⬇ Other Water Heater Videos You May Find Useful: How a Gas Water Heater Works: czcams.com/video/geOKy06g5e4/video.html How to Light Your Water Heater Pilot: czcams.com/video/kmI8HjMH5vs/video.html Why Your Water Heater Runs Out of Hot Water Fast: czcams.com/video/o-LsUWlWVh0/video.html 🛒 If one of your valves is leaking here is what you will likely be able to replace it with. Do your own research though and make sure you get the right part for your water heater though. Short shank pressure relief valve: amzn.to/2CQQ7Ai Long shank pressure relief valve: amzn.to/2FdK7Qa Brass Drain Valve: amzn.to/2Ef0wnF
Ok, you've just solved my problem. Had water on the floor for a few months now and with your video I've determined that the water is coming from the bottom and inside of my water heater. So now I need a new heater, but at least now I know. The heater is 22 years old. Thanks so much, you've made my day!
How much on an average with new water heater and installation does it cost? We are super broke and just had to get a new furnace and couldn’t afford AV and now this is happening?! 😡
woke up this past saturday, ( july 4th weekened no less) to water leaking from my 4 year old-40 gallon A o Smith water heater. checked water feed at the top, pressure relief valve, drain valve at the bottom.. determined it was coming from the tank.. called A o smith at noon, could not believe i got someone 4th of july weekened, gave them all the information including s/n.. to my surprise, they said it had a 6 year warranty and would replace it.....they gave me an Ra# ....i called my plumber giving him all the information, he showed up at my house tues morning (yesterday) and installed new heater.. unbelievable. i'm just glad it's done...
After watching this video, I assumed my water heater was dead. I got a new one, installed it, and had the same problem! When starting a gas water heater with a cold tank, condensation occurs in the flue vent and drips back down onto the heating element. Only with further research did I learn about that and apparently it's pretty common. It's definitely worth a mention.
This is exactly what I was looking for, but this video did not cover that. Everyone knows about leaking valve and pipes, why mention? No one will come to youtube to check on those. If the inside is wet that does not mean ther is a leak in the tank. It is a metal tank and as long as you are on public water system, why does a metal tank gets a hole in it? I have seen some plumbers fooling around, so be careful. This video is not one-stop answer for your water heater leak is what I want to emphasize
This video made it very clear what our water heater issue is and now we know it needs to be replaced. We were worried the plumber just wanted the easy fix, but now we have peace of mind our money will not he wasted. Thanks for such a clear explanation!
@@WordofAdviceTV Yeah, I watched the video because I was wondering the same thing. Had to replace my water heater 11 yrs ago and now it's leaking again. (Warranty ran out 1 year ago. Gee, go figure!) Was wondering if I REALLY had to replace it. After watching your video I now know that I DO need a new one. Well, at least I know I'm not being scammed.
This is the first video I clicked and the last one. I checked my water heater tank with recommendations from here; it only leaks from the bottom. When the water supply is turned on, it leaks but stops when it's off; it does not leak. Thanks for the info. It really did help me make a decision!!!
Goodness, thank you for posting this! We weren't sure what was happening with our hot water heater, having only determined a leak was coming from the bottom. My husband did tighten the valve at the bottom, but a bit of the insulation inside was wet. So, we'll see if tightening that valve solves the problem, or if the leak continues, then we know we need a new hot water heater! Thanks again!!
I had a leaking drain valve. I started to order the replacement part from the manufacturer, but they were expensive. I figured out the local hardware store sells generic ones for just a few dollars. It saved me some money.
Just found and love these videos. Setting the heater on an aluminum drain pan (HD, Lowes etc.) and connected to a floor drain will contain any leak until replacement . Also a bad idea to have these sit directly on concrete as corrosion can occur from the contact. Definitely have an expansion tank on the cold water side as that absorbs pressure from heat buildup with faucets off reducing the expansion inside the tank. Maybe do a quick hardness test of your water - hard water reduces WH life. Also, should drain a little water (5 gallons or so) from tank drain valve every few months to flush out sediment- always do this after municipality flushes your street main (once or twice a year). You would be surprised how much crap flows in to the low spot ! Lot of yes/no opinions on a full drain once a year. I'd rather do small drains under pressure and it works for me.
Quick tip to those who shut their water off when away for long periods of time . Make sure you also turn down your water heater .Some areas do not require an expansion tank and heating water which would typically expand back into the main during normal operation now has nowhere to go and will cause premature damage to your tank.
Thank you for the video. In my case, the last option was where it was wet. Now I know we need a new one. This one has lasted 26 years. Your video was a big help. 👍👏👏
Thank you this video was so helpful - everything else is dry but my insulation is wet inside the tank in my 20+ yr old water heater - glad I have an emergency fund. At least I know what is going on.
On mine, the top pipe connections aren't wet, the pressure valve tube is dry, the drain spigot is dry. I had put a container order each to check if it was leaking too and the container was dry but floor wet again. I took off the panel and the insulation is dry but the ring at the bottom is damp. I guess the tank is leaking on the back side where I can't touch the insulation and running down to that ring and then the floor? I guess I need to replace it? How much of a priority do I need to make the replacement? Will it all of a sudden leak really bad and flood my basement? I definitely don't want that but don't want to replace it now if it can wait awhile and I just clean up the dampness every couple days. Thanks for a reply.
