| Author |
Message |
    
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 1673
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, July 28, 2003 - 11:58 am: |     |
There has been a slow leak from(we presume) under the hot water tank for about a week. In fact, at first, we thought it was ground saturation from the rain, but it didn't rain at all last week & the water is still puddling under & around the tank. The tank is between 8-12 years old.
We have plenty of hot water and pressure. Our plumber is on vacation, so I don't want to call an unknown guy. Any thoughts on what I can/should do (if anything)? |
mogli
Citizen
Username: Mogli
Post Number: 10
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Monday, July 28, 2003 - 1:01 pm: | |
Is the water dripping from the pressure relief valve? You can easily replace that yourself if you have a somewhat large crescent wrench or a pipe wrench. Just remember to turn off the water to the HW tank then bleed tank water through the valve into a bucket until it stops flowing. Less than $10.00 for the new valve at Palmer. |
amandacat
Citizen
Username: Amandacat
Post Number: 180
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Monday, July 28, 2003 - 1:03 pm: | |
Sounds like you have an expired hot water heater -- from what I understand, hot water tanks last just as long as their warranty (usually 6 to 12 years, the more expensive the haeter the longer the warranty) and after that they're basically an accident waiting to happen. You're lucky your leak is slow, many people don't discover their heater's warranty has expired until they have a basement full of water!
Anyway, I don't think you fix an expired hot water heater, you replace it with a new one. Luckily they're not horribly expensive, easily under $1000 for a very good one, including installation. Halve the cost if you're willing to install it yourself. |
papayagirl
Citizen
Username: Papayagirl
Post Number: 92
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Monday, July 28, 2003 - 1:22 pm: | |
We recently had to have ours replaced for the same reason and it was only 5 years old - fortunately we'd purchased a home warranty when we closed on the house last year, so the new tank was covered. But everything the plumbers told me was consistent with what amandacat said. As soon as you see a leak, replace it sooner rather than later. |
peteglider
Citizen
Username: Peteglider
Post Number: 183
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Monday, July 28, 2003 - 2:26 pm: | |
yep -- in my previous house each water heater died almost exactly at the warranty period.
more than that, however, leaks often get suddenly worse. it happened to me TWICE that the water heater flooded the basement when I was away on business.
don't wait too long! |
bobk
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 3239
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, July 28, 2003 - 3:38 pm: | |
Replace it. Probably somewhere on the tank is information on the warranty period, but if it is leaking, it is leaking.
I know someone is going to jump me on this, but we had our tank replaced by (shudder) Home Depot. This was a 12 year warrenty 50 gallon GE and the replacement was done in an hour, neatly and the old tank was hauled away. Cost was just over $600.
BTW in Maplewood new water heaters are inspected by the construction code people. Wonder if I will get my taxes upped?  |
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 1674
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, July 28, 2003 - 3:44 pm: | |
Well, thanks for all of your input. After reading the first few answers, I called the plumber's office. They rearranged their afternoon, met me at my house (I came home from work) and are now installing the new h.w. heater as we speak.
CT Williams rocks! And so do all of you who prompted me to action. Writing the check may be painful, but at least I'm not adding a flooded basement clean-up to the angst. |
Closed: New threads not accepted on this page