Gary RV_Wizard
Site Team
If you have to take it to an RV dealer to get the job done, Yes. Not so bad if you can do it yourself, but your questions suggest that is not the case.Well… it is quite expensive, no?
In any case, don't borrow trouble. Give it a try (cold), using the onboard water pump for pressure. A severe leak will be signaled by repeated cycling of the pump. A tiny leak means a longer time between pump cycles. Look closely around and under the heater tank, including from behind it, to see any signs of leakage. If all looks good, turn on the heater and check again after it gets hot.
If no problem, you got lucky. That's not as rare as many would have you believe. If you find something suspicious, tell us about it for further advice.