I had a scenario where my tank pan has a drain hole right below the tank. My tank is in a closet shared with the furnace and A/C. The A/C condenser line was connected to the water tank drain hole and when the A/C drained it has a small pump that was pushing water back up into the water heater pan. Which led me to believe my tank was leaking... lesson learned after replacing the tank and then seeing water come up while I was installing the new tank.
As suggested, checked pressure relief valve/pipe and the faucet - both dry. Problem was a leaking copper joint on the cold water supply line (panic-stricken caused me to miss the puddle on top of the heater - dooh). Used a role of "FiberFix" from Lowes ($7.00). No more leaks. Thanks - great video... :-)
Hah, that's awesome! Glad to hear you were able to get it fixed quickly! Thanks for sharing that! I'm sure eventually someone with a similar problem will love you for writing that ;) I also just looked up "FiberFix". Wow, that is some amazing stuff!! Ordered it. :D
A trick to fix a dripping/leaking drain valve spigot. You can cap it by screwing on a standard plastic pop bottle cap. Done it myself, and works like a charm.
@@misterl1668 Why would it? All it does is cap the, (I presume) under minimal pressure slow dripping leak. It's not going to build up in the valve once capped any more than it would with a fully functional valve without the drip. Trust me. I've done this. It works.
@@hiramnoone it makes sense. I'm green with this kinda stuff and come across another mention of your method. Water pipes have caps on them too. So it's makes complete sense to me now. I appreciate your response
Thank you for this. I am so glad for CZcams and the help I have found there from good hearted people like you. I set my water heater to “Vacation” when I went out of town to help a family member for two weeks. Came home to find water on the floor from a slow leak. Unfortunately, using your excellent instruction I found water pooled at both pipe connections on top with lots of corrosion that has probably been there for a long time. The insulation at the bottom of the tank is also very wet. It is Sunday 🙁. I would love to take a shower but I am not sure if that would make the leak more severe. What is the average life of a water heater? This one is about 16 years old. Time to call the plumber.
FYI if you have a plastic drain valve like a lot of Rheem water heaters they are notorious for leaking at the threads. Swapping it out with a brass valve could fix the problem.
My tank is leaking, but not in any of the areas you mentioned. I drained it with a hose and will wait for a plumber to come out. Luckily I checked my serial number on Rheem’s site I’m still under warranty. 😅
@@jmatt98 I thought my water heater was leaking on the bottom. Had it replaced and it turned out to be the pipes behind the water heater that was leaking.
FYI, bought a Rheem water heater from Home Depot it’s leaking from the bottom. Search serial number says 4 years and 6 months. My Original water heater lasted 15years plus.
Thank you for making this video. Very informative. 👍. However, my water heater still lets water out after shutting off the supply line. ☹️ (Pretty sure tank is rusted) Had to shut off main line for now. Someone Please HELP!
Great information brother! Turns out none of those spots were wet. Looks like I'm getting a new eater heater ahhhh!! Also great music selection in the video! Love Allan Walker, was jamming out to him earlier in the day before watching your video🤙❤☮️
There was water coming out the drain pipe of my fairly new water heater. Turned out the problem was the new water heater should have been installed with an expansion tank because there was a one way check valve at my water meter. The pressure would build up and had nowhere to go but out the pipe. The guy that missed looking for a check valve during the install also missed it again when I called him to repair it. He assumed it was the pressure relief valve and changed that. When that didn't fix it, he realized it needed an expansion tank. He has sent me two repair bills for his carelessness and I am disputing it.
I have a slow leak at the bottom of my water heater, just like yours in the video. I know it has to go, now. But how long can I stay with my tank? Do I have a month or so at least?
We had a freeze last night. I woke up this morning and found ice on the hot water heater. After monitoring it for over 10 hours later, I noticed about 3 little drops of water in the pan I placed on top of the hot water heater to monitor one of the connection joints. I've called numerous specialists, but no one can come out because they are swamped with work and because it's Christmas. I don't know what to do. I don't know how to shut it off if I had to. This is my 1st winter in my house. The hot water heater is close to 9 years old. I kind of think a pipe didn't burst because it warmed up a little today, and I really didn't see a lot of leaking water. What should I do? Thanks in advance.
Great video, my inner tank ruptured and leaked on Christmas Eve, perfect timing and thank god because Lowes was still open and I could go buy a new one and all the parts to install a new one.
Steve redman it was the original tank I believe in the house. House was built in 2004 and I’m the third owner of the house. Was a 55 gallon tank, but my garage did flood twice from Hurricane Matthew and Florence. I think that could have contributed to it failing early. So your original question would be 15 years old.
My cold water valve was leaking 2 days ago so I replaced it and had lots of water pour down onto tank. Since then it has a leak from the bottom which is clear room temp water. Can it be all that water escaping since it's not hot and not rusty
Yes I think my inner tank is leaking. How long can I go without changing it...I was told it’ll be almost $12000 for a new one including the furnace apparently I also have change both...I honestly don’t have the budget for it but I’m afraid it might explode? So how long can I wait before changing it out for a complete new system?
