Water heater leaking

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Emergency steps: how to turn off water heater

Troubleshoot Rheem tankless
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Troubleshoot gas water heater
Troubleshoot electric water heater

2012

Water Heater Leaking

Emergency steps for leaking water heater: how to turn off water heater

Electric water heater

Turn off power before touching electric water heater that is wet

Gas water heater

What age is your water heater?
Take photo of label on side of tank, find serial number, then How to find age of water heater

Shut-off

TP valve

Drain

Flue pipe

Start with general checklist for Gas and Electric water heaters

Inspect water pipes, flexible connectors and shut off valve.

TP valve leaking: Lift lever on TP valve and gently lower back to closed position <> don't snap lever closed . How to teroubleshoot and replace TP valve

Drain valve leaking:
Put garden hose cap over dripping valve
How to replace drain valve

Gas water heaters > check flue-pipe and flue-hat for water and poorly fitting joints <> read more page bottom

Other leaks from side or top of heater can indicate that tank is rusted out, and needs replacement

New Gas water heater is dripping water at startup
'First time a gas water heater starts up, it will produce condensation. You may hear dripping and see small puddle. Once heater warms up, the problem disappears.' 'Condensation can also be caused by heavy water draw and very cold inlet water temperature.' Condensation is temporary and stops when water gets warm.

A leak continues even after water heater warms up.
How to install gas water heater

Is TP valve leaking?

Gas or electric

Check if TP releasing water? indicates overheating or bad valve

TP is releasing water: Gas and electric:
1) TP valve bad > inspect markings on valve > replace with same pressure and temperature range. How to replace TP valve
2) Thermostat temperature set too high See how to adjust temperature
3) Stacking condition
TP is releasing water: Electric:
3) Thermostat not seated flat against tank > solution: open covers and inspect > this condition causes thermostat to misread temp and causes overheated tank.
4) Thermostat is bad Read troubleshooting steps
5) Insulation that normally covers thermostat has been removed > thermostat not sensing correct temperature after receiving cooler air from outside tank.

Gas or electric

Ruptured tanks cause massive damage inside house, and water runs until water valve is shut off <> do not assume insurance will cover loss <> home could be unihabitable until repaired
Read insurance data on tank failure

Water leaking from top of tank? Or seeping inside tank?
Water and rust along bottom rim of tank?
Note: There is a steel tank under the exterior shell that you see as a water heater >> the inner steel tank can be seriously rusted and all that shows is water at bottom of tank.

Water and rust: Gas and electric:
1. Tank is rusted through. Rusted tanks must be replaced before rupturing.
Is your tank 6-12 years old? Has the anode rod been checked and replaced regularly? Do you use a water softener? Have you flushed the tank regularly to avoid build-up inside? Yes, no, yes, no answers indicate higher risk of failure.
Read about anode rods.
See how to clean and flush tank.
PDF to decode serial number and find age of water heater

2. Leak streaming down from above > check pipes, shut-off > check where TP valve & drain valve thread into tank > look for seepage > run hand along outside of tank to feel for warm spot that might indicate location of leak.

Water and rust: Electric:
3. Element is leaking around rubber gasket > remove covers and check for water leak at element > How to replace element
How to remove element

Gas or electric

Steel tank rusted: There is a steel tank under the exterior shell of water heater >> the inner steel tank can be seriously rusted and all that shows is water at bottom of tank or water bubbling up at top of tank.

1) Large leak: How to turn off water heater and drain tank
2) Small leak: Turn off water heater, Turn on tank only when you need hot water.
This will give time to shop and replace tank. Read more

How to install gas water heater

✔"It is possible to limp along with a failed water heater if the leak is slow and if you turn off power and water when not using hot water. A hot tap needs to be left open also to prevent pressure build-up in tank. That trick could buy you some time, possibly up to 3 months. With time, you can consider how to make the system do more for less as well as comparison shop, get competitive bids, etc" Forum

Expansion tank when thermostat must be set high
Read more 1 2 3 4 5

Expansion tank prevents leaks: Gas and electric: When thermostat must be kept high, or water pressure is high
Expansion tank on incoming cold water line can stop TP from constantly dribbling hot water > take photo of water heater label and then ask plumbing supply for correct size expansion tank

