What are you suppose to do when your gas hot water tank springs a leak.?

Question

The leak is on the flat top piece more like steam coming out. I shut the hot water from the washing thier side by side. But it 's gas so i going to turn it off. I just don't want it to explored or let gas out into my house and sleeping kids. Please answer back soon
Liz Moomau

Answer 1

It's smart to turn it off. And make sure the gas supply is turned off. Then call a plumber and get out your checkbook. Expect to pay about $800 for a normal replacement.

If you own the house and plan on staying there, you might spring for one of the new tankless models. Tankless means it heats the water instatantly as you use it. It also means you can take a shower for as long as you want and NEVER run out of hot water! Also VERY energy efficient.

The one I got cost $1400 + about $800 for installation.

Answer 2

The steam from the top of the tank is steam. Relax. For the short (24-48 hours) term you can apply airplane tape to the hole where the steam is comming out of. Airplane tape is what the airlines patch airplanes together with --- it is aluminum with a tar backing. Before applying the tape, clean the area as best you can and then apply a large (read more than enough) piece of airplane tape over the hole. Now that the hole is patched, go out and look for a replacement water heater. As for the suggestion reguarding the tankless water heater is concerned, unless you have soft water with zero sediment I woudl recomment against having a tankless water heater as your primary water heater. The sediment will clog the pipes quickly (read within 5 years) and you will have to replace the expensive tankless waterheater. If you want the effeciency of the tankless without this problem, then a suggested setup would be a sediment filter in your primary water inlet line which goes to a small (10 gallon ) regular tank water heater which goes to your tankless water heater. In this system, most of the sediment will be filtered out by the sediment filter. The sediment which is left behind will collect in the less expensive tank water heater. If you keep the tempature setting on this tank low and highly insulate the tank it will be very effecient and provide instant hot water. Then, when the hot water is used up in the tank, the tankless hot water heater will provide unlimited hot water while being protected from corrosion and sediment buildup. Grant it, this system will cost more than even an expensive tankless water heater, but it will provide unlimited hot water without having to replace a clogged tankless hot water heater every 5-10 years. This is the system which an expert at one of the nation wide big box stores recomended to me when I inquired about the tankless hot water heaters.

Answer 3

There is a relief valve, towards the top of the tank, open that up, and let it run, for about 30 seconds (if you have a place for the water to go) that will take any pressure, that you may have built up in the tank. If you can't do that, just make sure the gas going to the tank is shut off. Check to see if the pilot light is off, then you know there is no gas going to the tank. If you do smell gas, open the windows, and call the gas company, they will send someone out to your house right away, to check it for you..good luck..

Answer 4

There should be a gas shut-off valve on the gas pipe--turn it off . Turn the t-stat to "off" also. The fire will go out,and the gas will be off. There should also be a water shut-off valve on the cold water line coming in to the tank--- turn this off. Sounds like a small rust hole in one of the water pipes hissing a little water/steam out. This will stop,after you do the above. It could also be a rust spot in the tank itself.You might get lucky and have to replace just a nipple pipe on top--inspect the tank threads on top.

Answer 5

you don't need to worry about a gas leak....when you shut if off it won't allow gas to escape so no problem.

if the steam is coming from the connection hoses, then that will be cheap to fix but let a plumber tell you.

the steam is dangerous and DON"T open any valve on the tank.....can't believe that one guy told you to do that.

when you turn it off the pressure goes away by itself

and if you turn off your gas main, all the pilot lights in your house will go out and have to be turned back on manually, let the plumber do that.

Answer 6

you did pretty good getting 12 years out of it and depending on the type of water you have it could have been less or more. Its probably the fitting you should be able to replace it easy enough. Fittings don't cost that much.If your tank still runs good all you need to do is change the fitting.If you need to call a plumber shouldn't cost anymore than 150.00

Answer 7

Turn off the gas supply. Call a plumber in the morning. Depends on where you live on the price you are going to pay. I got one for a couple hundred bucks two months ago.

Answer 8

you should turn the gas valve completely OFF...if you're unsure how to do this...call your gas company. They all have emergency numbers for 24/7 service. You will need a new hot water tank.

Answer 9

Call your gas man. or service provider ... they will check on your gas appliance for free and most likely will answer your question on the leak and what to do...Do not mess around with gas if you are not familiar with what kinds of dangers can occur. They are usually helpful and are around the clock on call so as to provide customers with 24 hour emergency service....when smelling gas leaks call them....for the safety of your kids and yourself...

Answer 10

Shut the gas off and the water supply to it off.Then go to bed and sleep like a baby.