$12,000 is pretty hefty.. I would get a few more estimates from other companies. If your inner tank is leaking, usually it leaks from the welded bottom side of the tank where the burner section is. The tank will not explode. The worst that can happen is it will "bottom out". It's rare but if it happens (especially if you are not home) that would be a bad day. That just means that the bottom of the tank drops down and then you have a very big leak plus the city water pressure is constantly adding more water. I have seen people have a leaking inner tank and leave it like that for up to 2 years. If it's not a big leak then it's highly unlikely that it will bottom out. I hope that helps!
Unless you get leak from drain volve tread water goes strait to isolation, I my case there is no plug on bottom to drain that water so I had to use mini sponge to dry it
Just noticed a wet spot on the floor - not very large considering it is cement. Drip seemed to be coming from the edge of a recessed area in the bottom - location was near pilot light but could have originated anywhere. It covered the bottom of a pop corn bucket quickly, but 2 hours later it's not even 1 cm deep. We're a week into a 92+ heat wave. IDK exactly, but I'd guess the heater has 10+ years of 130+ degree summers until i placed a ceiling fan last year. Now it's
I have a basin where my water heater sits and I keep on draining it because it s catching all the water coming out of the tank . But u don’t know where it’s coming from . There used to be a loud noise like a bubbling water that come in and out . Is the tank repairable or needs replacement .
You showed all the possible leak points on the gas water heater. If the water heater is electric, you may have a leak from a faulty or worn gasket where the top or bottom heating element enters the tank. Tightening or replacing the elements may solve a slow leak.
Hello, I have a gas Bradford White water heather. It is one month old, It have been working fine from installation. Now is not heating well, the pilot is on but looks like the burner does not come on,, what can I do?.. Thanks
Hi my water heater is old leaking some water on the bottom, not much but clearly there is water the plumber can't come till.tue and today is friday is that ok as I said very small bit of water
Sir, We have AO Smith dve 3000 water heater almost 35 years old its leaking now and its insulation also wet so Should I go for replacement or its repairable
Tank is not leaking at any of the areas pin pointed in this video and the insulation is dry. Upon investigation it seems localized by one of the “feet” unsure what to do with this information. Help?
My valve is leaking but also dripping from the bottom of the water heater behind the apron that goes around the bottom. Rheem sent me a brass valve but I can’t figure out why it’s …also… dripping at the bottom behind the apron. No drops on top or sides that’s visible. Water heater is only four years old. Any ideas on that 2nd drip? Thanks, great video BTW!
good afternoon home water boiler leaking recently pressure valve replaced and it is leaking from pressure valve i tried to tighten the pressure valve it did not help few drop of water spilling over the location of pressure valve i do not know what to do will call a technician thank you
I'm not getting any warm water. I checked the water heater and there was water all over the bottom. Can a leak be the issue with the water no longer getting warm or hot?
I had just pinch of clear water on botton water heater, all those points to look at you suggested are dry, I took cover off and bottom of inner pan is dry along with insulation is dry...could it be condensation from water line above it? Tia
"When a gas water heater is first lit and the tank is cold, condensation forms inside the water heater. You may hear drips or a sizzling sound when the water heater is first lit or, you may see a small puddle on the floor. Condensation on is not a leak and will go away once the tank reaches normal operating temperature." pdf.lowes.com/installationguides/035505155443_install.pdf I thought I'd check with you to see if this is correct? Mine did this after I refilled it and I wondered what the hell was going on. I thought mine was leaking and spitting on the hot chamber but now I think otherwise.
Got an electric tank water heater about 27 years old that has been in use for the past 20 years. I saw the rust and felt the moisture running down from the heating element. Thinking of removing the element, grinding the rust around the element port and replacing the element seal as well as the element. It is the universal flange type element with the four bolt holds around it. Will that stop the leak?
As long as this is not a Rheem Marathon water heater, that should do the trick :) (those have plastic threads and if they leak, that's game over. You can try layering on teflon tape as a last resort) Most elements will come with a new seal but there are some that don't. Good luck and stay safe!
what happens if you open the pressure relief valve when it's under pressure? can it cause a leak? i opened mine last week and it has been leaking from the bottom ever since.
Try "exercising" the valve. Open it and close it a bunch of times and sometimes that is all it takes it make that pressure relief valve sit back in place and seal all the way. If that doesn't help, then the valve just needs to be replaced. (it's not too difficult, I have a video where I replace mine if you need it)
I'm hoping that's the case for me. There's a couple of drops of water sitting at the drain valve on mine. When I moved the panel to gain access to the burner I can look down and see a small amount of water between the tanks.
@@zentember I don't know much if at all anything but I'd listen for drips in the pipe leading from your pressure/temp relief valve. Mine is piped through a closet wall and most likely out the back of the house or underground as well. I pulled on my valve lightly (tested it) to see if I could hear water and some did come out and I could hear the drips once it was done letting water out.
