water heater

[mudman]

I have water leaking from the bottom of my water heater, any thoughts before I spend a fortune on a plumber?

[gunflint]

Water heaters aren't that difficult to do. Is it gas or electric? If it's electric and the waterlines have unions pick up some flexible water lines and do it yourself. If it's gas, you can still do it yourself depending on your level of comfort.

[mudman]

ok but what the problem causing it to leak? bad water lines?

[IFallsRon]

I'd bet on your liner rusting out but I've had condensation from the in pipes cause problems, too.

[DTro]

yep, if it's an older unit you might be buying a new one

I don't see why it would be leaking on the bottom. Isn't all the plumbing on the top? Is it leaking at the drain valve, or directly underneath or at some pipe nearby?

[gunflint]

I stand corrected. If you have to ask if waterlines are leaking, you should hire a plumber. There is just to much that could go wrong.

[mudman]

yeah i didn't get time to look at it this morning all I saw was water on the floor coming from the water heater. I had it on my mind all day so I thought I would ask.

thanks though

[ChuckN]

Don't mean to make you nervous mudman...

This brings back memories of a water leak I had near the water heater...

I couldn't pin point the leak and I was in the middle of another project, so I let it go until I found time..

Walked back into the house an hour later and heard a sound of water flowing, a rather loud sound.

Found my fiberglass water softener tank had major issues. A large crack about 3" wide on the side of the tank and water flooding the floor. These are under pressure I guess and the water pump was going full bore, not helping the situation.

....not to mention about 20lbs of tiny silicone-like beads that were inside the tank for treating the water.. I walked in and it was worse than walking on glare ice.

Another time I happened to walk buy the water heater at my parent's place and a round shut-off valve litterally exploded off the pipe and water flowed from the pipe...everywhere. Luckily I was there to shut the main water line off.

I have bad luck with this stuff. I do.

[Chris Haley]

Check this. It should have a pressure release valve on top. If it was installed by a professional, that valve will have a pipe that runs accross the top and down the side. Mine went bad once and just leaked a trickle. Check and see if the water is coming out of that pipe.

[Surface Tension]

If you have an electric hot water heater you should check where the heating elements go into the tank. They are behind a cover and threaded in the there. Please turn off the breaker before your start looking around. Also someone mentioned the pressure relief valve could be leaking or the plumbing coming in or out. Feel for water at the base of those fittings.

[backlash 1]

Mudman,

Water heater tanks are steel and the inside is glass lined. The glass lining protects from rusting but does not have a definate lifespan. I have seen them rust out in as little as 5 years to 30 yrs plus. They usually rust out at the bottom. If you see any rust around the bottom seam of the heater that is a good indicator. Normally a small leak will develope first and as days turn into weeks the puddle gets bigger and then BOOM, the bottom blows and you have real trouble.

Check these things:

1. As mentioned above, check the relief valve pipe to make sure the relief valve is not bad. ( I replace many, many of these so it is very possible.

2. Just do a visual of the fittings on top of the heater, not to much chance of a problem there, unless maybe some kind of electrolisis going on.

3. Do a visual check of the jacket seem toward the bottom of the heater. If it has been going on for a while, it will be rusted. If this is the case, call a plumber pronto.

4. If it is an electric heater, this step is to be done with the power turned off at the breaker. Take off the bottom thermostat/element cover, test the power connections with a tester to make sure the power is OFF. Reach in and feel the insulation, if it is wet, that is also an indicator the tank is shot.

Good luck.

[hondavxr]

I had to replace mine earlier this year. Most of the time if you see water at the bottom, it is rusted out from the inside. Like others have said before me, starts as a little puddle, and then gets larger, and larger until bursting. It's a pretty easy job if you are mechanically incline. On the gas ones, all you do is shut off the gas and water. Remove the old busted heater out. If the supply lines are copper and not screwed in at the top you are going to have to cut them off and solder new lines and connecters on. If the supply line is steel all you have to do is unscrew the supply line off. Make sure you find a new water heater that is close to the specs and has the same venting as your old one. Make sure you use tephlon tape on all connections. Once everything is installed and rechecked and rechecked for leaks, turn on the water and gas. Relight the pilot per your manf. specs. WHOOOLAAA you got a new water heater. I decided to repipe my whole house, with copper piping, since when I took the steel pipes off I found major rust and calcium inside them. Right now the copper prices are cheaper than steel. Hope that helps out a little and if you are unsure hire a plumper.

[pikechaser]

Check all the plumbing connections..check drain & relief valves..if gas pull cover off and feel insualtion up on top of opening..if thats wet could be leaking where the thermostat & or drain valve screw in..check those as best u can..also look in above the burner if it looks wet on the tank in there its time for new..if you check all that and all the connections look fine & drain and relief valves arent leaking...replace unit..should only take a couple minutes to check this...

[jbb]

If you see water on the floor around the heater & see that it's coming from the bottom replace it. Averave warranty on a heater is 5 yrs for the tank . Average lifespan about 8 yrs. I've seen when a little leak one day could see the bottom drop out the next with a hell of a mess.