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leaking water heater
- Thread starter greenduck
- Start date
R
RedRain
if its leaking from the water heater u need a new one,,
,fittings should be brazed/soldered on and shouldnt loosen,,,,
if you are leaking pex pipe, you can replace...or if a pipe is leaking u can fix,,,did u find where the leak is coming from??
....shut off main...open all taps to get rid of water and pressure...go to town...
where is mighty putty when u need it?
,fittings should be brazed/soldered on and shouldnt loosen,,,,
if you are leaking pex pipe, you can replace...or if a pipe is leaking u can fix,,,did u find where the leak is coming from??
....shut off main...open all taps to get rid of water and pressure...go to town...
where is mighty putty when u need it?
Attachments
C
cannarelief
before anything-is it a rental tank?
electric or gas?
2 pipes and one BIG hex nut fitting on top? or side pipe connections and BIG hex on top
Is there a valve on top that looks like this?
http://www.hot-water-heaters-reviews.com/image-files/water-heater-relief-valve.jpg
but does not have piping running the discharge to the floor?
where do you see water? no obvious spots? look for calcium deposit streaks for added evidence if water source is not obvious
it could be leaking at a connection-element connection-the piping or a valve stem packing-the relief valve (intermittent)-the tank wall and dripping down to the bottom- condensate from a chimney problem (if gas)- if a boiler system(an expansion tank)-if high efficiency (2 plastic pipes for in and out exhaust(condensation from high humidity or poor inlet joints-fairly rare)
no "creative" room exhaust connections are there?
IF you own it-this PDF will tell you the age via the serial number-better for decisions(fix or replace) (depending on leak cause)
http://inspectapedia.com/plumbing/Water_Heater_age.pdf
electric or gas?
2 pipes and one BIG hex nut fitting on top? or side pipe connections and BIG hex on top
Is there a valve on top that looks like this?
http://www.hot-water-heaters-reviews.com/image-files/water-heater-relief-valve.jpg
but does not have piping running the discharge to the floor?
where do you see water? no obvious spots? look for calcium deposit streaks for added evidence if water source is not obvious
it could be leaking at a connection-element connection-the piping or a valve stem packing-the relief valve (intermittent)-the tank wall and dripping down to the bottom- condensate from a chimney problem (if gas)- if a boiler system(an expansion tank)-if high efficiency (2 plastic pipes for in and out exhaust(condensation from high humidity or poor inlet joints-fairly rare)
no "creative" room exhaust connections are there?
IF you own it-this PDF will tell you the age via the serial number-better for decisions(fix or replace) (depending on leak cause)
http://inspectapedia.com/plumbing/Water_Heater_age.pdf
Last edited:
seeyouaunty
Active member
Post some pictures
its not a rental, its gas, 50 gallon. leaking is from where you see the blue pen. see the water building up around the connector to the cold water? i notice when i wipe it off, it builds up on the other connectors from the pressure i assume. does this mean its time for a new tank? or can i try to just seal around those fittings for now with a compound? or if i did seal, wont that build pressure and eventually something terrible would happen?
what sucks is that the upper unit is connected on this gas water heater and the guy upstairs has no clue what goes on in the garage, he has no access. but he travels often some im thinking ill just buy a new or used water heater 100-300 and then wait till he's out of town.
you can see the discharge valve is up top and this runs down the side...not into a drain. should i be discharing pressure? this is new to me, though i have installed a water heater before and its only gas, hot water, cold water, and a few base screws so i dont think ill have trouble DIYing with my roommate.
nothing is loose so im guessing there' just mass corrosion and now its time for a new one.
arrrrggggg, just in time when i was trying to build a new room. lol
what sucks is that the upper unit is connected on this gas water heater and the guy upstairs has no clue what goes on in the garage, he has no access. but he travels often some im thinking ill just buy a new or used water heater 100-300 and then wait till he's out of town.
you can see the discharge valve is up top and this runs down the side...not into a drain. should i be discharing pressure? this is new to me, though i have installed a water heater before and its only gas, hot water, cold water, and a few base screws so i dont think ill have trouble DIYing with my roommate.
nothing is loose so im guessing there' just mass corrosion and now its time for a new one.
arrrrggggg, just in time when i was trying to build a new room. lol
R
RedRain
better to replace now, before it has a severe leak...