I have a 2009 Rheem (I think the first) Heat Pump water heater and I noticed the water intake connection at the bottom is terribly rusted. I didn't notice before but when my water softener died a year ago, it spewed salty water everywhere and I guess this tank's pan held it for awhile hence the corrosion. I was told I'd have to get an entire new unit installed to a hefty price b/c no one will touch that cold water nipple. They said it could disintegrate and ruin the heater. Do you think I should try to replace it myself. Worse case is having to get a new unit put in....
Ah.. Sounds like a troublesome situation. To be honest, I am not sure what to suggest. If you try to replace it yourself and things don't go as planned, things could get ugly real quick. I don't know.. Unfortunately I don't have any good advice for this problem, you will have to make that call yourself.
So when a water tank starts leaking (like this one), you won't find a basement with 6 inches high of water, it's more like a slow leak? I go to my basement every day and have had concerns about the age of my water heater and worrying about it catastrophally failing. Is this likely?
This video saved me from a traumatic misdiagnosis after a storm flood. Everyone wants to exploit emergencies: sign here, pay this deductible, costs with no ceiling...
If you cannot find where the leak is coming from, most of the time that would be the inner tank. The insulation is often wet when the inner tank is leaking towards the front of the heater but if the leak is in the back, then the insulation will be wet in the back where you can't get to. Also, are you sure it is the water heater that is leaking? I have seen a water softner leaking before and the water from it went under the water heater. So it looked like the water heater was leaking but really the water was coming from the softner.
Hi. My electric heater stopped giving hot water. WHen I opened the upper panel and measured the voltage, my meter showed only 80V. In addition, there is water on floor and the insulation itself was dripping water. Is this heater likely totally done? I tried to measure the voltage directly on the terminals for the upper element instead sticking inside of the lugs on the top of the unit (I didn't pick up any voltage when i tried to do that). Thanks for any additional tips.
From what you described, that does sound like a leaking inner tank so the whole heater would need to be replaced. Aside from that, there must be something else going on too since electric water heaters run on 240v. 80v is very low. The power is being interrupted somewhere.
There is a small tray under my water heater, it is a smaller heater, and it has pipes leading to a drain but lately we can hear the water going through the pipes more
My water heater just started leaking right now and its not leaking from none of the spots its leaking by the wires its been leaking for a while now i thought my kids were washing and i checked right now and its the water heater
Are you talking about the pipes above the water heater or the fitting that screws into the water heater? That sounds like a bad tank but just want to make sure..
⬇ Other Water Heater Videos You May Find Useful:
How a Gas Water Heater Works:
czcams.com/video/geOKy06g5e4/video.html
How to Light Your Water Heater Pilot:
czcams.com/video/kmI8HjMH5vs/video.html
Why Your Water Heater Runs Out of Hot Water Fast:
czcams.com/video/o-LsUWlWVh0/video.html
🛒 If one of your valves is leaking here is what you will likely be able to replace it with. Do your own research though and make sure you get the right part for your water heater though.
Short shank pressure relief valve:
amzn.to/2CQQ7Ai
Long shank pressure relief valve:
amzn.to/2FdK7Qa
Brass Drain Valve:
amzn.to/2Ef0wnF
I never seen a guy so happy to have a leaking water heater :D
🤣
It’s not his
Plot twist:He’s the plumber
He has an awesome disposition! Grateful he made this video to educate us layman & women.
😂😂😂😂
Straight to the point and accurate. Water leaking at bottom of tank inside compartment means tank failure and needs replacement.
Ok, you've just solved my problem. Had water on the floor for a few months now and with your video I've determined that the water is coming from the bottom and inside of my water heater. So now I need a new heater, but at least now I know. The heater is 22 years old. Thanks so much, you've made my day!
I have the same problem but the water heater was installed only 10 years ago by Home depot
My new one was installed by Lowe's...total price was $3300.! Wow!!!@@WiscoDrinks
22 years!!! I'm now on number 4 in 17 years
mine is original to the house built in 2002....and same thing. this whirlpool lasted 22 years -- do they even build them like this any more?? LOL!
How much on an average with new water heater and installation does it cost? We are super broke and just had to get a new furnace and couldn’t afford AV and now this is happening?! 😡
woke up this past saturday, ( july 4th weekened no less) to water leaking from my 4 year old-40 gallon A o Smith water heater. checked water feed at the top, pressure relief valve, drain valve at the bottom.. determined it was coming from the tank.. called A o smith at noon, could not believe i got someone 4th of july weekened, gave them all the information including s/n.. to my surprise, they said it had a 6 year warranty and would replace it.....they gave me an Ra# ....i called my plumber giving him all the information, he showed up at my house tues morning (yesterday) and installed new heater.. unbelievable. i'm just glad it's done...
After watching this video, I assumed my water heater was dead. I got a new one, installed it, and had the same problem! When starting a gas water heater with a cold tank, condensation occurs in the flue vent and drips back down onto the heating element. Only with further research did I learn about that and apparently it's pretty common. It's definitely worth a mention.
This is exactly what I was looking for, but this video did not cover that. Everyone knows about leaking valve and pipes, why mention? No one will come to youtube to check on those. If the inside is wet that does not mean ther is a leak in the tank. It is a metal tank and as long as you are on public water system, why does a metal tank gets a hole in it? I have seen some plumbers fooling around, so be careful. This video is not one-stop answer for your water heater leak is what I want to emphasize
How did you deal with the condensation issue?