Avoid high water pressure
Water pressure: Pressure over 80 psi can damage water heater Read
Symptoms: TP valve goes bad frequently. Cause: Closed system because of check valve or faulty pressure valve, or community water problem or water well pressure set too high.
Connect BTG 100 pressure gauge to water heater drain valve to check pressure.
Install pressure reducing valve. Replace check valve. People with water well > turn down pressure on water well > save both hot and cold water, save electricity, and well equipment lasts longer

Prevent & stop rusting:
Steel water heater tanks are made from enamel-coated steel that is called 'glass lined.'
Once anode rod is depleted, water quickly rusts tank. Enamel coating does not stop rusting. Eventually tank develops pin holes and water starts seeping.
Read about anode rods

Rusty hot water at faucet or drain valve means water heater heater anode rod is depleted and tank is rusted.
1) Inspect tank immediately for leaking.
tanks should be inspected each 6 months.
2) Replace anode rod if tank is not leaking
Replace anode rod, and Flush tank.

3) If tank is leaking or anode rod cannot be replaced:
Shop for best deal and replace water heater.

Prevent water damage to home:
Set water heater in drip pan
Buy drip pan at Grainger
At Lowes
At Home Depot
Drip pan finder

Prevent water leaks and flooded home:
Use stainless flexible connections when using flexible connections for water heater and washing machine and softener.

Inspect water heater each 6 months
9-ways to save with water heater

Use di-electric connections when connecting copper pipe and galvanized pipe.
This action prevents deterioration of galvanized pipe

Rubber washers on di-electric connections and flexible connections can deteriorate and need replacement.

Low hot water pressure

Keep insulation away from top of gas water heater. Insulate both hot and cold pipes.
Larger image

Electrically ground water heater pipes on gas and electric water heaters.
Water heaters that rust out quickly might be connected to water pipes that are not grounded.
Hot water pipes are not grounded in many homes. Read Pdf
To get 'rid of stray current corrosion, jumper between hot and cold pipes with #6 solid copper wire. And check that cold water pipe is grounded to main panel and to grounding rod. Read1 Read2

Example image shows: ground wire, di-electric nipples, heat-traps, and pipe insulation
With gas water heater, keep insulation above top of tank
With electric water heater, pipes can be fully insulated
Attach vent hood to water heater using 3 sheet metal screws
Connect each vent join with 3 sheet metal screws

Larger image

Keep water heater out of flood zone
What to do when water heater floods: Replace water heater
Flooded water heater

Read PDF on flood-damaged water heaters
Read article on flooded water heaters

See larger During typical water heater combustion, hydrogen content of fuel is burned and the result is hot gases. One of these hot gases is steam or water vapor. Adequate venting or air draw up vent is required so gases vent outside. When there is inadequate draw, the water vapor cools and condenses on inside wall of vent pipe. This condensation water is acidic (pH 3-5) and corrosive. It will corrode steel metals and other materials. Improper venting causes water to drip down vent into combustion chamber of gas water heater. Parts inside combustion chamber rust. Holes develop in bottom of water heater. Inspect combustion chamber for rust and water. If steel vent pipe is not venting, the vent pipe will rust and get holes, or joints will fall apart. This situation causes hot gases to enter home and poses serious risk of odorless CO poisoning.		Flue Pipe Safety Rusted flue pipe -or-water on top of gas water heater could indicate serious problem. Call a plumber if you are uncertain. Check pipes and flexible connectors for leaks. If water coming from flue pipe: 1. Vent cover could be missing > rain water entering flue (replace cover) 2. Flue pipe clogged with bird nest or come apart or damp from improper venting: danger of odorless Carbon Monoxide poisioning Serious danger from CO poisioning, a plumber should be called if you are uncertain about vent pipe water leak Read troubleshooting at forum See u-tube video Read about CO detector
"Excessive corrosion of vents, burners, or heat exchangers, is caused by contamination of the supply air. It turns out that traces of chlorine bleach vapors from clothes dryer vents can do considerable damage when ingested by a burner and then deposited with condensation onto metal surfaces such as vents, etc." Read troubleshooting at forum Protect gas water heater parts. Do not install cold water line above gas valve where condensation drips on valve. Annually clean burner area with wire brush and vacuum cleaner. Read Remove chemicals from same room as water heater. Chemicals corrode water heater parts. 'Spray propellants, cleaning solvents, refrigerants, swimming pool chemicals, calcium and sodium chloride, household bleach, waxes and process chemicals are corrosive at very low levels with no odor." Read Pdf pg2-8