[Rincon Schooner]

Hello All, I have a leaking water heater that I am swapping out…. a Suburban 10 gallon (SW10DE). The cabinet box that GulfStream designed has NO access to the rear of the water heater where the water lines are connected. I was able to break away the styrofoam that surrounds the tank and remove the pieces. There was barely room to reach to the back of the tank and disconnect the over-stretched lines. Once removed, I confirmed that the cabinet/box has NO hidden access door… Nothing! So, there is no way to pull the two water lines out far enough for hook-up to the new unit. There is about a 1/4 inch clearance around the unit and it needs to be pushed in almost entirely for the hoses to be connected. Hard to believe there is NO door in the back that allows access. I could cut one in from underneath, but GulfStream applied a foam undercoating that is 2 inches thick. What a hassle. I could purchase some Pex pipe, and fittings, and extend the rigid water lines for easier connection, but I am concerned there is no space behind the unit to accommodate the additional rigid hose, and I won’t be able to see if there are any kinks. What a drag!… anybody want to chime in? Still trying to figure the best approach. Rob in Ojai