This video made it very clear what our water heater issue is and now we know it needs to be replaced. We were worried the plumber just wanted the easy fix, but now we have peace of mind our money will not he wasted. Thanks for such a clear explanation!
Glad to hear the video helped! May the new water heater last twice as long!
@@WordofAdviceTV Yeah, I watched the video because I was wondering the same thing. Had to replace my water heater 11 yrs ago and now it's leaking again. (Warranty ran out 1 year ago. Gee, go figure!) Was wondering if I REALLY had to replace it. After watching your video I now know that I DO need a new one. Well, at least I know I'm not being scammed.
Thank you! Now I know I need a new water heater
Thank you for this information!!! Thought I needed a new tank as I saw a small leak, but what it needed was a tightening of the valve.
5 years still helping people out
This is the first video I clicked and the last one. I checked my water heater tank with recommendations from here; it only leaks from the bottom. When the water supply is turned on, it leaks but stops when it's off; it does not leak. Thanks for the info. It really did help me make a decision!!!
Replace the Anode Rod regularly. Have a well & replaced tank every 6-7 years, started replacing Anode Rod every 5 years, tank is now 20 years old!
Goodness, thank you for posting this! We weren't sure what was happening with our hot water heater, having only determined a leak was coming from the bottom. My husband did tighten the valve at the bottom, but a bit of the insulation inside was wet. So, we'll see if tightening that valve solves the problem, or if the leak continues, then we know we need a new hot water heater! Thanks again!!
I had a leaking drain valve. I started to order the replacement part from the manufacturer, but they were expensive. I figured out the local hardware store sells generic ones for just a few dollars. It saved me some money.
Great Job on video! I’ve watched 20 or 30 and you provided the best explanation!
Thank you! That's quite the compliment heh :)
Same
Just found and love these videos. Setting the heater on an aluminum drain pan (HD, Lowes etc.) and connected to a floor drain will contain any leak until replacement . Also a bad idea to have these sit directly on concrete as corrosion can occur from the contact. Definitely have an expansion tank on the cold water side as that absorbs pressure from heat buildup with faucets off reducing the expansion inside the tank. Maybe do a quick hardness test of your water - hard water reduces WH life. Also, should drain a little water (5 gallons or so) from tank drain valve every few months to flush out sediment- always do this after municipality flushes your street main (once or twice a year). You would be surprised how much crap flows in to the low spot ! Lot of yes/no opinions on a full drain once a year. I'd rather do small drains under pressure and it works for me.
Quick tip to those who shut their water off when away for long periods of time . Make sure you also turn down your water heater .Some areas do not require an expansion tank and heating water which would typically expand back into the main during normal operation now has nowhere to go and will cause premature damage to your tank.
Thank you for the video. In my case, the last option was where it was wet. Now I know we need a new one. This one has lasted 26 years. Your video was a big help. 👍👏👏
Thank you this video was so helpful - everything else is dry but my insulation is wet inside the tank in my 20+ yr old water heater - glad I have an emergency fund. At least I know what is going on.
Thank you for this video. Now I know what’s wrong with my water heater.
Just the front valve here! Woot! Thanks my dude
Great! Thank you for commenting!
Mine just started leaking hope I'm lucky its five years old.
It can leak from the heating elements as well. Woke up to our element cracked and spraying water everywhere.
That is correct and the only thing I didn't see here.
On mine, the top pipe connections aren't wet, the pressure valve tube is dry, the drain spigot is dry. I had put a container order each to check if it was leaking too and the container was dry but floor wet again. I took off the panel and the insulation is dry but the ring at the bottom is damp. I guess the tank is leaking on the back side where I can't touch the insulation and running down to that ring and then the floor? I guess I need to replace it? How much of a priority do I need to make the replacement? Will it all of a sudden leak really bad and flood my basement? I definitely don't want that but don't want to replace it now if it can wait awhile and I just clean up the dampness every couple days. Thanks for a reply.
Excellent...covered everything and right to the point
I had a scenario where my tank pan has a drain hole right below the tank. My tank is in a closet shared with the furnace and A/C. The A/C condenser line was connected to the water tank drain hole and when the A/C drained it has a small pump that was pushing water back up into the water heater pan. Which led me to believe my tank was leaking... lesson learned after replacing the tank and then seeing water come up while I was installing the new tank.
As suggested, checked pressure relief valve/pipe and the faucet - both dry. Problem was a leaking copper joint on the cold water supply line (panic-stricken caused me to miss the puddle on top of the heater - dooh). Used a role of "FiberFix" from Lowes ($7.00). No more leaks. Thanks - great video... :-)
Hah, that's awesome! Glad to hear you were able to get it fixed quickly! Thanks for sharing that! I'm sure eventually someone with a similar problem will love you for writing that ;) I also just looked up "FiberFix". Wow, that is some amazing stuff!! Ordered it. :D
Thanks for allowing me to confirm what was wrong so I can make sure the plumber arrives with a replacement unit ready to go.
