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Water heater drip pan?

Gas water heater - intermittent leak?

  • A few days ago i noticed a small puddle of water under my 50g gas water heater that is roughly 4-5yrs old (whirlpool unit with a 12yr warranty) . After shutting everything off and inspecting the tank it was very difficult to find the source of the problem anywhere around any fittings on the tank and the drip appeared to be forming at the bottom front side. I've since turned the gas and water back on periodically for 5-10 hrs at a time (when i've been home) and the drip pan has been completely dry for the past 3 days (i check every hour or so). From what i can tell the TPR valve is bad as when i open it you cannot hear a flush of water, but this is an educated assumption as i'm not sure where the drain pipe actually runs off to. My concern is that this unit is located in my attic so the prospect of a flood is extremely unsettling....the best over the phone quote i've gotten to replace the unit is $850, but i hate to spend that if it's simply a bad TPR valve and i'm sure many plumbers would be more than eager to replace my entire unit regardless of the reason (just my experience from dealing with other contractors). I was just curious if someone might know or be able to explain why i would've noticed a potential leak a few days ago but not had any problems since. From what i've read a leak tends to continue dribbling regardless once a tank has been compromised Just to answer a few questions regarding the warranty - i wasn't the original owner (the water heater was replaced right before purchasing the home) and made the mistake of mentioning this to whirlpool which they promptly noted on the registration for that serial number and indicated the warranty is not transferable so i'm on my own...i mention the 12yr warranty just to include the information that this should be a fairly decent unit

  • Answer:

    replace the TPR run the pipe to the out side,

chris at Yahoo! Answers Visit the source

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The TPR valve could have simply been doing its job - the purpose of this valve is to relieve excessive temperature or pressure build up inside the tank if it approaches the limits of the tank's safe design range. You could contact Whirlpool or the company that installed it for you, to inquire as to why the temperature or pressure would build up. But if the valve is faulty, would it not be covered by the warranty? You could call Whirlpool or the contractor that installed it for you and make inquiries as to what is covered. Perhaps it could be repaired under warranty.

kitty_307

The TPR valve could have simply been doing its job - the purpose of this valve is to relieve excessive temperature or pressure build up inside the tank if it approaches the limits of the tank's safe design range. You could contact Whirlpool or the company that installed it for you, to inquire as to why the temperature or pressure would build up. But if the valve is faulty, would it not be covered by the warranty? You could call Whirlpool or the contractor that installed it for you and make inquiries as to what is covered. Perhaps it could be repaired under warranty.

kitty_307

a water heater will sometimes "condensate" when reheating water. a t&p valve should make sound of water running when open. follow t&p line to outside and check it to make sure water is getting outside or where ever line teminates. a stopped up t& p valve is a safety valve that in a worse case scenario, if stopped up could blow up entire house.

trekkie706

a water heater will sometimes "condensate" when reheating water. a t&p valve should make sound of water running when open. follow t&p line to outside and check it to make sure water is getting outside or where ever line teminates. a stopped up t& p valve is a safety valve that in a worse case scenario, if stopped up could blow up entire house.

trekkie706

Chris, The most likely cause for your problem is that the water heater's tank has a pin hole in it. If that's the case, the water heater would need to be replaced. The reason the drip may appear to have stopped (basically) for periods of time, may be because you have been turning the heater off for periods of time thereby, reducing the water pressure in the tank which would reduce the pressure in the tank, slowing the leak. But, as soon as you turn it on again, the water pressure and Temperature builds up, the leak will start up again. It is not likely that the PTR valve is the cause of the leak because old threaded connections just don't start leaking and for that reason, very unlikley. Even if that valve does open and water comes out of it because of too much pressure in the tank, the water goes out the overflow tube to wherever you have it running to. Unfortunatley, even though the water heater is only 4-5 years old, I believe that you have a pin hole in the tank. It's probably a defective heater if you have a 12 year warranty for it. The tank in a water heater is typically the first thing to go out on them. I believe the warranty should still be in effect, even though is was put in before you bought it. I think that is total B.S. I would contact them again. For a water heater to only last for 4-5 years is nothing. Even 12 years isn't long. I replaced my water heater about 3 years ago. At that time, that one was 37 years old! But, now-a-days, everything is made really S****y and made to fail. Anyway Chris, I would get out that warranty and contact them again. A 12 year warranty is a 12 year warranty and I don't think they can void it just because the house was sold. If that's the case, most warranty's wouldn't have to be honored. OH and if that is the case, have them point out to you in the warranty where it does say something to that affect in the warranty. Anyway, good luck with that.

MARK

Chris, The most likely cause for your problem is that the water heater's tank has a pin hole in it. If that's the case, the water heater would need to be replaced. The reason the drip may appear to have stopped (basically) for periods of time, may be because you have been turning the heater off for periods of time thereby, reducing the water pressure in the tank which would reduce the pressure in the tank, slowing the leak. But, as soon as you turn it on again, the water pressure and Temperature builds up, the leak will start up again. It is not likely that the PTR valve is the cause of the leak because old threaded connections just don't start leaking and for that reason, very unlikley. Even if that valve does open and water comes out of it because of too much pressure in the tank, the water goes out the overflow tube to wherever you have it running to. Unfortunatley, even though the water heater is only 4-5 years old, I believe that you have a pin hole in the tank. It's probably a defective heater if you have a 12 year warranty for it. The tank in a water heater is typically the first thing to go out on them. I believe the warranty should still be in effect, even though is was put in before you bought it. I think that is total B.S. I would contact them again. For a water heater to only last for 4-5 years is nothing. Even 12 years isn't long. I replaced my water heater about 3 years ago. At that time, that one was 37 years old! But, now-a-days, everything is made really S****y and made to fail. Anyway Chris, I would get out that warranty and contact them again. A 12 year warranty is a 12 year warranty and I don't think they can void it just because the house was sold. If that's the case, most warranty's wouldn't have to be honored. OH and if that is the case, have them point out to you in the warranty where it does say something to that affect in the warranty. Anyway, good luck with that.

MARK

replace the TPR run the pipe to the out side,

William B

If the tank were leaking, it would leak constantly, agree it is likely the valve.

Got Wild Staring Eyes

If the tank were leaking, it would leak constantly, agree it is likely the valve.

Got Wild Staring Eyes

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