. Request add on's at this time so when the technician arrives everyone is on the same page as to expectations.

Tune_up_Frontier_EZ-Gas_aug_2005.doc

Pico

hot water storage tank maintenance may include anode rod inspection

@robertw Thanks for your reply. Based on the video above, are you able to tell if our tank is leaking or warrants further inspection? Is there any way to inspect for leakage before it gets worse than this (i.e., floods our basement)? Our water is notoriously hard in Rockaway. In fact, during this maintenance a drain valve (left side of the heat exchanger for household water) had clogged with scale and mineral build-up and started leaking. It had not been used much since it was installed.

Robertw

I see moisture in the video, whether its coming from the tank or not I cant tell. I believe its 15 years old and that is the average life span of the tank without changing anode rods as needed. If it were my basement, full of tools and personal items, I would change out the tank.

Larry Weingarten

Hi, It's clear that the temperature and pressure relief has been leaking also. Put a little bucket under it to catch any drips and see if that lets the floor dry. If it doesn't change things, the tank, or fittings on the tank are seeping as well.

Yours, Larry

NEMatt

Looking to replace my EK1 rod as well. 2014 tank and not sure if previous owners ever did it.

Do I need to buy one from EK or are other universal rods a possibility?

On well water that is actually pretty soft coming out of the ground. Gains some hardness after getting run through the acid neutralizer I installed, but not hard enough to care about softening.