A trick to fix a dripping/leaking drain valve spigot.
You can cap it by screwing on a standard plastic pop bottle cap.
Done it myself, and works like a charm.
Does it add any pressure to your tank or valve?
@@misterl1668 Why would it? All it does is cap the, (I presume) under minimal pressure slow dripping leak. It's not going to build up in the valve once capped any more than it would with a fully functional valve without the drip.
Trust me. I've done this. It works.
@@hiramnoone it makes sense. I'm green with this kinda stuff and come across another mention of your method. Water pipes have caps on them too. So it's makes complete sense to me now. I appreciate your response
Thank you for this. I am so glad for CZcams and the help I have found there from good hearted people like you. I set my water heater to “Vacation” when I went out of town to help a family member for two weeks. Came home to find water on the floor from a slow leak. Unfortunately, using your excellent instruction I found water pooled at both pipe connections on top with lots of corrosion that has probably been there for a long time. The insulation at the bottom of the tank is also very wet. It is Sunday 🙁. I would love to take a shower but I am not sure if that would make the leak more severe. What is the average life of a water heater? This one is about 16 years old. Time to call the plumber.
Beware of information from CZcams constitutes whose main objective is money… there’s quite a bit of misinformation!
FYI if you have a plastic drain valve like a lot of Rheem water heaters they are notorious for leaking at the threads. Swapping it out with a brass valve could fix the problem.
clear, concise communication :-) Very straight forward. THANK YOU!! This quick, informative video really helped us! Keep up the excellent work!
Ok so I need a water heater….. thanks for the info
You have great videos..Have helped me many times..I've found if I check with you first, I'll know which way to fix or replace..Thank you
Good to know. Great video. Straight to the point.
Best video of the many I viewed.
Thank you! :)
Woo-hoo!! It's my drain valve and I'm SAAAFE!
Glad to hear that! Thanks for leaving a comment!
Me too! Screwdriver did the trick
Great video bro. Thank you!
My tank is leaking, but not in any of the areas you mentioned. I drained it with a hose and will wait for a plumber to come out. Luckily I checked my serial number on Rheem’s site I’m still under warranty. 😅
What ever happened to your water heater? And where was it leaking from?
jopimp14 It turned out to be my AC condensate line was clogged. The water backed up to my water heater pan. The water heater didn’t actually leak.
@@jmatt98 I thought my water heater was leaking on the bottom. Had it replaced and it turned out to be the pipes behind the water heater that was leaking.
jopimp14 I hope you didn’t have to pay for the replacement. Mine was replaced under warranty by the plumber.
FYI, bought a Rheem water heater from Home Depot it’s leaking from the bottom. Search serial number says 4 years and 6 months. My Original water heater lasted 15years plus.
Thank you for making this video. Very informative. 👍. However, my water heater still lets water out after shutting off the supply line. ☹️ (Pretty sure tank is rusted) Had to shut off main line for now. Someone Please HELP!
Love the straight to the point video
Great information brother! Turns out none of those spots were wet. Looks like I'm getting a new eater heater ahhhh!!
Also great music selection in the video! Love Allan Walker, was jamming out to him earlier in the day before watching your video🤙❤☮️
There was water coming out the drain pipe of my fairly new water heater. Turned out the problem was the new water heater should have been installed with an expansion tank because there was a one way check valve at my water meter. The pressure would build up and had nowhere to go but out the pipe. The guy that missed looking for a check valve during the install also missed it again when I called him to repair it. He assumed it was the pressure relief valve and changed that. When that didn't fix it, he realized it needed an expansion tank. He has sent me two repair bills for his carelessness and I am disputing it.
I have a slow leak at the bottom of my water heater, just like yours in the video. I know it has to go, now. But how long can I stay with my tank? Do I have a month or so at least?
We had a freeze last night. I woke up this morning and found ice on the hot water heater. After monitoring it for over 10 hours later, I noticed about 3 little drops of water in the pan I placed on top of the hot water heater to monitor one of the connection joints. I've called numerous specialists, but no one can come out because they are swamped with work and because it's Christmas. I don't know what to do. I don't know how to shut it off if I had to. This is my 1st winter in my house. The hot water heater is close to 9 years old. I kind of think a pipe didn't burst because it warmed up a little today, and I really didn't see a lot of leaking water. What should I do? Thanks in advance.
Great video, my inner tank ruptured and leaked on Christmas Eve, perfect timing and thank god because Lowes was still open and I could go buy a new one and all the parts to install a new one.
How long did your old one last?
Steve redman it was the original tank I believe in the house. House was built in 2004 and I’m the third owner of the house. Was a 55 gallon tank, but my garage did flood twice from Hurricane Matthew and Florence. I think that could have contributed to it failing early. So your original question would be 15 years old.
@@mkrisch1986Mine is a 2004 and it also just failed same brand & same size
Me Name wow what’s the chances. 15 years isn’t bad at all for a hot water tank.
My cold water valve was leaking 2 days ago so I replaced it and had lots of water pour down onto tank. Since then it has a leak from the bottom which is clear room temp water. Can it be all that water escaping since it's not hot and not rusty
Thanks for sharing. Need a new tank.
