Hi! We have a leak under our bathroom sink. We have removed the vanity floor and can see a drip from the hot water heater. Can't really see much - it's very tight in there. We went outside and can see there is no drip at all on the outside of the HW heater -- it's not the pop-off valve, for instance.We the removed the interior access panel and can see lots of water in the floor (the water is finding it's way from there, under the tile, and into the bathroom floor). We can see the cold water inlet and the hot water outlet -- the leak does NOT appear to be coming from either of those fittings.So, do the tanks themselves ever fail?Is there something I can check with just the outside access?Thanks for any help...-chip

I would guess that it is that plastic check valve on the tank.No, you cannot get to it from outside without pulling tank.

if it is a suburban heater then yes it has a glass liner and can break and rust the tank out

beaubeau wrote:Hi! We have a leak under our bathroom sink. We have removed the vanity floor and can see a drip from the hot water heater. Can't really see much - it's very tight in there. We went outside and can see there is no drip at all on the outside of the HW heater -- it's not the pop-off valve, for instance.We the removed the interior access panel and can see lots of water in the floor (the water is finding it's way from there, under the tile, and into the bathroom floor). We can see the cold water inlet and the hot water outlet -- the leak does NOT appear to be coming from either of those fittings.So, do the tanks themselves ever fail?Is there something I can check with just the outside access?Thanks for any help...-chipwell if its as u claim no leak from water in, no leak from water out ,and no leak from hi temp relief valve? then the tank itself must leak; those are the 4 sources

Reach in with a wad of Toilet Paper in your hand and touch top fittings (hot out) and then bottom fittings (cold in) and all connections on cold/hot/bypass linesWhen TP gets wet you have found leakNo leaks......then tank CAN have a leak from crack in welding and or tank can have developed a pin hole. It happens.Outside compartment...Pretty much useless for detecting inside leaks from backside of tankTank fittings/connections stick thru the drawn pan and are sealed from external exposure to elements

enblethen wrote:I would guess that it is that plastic check valve on the tank.No, you cannot get to it from outside without pulling tank.OP clearly says no leak from inlet or outlet

Inside drip from hot water heater | Good Sam Community

13 Replies

ljr
Nomad
Nov 23, 2017
newman fulltimer wrote:
if it is a suburban heater then yes it has a glass liner and can break and rust the tank out

Exactly that happened to me.
Dennis12
Explorer
Nov 23, 2017
Just had the same issue with mine but mine was coming in from the outside when it rained. Chalked everything and problem solved.
wa8yxm
Explorer III
Nov 23, 2017
Happened to me.. Figured out the tank was leaking.. Removed water heater (Easier than you think) and capped the line, adapted the other line and put pressure to it.. Hundreds of very very very very tiny leaks.. Ordered new tank, Yes you can replace JUST THE TANK but the job is not easy.

Water is now heating since I plan to do dishes in a bit.
Beverley_Ken
Explorer
Nov 23, 2017
"We can see the cold water inlet and the hot water outlet -- the leak does NOT appear to be coming from either of those fittings"

You may not see the leak/drip. I agree with Old-Biscuit, get your hand in there with the toilet paper, check around every fitting. The water may go back against the tank and under the tank insulation before reappearing on the floor.
I had a similar problem this summer and it was at one of the elbows going into/out of the tank.

Ken
ScottG
Nomad
Nov 23, 2017
THere's no easy way out of this one, you need to pull the WH to check everything in the vicinity.
DiskDoctr
Explorer
Nov 23, 2017
I'd suggest shutting off the water, relieving the pressure and drying up the floor and catch the water.

Don't let the floor get or stay wet ;)
Kennedycamper
Explorer
Nov 22, 2017
First make sure it's coming from the hot water heater. I had a leak I thought was from mine once, and it turned out to be from the roof.
enblethen
Nomad
Nov 22, 2017
It is very hard to see whether the leak is at the connection to the tank as the installation is so cramped in many rigs.
If it is an Atwood, the styrefoam insualtion hides the connection.
Yes, if it is a Suburban it could have rusted out around the connections.
OP: What is make of water heater?
gutfelt
Explorer
Nov 22, 2017
enblethen wrote:
I would guess that it is that plastic check valve on the tank.
No, you cannot get to it from outside without pulling tank.

OP clearly says no leak from inlet or outlet
Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Nov 22, 2017
Reach in with a wad of Toilet Paper in your hand and touch top fittings (hot out) and then bottom fittings (cold in) and all connections on cold/hot/bypass lines

When TP gets wet you have found leak

No leaks......then tank CAN have a leak from crack in welding and or tank can have developed a pin hole. It happens.

Outside compartment...
Pretty much useless for detecting inside leaks from backside of tank
Tank fittings/connections stick thru the drawn pan and are sealed from external exposure to elements