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Water heater drip pan?

Water heater leaking into drain pan?

  • I just noticed a small puddle forming in my drain pain from a drip coming from the bottom of my water heater. The drip appears to be forming right under one of the front legs with slight signs of rust in the insulation directly above it. Straight up from there is the TPV valve (which is on the side of the water heater).....this is a realitively new Whirlpool water heater (maybe 2-5yrs old) and i've never noticed this issue in the past. Could this be a result of the seal behind the TPV valve dripping down the inside of the tank? I'm not able to simply look around the fitting of the TPV valve without removing (which requires the copper pipe to be heated to loosen the solder) so i was curious if this was a typical failure with a TPV valve or if i'm likely looking at a more serious issue with my water heater. I'm a few steps away from calling a plumber, but would prefer saving myself the trouble over something i'm fully capable of fixing/replacing myself

  • Answer:

    It could even be leaking around the nipples where the water lines hook in, that would be more likely than the T+P valve leaking now. Check the dimples around both lines at the top first and then work your way down. I replaced both nipples on an electric tank 2 weeks ago on a water heater that was about 6 years old. The pipes were really corroded and had been leaking long enough to rot the floor out.

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It could even be leaking around the nipples where the water lines hook in, that would be more likely than the T+P valve leaking now. Check the dimples around both lines at the top first and then work your way down. I replaced both nipples on an electric tank 2 weeks ago on a water heater that was about 6 years old. The pipes were really corroded and had been leaking long enough to rot the floor out.

Smokey da Bear

That is one of the signs that you need a new Water Heater.

John

It's not likely that the PT valve would just suddenly start to leak at the connection. That would be very unusual and I would say, not likely. A water heater that is 2-5 years old should not be leaking unless it was a really cheap one or it is defective. Look for your warranty on it. If it's not the PT valve that is causing the problem, it would be the tank itself. If that's the case, it's not repairable. Once the tank starts to leak, the entire water heater has to be replaced. They can't be repaired. Look for your warranty and see what you can find out. if there is rust at the bottom of the tank, the leak has been going on for a WHILE!

MARK

It's not likely that the PT valve would just suddenly start to leak at the connection. That would be very unusual and I would say, not likely. A water heater that is 2-5 years old should not be leaking unless it was a really cheap one or it is defective. Look for your warranty on it. If it's not the PT valve that is causing the problem, it would be the tank itself. If that's the case, it's not repairable. Once the tank starts to leak, the entire water heater has to be replaced. They can't be repaired. Look for your warranty and see what you can find out. if there is rust at the bottom of the tank, the leak has been going on for a WHILE!

MARK

That is one of the signs that you need a new Water Heater.

John

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