Hot water heater leaking

gathermewool

Site Donor 2023
Joined
Jan 9, 2009
Messages
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Location
New England
Thank goodness I was woken (awakened?) by my wife letting me know the leak sensor was going off in the basement. The water heater is leaking at around one drop/sec, so not bad yet. Not that that means anything…

We have a good guy we’re going to call Monday to get it done. I’m canceling plans for tomorrow to stick around and make room for the guys (and keep an eye on the heater.

I won’t be doing the job myself.

There is not an isolation valve, it’s just hard-piped inlet and out.

All electric house.

Any recommendations? Flexible hose update, iso valve a must? I’m researching now.

Thanks guys. I know I haven’t been around much lately, but I come here for stuff like this because I always know I’ll get good advice!
 
If it's a well system the well pressure tank also serves as an expansion tank. On city water you definitely need an expansion tank.

Do have your plumber install a valve at the inlet of the water heater, then if there is any leak in the the hot side you can close the valve and still have cold water. This valve should be before the expansion tank, if equipped.
 
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Don't get to excited yet , small leak isn't turning into a gusher overnight . Make sure plumber uses a NEW temperature and pressure relief valve . A water heater can be a bomb .
 
I second the expansion tank if you are on a city or county water system. It will make things easier on your hot water faucets and fittings. It evens out the variations in pressure caused by the heating of the water. I did not have one until the utility installed a check valve in my supply line. Pressure in my system went sky high when the heater kicked on.
 
I put one of these Webstone valves on when I mounted the expansion tank with drain on expansion tank side. I have a different version on my boiler expansion tank. This allows you to drain the water on the expansion tank and check the air pressure and add if needed or let you know its loosing air.

Many people change T&P valves on boiler for "leaking" when it is actually the expansion tank going bad. No air pressure in it means no room for the "expansion" so something will give out. I check mine when I do my boiler tune up.
 
I second the expansion tank if you are on a city or county water system. It will make things easier on your hot water faucets and fittings. It evens out the variations in pressure caused by the heating of the water. I did not have one until the utility installed a check valve in my supply line. Pressure in my system went sky high when the heater kicked on.
Only if set up correctly and inspected on occasion. 99% of people never check them and they become useless
 
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