proper way to remove water heater heat exchanger

[nuru05]

We are removing our water heater to make space for an AC because we never use it anyways, and I need to disconnect the lines for the heat exchanger from the engine. Is the proper way just to remove the lines and make a little "U" to feed the outlet back into the engine right at the engine?

[Tin Tin]

What make and model engine do you have?

[barnab]

It is a way to do it, especially if you think you might want the water heater back somewhen. Otherwise the connections for a water heater are retrofits and the "proper way" would be to remove them altogether, which also eliminates the risk of the U springing a leak (but as usual the proper way will be more work).

[nuru05]

Originally Posted by Tin Tin

What make and model engine do you have?

It's a 56 yanmar,

[nuru05]

Originally Posted by barnab

It is a way to do it, especially if you think you might want the water heater back somewhen. Otherwise the connections for a water heater are retrofits and the "proper way" would be to remove them altogether, which also eliminates the risk of the U springing a leak (but as usual the proper way will be more work).

Ok, I might as well do that then. We are away from the boat for a couple months so I haven't actually looked at the connection yet. I didn't realize they were retrofits, it makes sense though.