Yes I think my inner tank is leaking. How long can I go without changing it...I was told it’ll be almost $12000 for a new one including the furnace apparently I also have change both...I honestly don’t have the budget for it but I’m afraid it might explode? So how long can I wait before changing it out for a complete new system?
$12,000 is pretty hefty.. I would get a few more estimates from other companies. If your inner tank is leaking, usually it leaks from the welded bottom side of the tank where the burner section is. The tank will not explode. The worst that can happen is it will "bottom out". It's rare but if it happens (especially if you are not home) that would be a bad day. That just means that the bottom of the tank drops down and then you have a very big leak plus the city water pressure is constantly adding more water. I have seen people have a leaking inner tank and leave it like that for up to 2 years. If it's not a big leak then it's highly unlikely that it will bottom out. I hope that helps!
Thank you for asking this and for his response too.
Mine is in the same closet as the furnace. Hard to get to!
Unless you get leak from drain volve tread water goes strait to isolation, I my case there is no plug on bottom to drain that water so I had to use mini sponge to dry it
Thank you! your video was very helpful
Would turning off the electricity to the hot water heater stop the water heater from leaking?
Just noticed a wet spot on the floor - not very large considering it is cement. Drip seemed to be coming from the edge of a recessed area in the bottom - location was near pilot light but could have originated anywhere. It covered the bottom of a pop corn bucket quickly, but 2 hours later it's not even 1 cm deep.
We're a week into a 92+ heat wave. IDK exactly, but I'd guess the heater has 10+ years of 130+ degree summers until i placed a ceiling fan last year. Now it's
Water condensation will also cause leaking alike symptoms .
Love the concise info in a short video. Kudos!
I have a basin where my water heater sits and I keep on draining it because it s catching all the water coming out of the tank . But u don’t know where it’s coming from . There used to be a loud noise like a bubbling water that come in and out . Is the tank repairable or needs replacement .
Thx for the video, I was ready to see if mine could be fixed but my insulation is wet hah.
What do you do if the directional pipe is leaking?
You showed all the possible leak points on the gas water heater. If the water heater is electric, you may have a leak from a faulty or worn gasket where the top or bottom heating element enters the tank. Tightening or replacing the elements may solve a slow leak.
Thank you for the good suggestion!
Hello, I have a gas Bradford White water heather. It is one month old, It have been working fine from installation. Now is not heating well, the pilot is on but looks like the burner does not come on,, what can I do?.. Thanks
Hi my water heater is old leaking some water on the bottom, not much but clearly there is water the plumber can't come till.tue and today is friday is that ok as I said very small bit of water
Sir,
We have AO Smith dve 3000 water heater almost 35 years old its leaking now and its insulation also wet so Should I go for replacement or its repairable
Nice quick concise video. Thanks
Tank is not leaking at any of the areas pin pointed in this video and the insulation is dry. Upon investigation it seems localized by one of the “feet” unsure what to do with this information. Help?
I'm in the same boat. My water heater is on "stilts" so it was easy to discover. Wonder if I should just to try and patch it somehow
My valve is leaking but also dripping from the bottom of the water heater behind the apron that goes around the bottom. Rheem sent me a brass valve but I can’t figure out why it’s …also… dripping at the bottom behind the apron. No drops on top or sides that’s visible. Water heater is only four years old. Any ideas on that 2nd drip? Thanks, great video BTW!
So helpful and clear explanation. Well done. Thanks your the MaN.
Could be air conditioning condensate if close by.
good afternoon
home water boiler leaking
recently pressure valve replaced
and it is leaking from pressure valve
i tried to tighten the pressure valve
it did not help
few drop of water spilling over the location of pressure valve
i do not know what to do
will call a technician
thank you
is it all the same with the electric water heaters?
I have rusty water in the tray but none of the spots you mentioned are wet. Is it still possible nothing is wrong?
If there is no fresh water, I wouldn't worry about it :) Just check up on it once in a while.
i,m going to watch his videos,i like them
I'm not getting any warm water. I checked the water heater and there was water all over the bottom. Can a leak be the issue with the water no longer getting warm or hot?
Thanks this video helped greatly
I had just pinch of clear water on botton water heater, all those points to look at you suggested are dry, I took cover off and bottom of inner pan is dry along with insulation is dry...could it be condensation from water line above it? Tia
"When a gas water heater is
first lit and the tank is cold, condensation forms inside the water heater. You may hear drips or a sizzling sound when the water heater is first lit or, you may see a small puddle on the floor. Condensation on is not a leak and will go away once the tank reaches normal operating temperature."
pdf.lowes.com/installationguides/035505155443_install.pdf
I thought I'd check with you to see if this is correct? Mine did this after I refilled it and I wondered what the hell was going on. I thought mine was leaking and spitting on the hot chamber but now I think otherwise.
Big thanks for this comprehensive manual which covers maintenance as well.
Hi, mine is none of the above. The insulation seems dry. Found a little clump of insulation on water tray.
Ok it was a new pressure relief valve, and a copper in hose has to be replaced. About 240 total.
