I've noticed the past couple of days a small puddle of water in my utility room, and I think it is coming from the hot water heater. It has done this before but it is not constant. Is this normal? Should I worry?
2007-03-23 08:00:57 · 14 answers · asked by PMS 24-7 3 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
That sucks....
Get a professional to do the work on that. Trust me, last thing you need is for you to be without a hot water heater because of anything you trie dto do yerself. I do alot of my own repairs at home, but even there are some things I leave up to a pro. Call a plumber about this.
2007-03-23 08:07:49 · answer #1 · answered by jeff the drunk 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
How old is the water heater? You need to determine where the water is coming from, if it is from the T/P valve the pressure is too high in the tank. You need to check the tank pressure, if it is OK then the valve may be bad. and can be replaced. DON'T assume the valve is bad it is a very important safety devise and water is coming out for a reason. If the pressure is too high the valve relieves excess pressure if it is draining frequently, the pressure is chronically high. and you might need an expansion tank, if you have an expansion tank it is not working properly. Have a plumber check it out for you, a lot of the stuff I mentioned is not necessarily DIY, but gives you an idea of what might be wrong.
I do have a problem with people assuming a safety devise is broken when it is doing what it was designed to do. If your smoke alarm goes off do you assume it is broken first?
If it is leaking anywhere else you probably need a new one. Sometimes if it is leaking from a fitting it can be repaired. It is much better to replace it BEFORE you have a total failure. It always happens on a weekend, and you are without hot water for a few days or pay an arm and a leg to get a new one.
2007-03-23 09:04:04 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If this is a natural gas water heater, the product of burning natural gas is water, so sometimes with a cold tank, the water vaper will condense and run down the floor and it may appear as a leak, but in fact is not.
However, I suspect it is your High Pressure valve located about 3/4 the way up on the water heater to which a drain pipe is attached and heads downward to the floor. The tank may be coming over pressured and that valve is allowing a discharge to relieve the pressure.
That can be caused by overheating, however, if you do not notice extremely hot water its probably due to the fact that your city water supply or well will not allow for expansion upon heating the water, no reverse flow to city system or well is allowed, thus the pressure builds up and trips the overpressure valve.
If this is the case, then you will need to install a bladder tank to allow for expansion of the heated water, that is, somewhere in that hot water line. You can purchase a bladder tank at Lowes for about $50 or so. This is a common problem in some households and the bladder tank is also a common fix.
2007-03-23 09:26:22 · answer #3 · answered by James M 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
In order to determine your problem you must first locate the source of water. Check all the fittings around and on the water heater. If the water is coming from a fitting or pipe the repairs must be made at that leak. Before making any repairs, shut off the water valve to the house ( you may just need to shut off the valves on the water heater). If the leak is coming from the water tank, you will need a new water heater. If a water heater is over 15 years old, you may consider changing it, especially if the tank leaks. One more thing, Don't confuse the gas piping with the water! If you have doubts, call a plumber.
2007-03-23 08:34:03 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
u need to check the pressure relief valve at the top of the water heater to see if it is coming from there, the pressure relief valve opens in case of a hot water boil over, if the water heater gets too hot this valve opens and releases water and steam vapor pressure! it should have a pipe running to the floor from it but it may not! these valves can be replaced for under $10.00 !! usually they corrode up with lime and chlorine deposits in the water and once they have opened up once they usually will not seat closed again due to the deposits!! so replacing it is the way to go!! depending on the age of your water heater, it could also have a corrosion hole in it somewhere! most water heaters only last 10 years or less regardless of what the warranty says because the deposits that boil out into the tank ruin it and the manufacturer will not honor the warranty unless you have a whole house water softener and filter!! you can also check the temperature setting to make sure it is not set too hot!! backing it off to a cooler temperature will slow the leaking until you can get a new valve or a new water heater , whichever you may need !! good luck!!
2007-03-23 08:15:33 · answer #5 · answered by joe k 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There is a pressure relief valve on the side of the water heater that will vent off sometimes, but look under the water heater to see if you can see a drip and listen to check for water dripping on the flame will make a sizzling sound. Then you would need to replace the heater. If not and it's holding the temperature the relief valve may be going out, you may need a plumber to check it out.
2007-03-23 08:09:57 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
yes, you should worry! if it blows it will not stop dumping water until you shut off the main water line. if you don't have a floor drain, or if it is covered you may be in for a flood. you should take some printer paper and tape it to the pressure relief valve. if it gets wet you will be able to tell because the paper will get all wavy. you could also tape more in other places to find where the water is coming from. if the tank itself is leaking then you will need a new one. if it is just the valve then you can get those for like $15 at Lowe's.
2007-03-23 10:54:52 · answer #7 · answered by cronos51101 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Put a pan or bucket under the overflow tube. If water is coming from that, your TP valve may be faulty. If water is under the heater, then it is probably leaking.
Best call a plumber in either case, but you have an advantage if you know whether the tank is bad or it needs just a $15.00 valve.
2007-03-23 08:07:13 · answer #8 · answered by credo quia est absurdum 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Your hot water heater has a pressure valve on the side that releases a bit of water if you don't use your hot water a lot and it builds up a bit in the tank.Totally normal.
2007-03-23 08:04:08 · answer #9 · answered by huckypeep2 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The pressure valve may be getting weak. There should be a pipe that runs from the valve down to the floor. See if that is where the water is coming from.
2007-03-23 08:04:55 · answer #10 · answered by mike.marlow 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