Hmmm...water heater leaking?

Richard · Jun 3, 2006

Just walked past my water heater. there was a damp spot around it, about 18/24" diamater and only on one side of the heater. Almost as though someone took 1/8 or 1/4 cup water and blotted it on the concrete floor. it was not a puddle, just damp. CLEARLY however, it was wet.

Ironically, we've been here about 8 years and this unit happens to have about an 8 year warranty. How DO thay do that? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

My question is really one of assurance.

I presume this means I clearly need a new water heater.
My next question, since the truck we use is currently out of commission (lost key /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif)

Will this continue to drip/weep or is there a chance of it blowing out and letting the full force of my water pump (on a well) spend it's full fury?

Doubtful I'll be able to fix it today since I'll ALSO end up moving the heater to it's new location. Unfortunatly, I havn't prepared it's new location, it was one of those "I'll do it later" things. Seems the time might have arrived.

So, moisture indicates some sort of breech of watertightness and am I at risk of it "blowing out" of that hole, or do these typically just (slowly) grow in their rate of seeping?

I DID turn washer on to kick pump in so I could see what might happen, as well as be there IF it happened. Nothing unexpected happened (no blowouts with the higher pressure after pump kicked in)

Never a good time but I may as well do this now while I'm ironically, replumbing the basement.

Richard · Jun 3, 2006

Just walked past my water heater. there was a damp spot around it, about 18/24" diamater and only on one side of the heater. Almost as though someone took 1/8 or 1/4 cup water and blotted it on the concrete floor. it was not a puddle, just damp. CLEARLY however, it was wet.

Ironically, we've been here about 8 years and this unit happens to have about an 8 year warranty. How DO thay do that? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

My question is really one of assurance.

I presume this means I clearly need a new water heater.
My next question, since the truck we use is currently out of commission (lost key /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif)

Will this continue to drip/weep or is there a chance of it blowing out and letting the full force of my water pump (on a well) spend it's full fury?

Doubtful I'll be able to fix it today since I'll ALSO end up moving the heater to it's new location. Unfortunatly, I havn't prepared it's new location, it was one of those "I'll do it later" things. Seems the time might have arrived.

So, moisture indicates some sort of breech of watertightness and am I at risk of it "blowing out" of that hole, or do these typically just (slowly) grow in their rate of seeping?

I DID turn washer on to kick pump in so I could see what might happen, as well as be there IF it happened. Nothing unexpected happened (no blowouts with the higher pressure after pump kicked in)

Never a good time but I may as well do this now while I'm ironically, replumbing the basement.

Richard · Jun 3, 2006

( I presume this means I clearly need a new water heater. )

I might clarify that there was NO dripping from the pop off valve, nor the drain. The water is seeping from underneith the heater. I have some treated 2x4's formed in a square as a platform to lift it off the ground so I can't see under it. The seepage was coming from under it.

/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Richard · Jun 3, 2006

( I presume this means I clearly need a new water heater. )

I might clarify that there was NO dripping from the pop off valve, nor the drain. The water is seeping from underneith the heater. I have some treated 2x4's formed in a square as a platform to lift it off the ground so I can't see under it. The seepage was coming from under it.

/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

PineRidge · Jun 3, 2006

Richard if it's seeping there is no repair other than a replacement. I would like to throw out that if you use all the hot water in the tank it is natural to get a certain amount of condensation as the tank returns the cold water to normal temperature. Just make sure that you are not replacing a tank needlessly.

PineRidge · Jun 3, 2006

Richard if it's seeping there is no repair other than a replacement. I would like to throw out that if you use all the hot water in the tank it is natural to get a certain amount of condensation as the tank returns the cold water to normal temperature. Just make sure that you are not replacing a tank needlessly.

Highbeam · Jun 3, 2006

Consider this a great oppurtunity to go to a tankless water heater if you are on gas. The last report I read claimed 15% of the home's energy costs are water heating.

I wouldn't leave the home without shutting off the valve to the hot water tank. There should be a valve on the inlet to the tank that can be shut and reopened when you get home. Flooding is no good.

Highbeam · Jun 3, 2006

Consider this a great oppurtunity to go to a tankless water heater if you are on gas. The last report I read claimed 15% of the home's energy costs are water heating.

I wouldn't leave the home without shutting off the valve to the hot water tank. There should be a valve on the inlet to the tank that can be shut and reopened when you get home. Flooding is no good.

BlueRidge · Jun 3, 2006

Will this continue to drip/weep or is there a chance of it blowing out and letting the full force of my water pump (on a well) spend it's full fur 

A blow out is possible. More likely you'll get a rapidly increasing leak until one day you might as well have opened a faucet.

I'd sure wonder about a heater that only goes 8 years, though. Do check for condensation.

BlueRidge · Jun 3, 2006

Will this continue to drip/weep or is there a chance of it blowing out and letting the full force of my water pump (on a well) spend it's full fur 

A blow out is possible. More likely you'll get a rapidly increasing leak until one day you might as well have opened a faucet.

I'd sure wonder about a heater that only goes 8 years, though. Do check for condensation.