bbear2
Premium Member
join:2003-10-06
94045 |
bbear2
Premium Member
2014-Nov-12 7:00 pm
[Plumbing] Hot water tank leak, but how longI noticed a small puddle of water around the hot water tank. Wondering how much longer do I have before the whole thing starts gushing out and makes a complete mess? Is it hours, days, weeks? |
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 jrs8084
Premium Member
join:2002-03-02
Statesville, NC |
jrs8084
Premium Member
2014-Nov-12 7:19 pm
said by bbear2:hours, days, weeks? You never know. That is why you replace it at first signs of a leak (assuming the tank itself is leaking) |
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to bbear2
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to bbear2
Where is it leaking?
If it is the tank, impossible to tell. If it is a fitting or the PTRV may be a cheap repair.
/tom |
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 mityfowl
Premium Member
join:2000-11-06
Dallas, TX |
to bbear2
Time to go shpping |
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 tp0dyabbazooie
Premium Member
join:2001-02-13
Bulger, PA |
to bbear2
First, how old is the tank? And second, a pic of the leak would help
-j |
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to bbear2
There is no straight answer - it can any of what you mentioned - it could go in the next 10 minutes. |
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 nunyaLXI 483
MVM
join:2000-12-23
O Fallon, MO |
to bbear2
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Tig
join:2006-06-29
Carrying Place, ON |
to bbear2
8 ball says "outlook good" |
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to bbear2
This is probably one of those cases where rust is the only thing sealing the tank... do anything to disturb the rust and all heck may break loose.
You probably do not want to try your luck longer than necessary. Replace ASAP. If the tank has rusted through, it is likely overdue for replacement by several years. |
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 David
Premium Member
join:2002-05-30
Granite City, IL |
to nunya
Thank you for that, been looking for a digital 8 ball replacement since the Q bot stopped working for us. |
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to bbear2
I have had 3 tanks let go this year, bloody rentals are killing me lol.
One was pissing a veritable stream and had been for a while judging by the water bill I just got, one started gentle but got worse each day until it was found and the last was just a little damp on the floor but had a huge split down the seam.
How lucky are you feeling ? |
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bbear2
Premium Member
join:2003-10-06
94045 |
bbear2
Premium Member
2014-Nov-24 12:12 pm
After a couple of weeks of this I decided not to press my luck and got a new water heater - in large part due to the comments here. The damnedest thing about it was that when I went to drain the old one, nothing came out. I mean nothing. I could see the value open, but I'm guessing that it was so plugged up with gunk that absolutely nothing came out. Ended up having to tip it over and downward to then drain it from the top. What a PITA and heavy. Besides that, all went well. |
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 garys_2k
Premium Member
join:2004-05-07
Farmington, MI |
garys_2k
Premium Member
2014-Nov-24 12:14 pm
The leaker I replaced also wouldn't drain. Had to shove a long screwdriver shaft into the drain hole to get it started, LOTS of big rust flakes/chunks came out with the water. |
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bbear2
Premium Member
join:2003-10-06
94045 |
bbear2
Premium Member
2014-Nov-24 2:46 pm
Yep. I tried that too, but with a small screwdriver. Maybe I should have used a larger one with a hammer. |
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garys_2k
Premium Member
join:2004-05-07
Farmington, MI |
garys_2k
Premium Member
2014-Nov-24 3:44 pm
Yeah, mine never fully drained, even after repeatedly using the screwdriver. Wound up taking the thing up the stairs with some water in it (heavy!) and dumping it out on the lawn outside. |
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 IowaCowboySupermarket Hero
Premium Member
join:2010-10-16
Springfield, MA ·Vonage
ARRIS SB6183
Netgear R8000
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to bbear2
My two cents, go to Home Depot today, pick up a replacement water heater and replace it. Otherwise you'll be replacing the contents of your basement and repairing water damage.
Water heater leaks usually start slow then you have a big mess.
And do it now, if you need a plumber DO IT NOW! Thursday is Thanksgiving and you'll be paying holiday rates for labor. |
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garys_2k
Premium Member
join:2004-05-07
Farmington, MI |
garys_2k
Premium Member
2014-Nov-24 8:55 pm
I let mine go for six months, no big deal, just a slow drip I kept up with kitty litter and newspapers. But I wouldn't do that again, but its not a panic job. |
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IowaCowboySupermarket Hero
Premium Member
join:2010-10-16
Springfield, MA ·Vonage
ARRIS SB6183
Netgear R8000
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Where I live we have soft water so water heaters last a long time but once they go they go quickly as there is no "roughage" in the water to block the leak.
When our water heater went in 2003, it went from no leak to almost flooding the basement. That explains my theory. Same thing with the heater on the other side. |
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