Got an electric tank water heater about 27 years old that has been in use for the past 20 years. I saw the rust and felt the moisture running down from the heating element. Thinking of removing the element, grinding the rust around the element port and replacing the element seal as well as the element. It is the universal flange type element with the four bolt holds around it. Will that stop the leak?
As long as this is not a Rheem Marathon water heater, that should do the trick :) (those have plastic threads and if they leak, that's game over. You can try layering on teflon tape as a last resort) Most elements will come with a new seal but there are some that don't. Good luck and stay safe!
thanks alot
27 years old? throw that pos out
Missed a few things. But definitely basics are covered
what happens if you open the pressure relief valve when it's under pressure? can it cause a leak? i opened mine last week and it has been leaking from the bottom ever since.
Try "exercising" the valve. Open it and close it a bunch of times and sometimes that is all it takes it make that pressure relief valve sit back in place and seal all the way. If that doesn't help, then the valve just needs to be replaced. (it's not too difficult, I have a video where I replace mine if you need it)
Hi mine is leaking from the bottom. It's also rusting at the bottom and from 2005. I'm reading it can explode. Is this true?
Can also leak where the drain and/or the p&t valve screws into the tank. This will leak into the insulation making you think the tank is shot.
Thank you for pointing that out!
is this type of leak not visible or touchable from the outside?
I'm hoping that's the case for me. There's a couple of drops of water sitting at the drain valve on mine. When I moved the panel to gain access to the burner I can look down and see a small amount of water between the tanks.
@@misterl1668 my pt drain goes underground i'm wondering where i can touch the end of it to see if there is wetness
@@zentember I don't know much if at all anything but I'd listen for drips in the pipe leading from your pressure/temp relief valve. Mine is piped through a closet wall and most likely out the back of the house or underground as well. I pulled on my valve lightly (tested it) to see if I could hear water and some did come out and I could hear the drips once it was done letting water out.
Thank you for your help, I appreciate it.
Is that the furnace next to it?
Good video
What if its leaking cold water from near the door thing you took off. It's not really pouring out but also not just a few drips?
What is on top of that door thing? That component may be leaking, otherwise it's the inner tank that is starting to leak..
Hi
I checked my water heater as per yours instructions inner side too there’s no leakage but still water in bottom so how I can find out leakage .
Can turning my water heater temp up make my water heater leak at all?
Exactly what I needed, thank you!
Thank You so Much for your words of wisdom :)
Excellent Job
I have a 2009 Rheem (I think the first) Heat Pump water heater and I noticed the water intake connection at the bottom is terribly rusted. I didn't notice before but when my water softener died a year ago, it spewed salty water everywhere and I guess this tank's pan held it for awhile hence the corrosion. I was told I'd have to get an entire new unit installed to a hefty price b/c no one will touch that cold water nipple. They said it could disintegrate and ruin the heater. Do you think I should try to replace it myself. Worse case is having to get a new unit put in....
Ah.. Sounds like a troublesome situation. To be honest, I am not sure what to suggest. If you try to replace it yourself and things don't go as planned, things could get ugly real quick. I don't know.. Unfortunately I don't have any good advice for this problem, you will have to make that call yourself.
So when a water tank starts leaking (like this one), you won't find a basement with 6 inches high of water, it's more like a slow leak? I go to my basement every day and have had concerns about the age of my water heater and worrying about it catastrophally failing. Is this likely?
The term for the tank drain valve is aksi spigot. You were pointing to the handle as a spigot.
This video saved me from a traumatic misdiagnosis after a storm flood. Everyone wants to exploit emergencies: sign here, pay this deductible, costs with no ceiling...
Great video what if it's leaking from the bottom, all those areas including the insulation are dry?
If you cannot find where the leak is coming from, most of the time that would be the inner tank. The insulation is often wet when the inner tank is leaking towards the front of the heater but if the leak is in the back, then the insulation will be wet in the back where you can't get to. Also, are you sure it is the water heater that is leaking? I have seen a water softner leaking before and the water from it went under the water heater. So it looked like the water heater was leaking but really the water was coming from the softner.
@@WordofAdviceTV what’s the softner?
Hi. My electric heater stopped giving hot water. WHen I opened the upper panel and measured the voltage, my meter showed only 80V. In addition, there is water on floor and the insulation itself was dripping water. Is this heater likely totally done? I tried to measure the voltage directly on the terminals for the upper element instead sticking inside of the lugs on the top of the unit (I didn't pick up any voltage when i tried to do that). Thanks for any additional tips.
From what you described, that does sound like a leaking inner tank so the whole heater would need to be replaced. Aside from that, there must be something else going on too since electric water heaters run on 240v. 80v is very low. The power is being interrupted somewhere.
There is a small tray under my water heater, it is a smaller heater, and it has pipes leading to a drain but lately we can hear the water going through the pipes more
Thank you for your suggestions .
My water heater just started leaking right now and its not leaking from none of the spots its leaking by the wires its been leaking for a while now i thought my kids were washing and i checked right now and its the water heater
Is there a way to repair a leak if its coming from the joint area but not the joint it self.
Are you talking about the pipes above the water heater or the fitting that screws into the water heater? That sounds like a bad tank but just want to make sure..