C
cannarelief
obviously I am not there but that certainly looks like the connection has corroded (most likely the piping thread) if this is the case you might be able to shut the water off /drain the tank pressure and simply re do the connection BUT the gas tank appears rather old...it may be best to replace.
It "is" possible to simply replace the cold connection that is leaking though..as long as everything else seems leak free-although you mention not being DIYish..so you will have to get someone you know that is or a pro you can trust.
I am confused about how you describe the leak in one sentence and then another it seems like you say the wetness comes back on other connections?
Is there water on the cold connection or more than that?
The piping appears to be yellow brass which usually will not corrode even with the dissimilar tank metal.IF you do try to replace the joint that is leaking...I suggest using di-electric unions and chase the hot water female connection with a pipe tap to clear the threads-a heat trap saves a lot of cost if installed on both hot and cold connections as well. It is less likely but possible the tank thread itself has a pinhole but that is pretty rare.
Sealants are a waste...and a FYI..thread compounds or teflon tape are not sealants-they are lubricants that allow the pipe thread taper to seal the pipe.The miracle putty etc available will just be short term.
The relief valve should NOT be discharging unless the temperature (above 212 F) or pressure exceeds normal settings-sometimes the lever gets knocked or old age causes failure..then you can get varies flows from the valve..it is a safety and an alarm to tell you something is wrong..is should pipe down to 6 to 12 above the floor.. thermal expansion can also cause intermittent relief discharge but that only happens when the system has a check valve on the cold water supply...not a concern unless you have a boiler as well.
Good luck...of course I can only diagnose so well from just a photo. I will try to keep an eye on the thread if you ask anything else _ I am sure others will probably chime in as well.
---------------------------------------------------------------
I see you have the chimney disconnected (should be over the black pipe in the middle(legs hook into small holes)..you did this looking for leaks? I hope??.
IF NOT and this is how you found the tank!!!! shut off the HWT gas valve and LEAVE the house/open windows and doors if you can safely..as carbon monoxide is being directly deposited in your living areas..DANGER !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!this WILL cause death!!! If the chimney has been off all the time -you should call the fire department as this is deadly for all living there but for obvious reasons I will leave that for you to know if you CAN....if not...clean out FAST as someone is going to have to fix that and inspect for proper operation after.
IF the chimney has been off all the time..the leak might be sweating on the pipes (if it is just a small amount) from the moist combustion products in the air.
It "is" possible to simply replace the cold connection that is leaking though..as long as everything else seems leak free-although you mention not being DIYish..so you will have to get someone you know that is or a pro you can trust.
I am confused about how you describe the leak in one sentence and then another it seems like you say the wetness comes back on other connections?
Is there water on the cold connection or more than that?
The piping appears to be yellow brass which usually will not corrode even with the dissimilar tank metal.IF you do try to replace the joint that is leaking...I suggest using di-electric unions and chase the hot water female connection with a pipe tap to clear the threads-a heat trap saves a lot of cost if installed on both hot and cold connections as well. It is less likely but possible the tank thread itself has a pinhole but that is pretty rare.
Sealants are a waste...and a FYI..thread compounds or teflon tape are not sealants-they are lubricants that allow the pipe thread taper to seal the pipe.The miracle putty etc available will just be short term.
The relief valve should NOT be discharging unless the temperature (above 212 F) or pressure exceeds normal settings-sometimes the lever gets knocked or old age causes failure..then you can get varies flows from the valve..it is a safety and an alarm to tell you something is wrong..is should pipe down to 6 to 12 above the floor.. thermal expansion can also cause intermittent relief discharge but that only happens when the system has a check valve on the cold water supply...not a concern unless you have a boiler as well.
Good luck...of course I can only diagnose so well from just a photo. I will try to keep an eye on the thread if you ask anything else _ I am sure others will probably chime in as well.
---------------------------------------------------------------
I see you have the chimney disconnected (should be over the black pipe in the middle(legs hook into small holes)..you did this looking for leaks? I hope??.
IF NOT and this is how you found the tank!!!! shut off the HWT gas valve and LEAVE the house/open windows and doors if you can safely..as carbon monoxide is being directly deposited in your living areas..DANGER !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!this WILL cause death!!! If the chimney has been off all the time -you should call the fire department as this is deadly for all living there but for obvious reasons I will leave that for you to know if you CAN....if not...clean out FAST as someone is going to have to fix that and inspect for proper operation after.
IF the chimney has been off all the time..the leak might be sweating on the pipes (if it is just a small amount) from the moist combustion products in the air.
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