Inside drip from hot water heater

[beaubeau]

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

[ljr]

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]

Just had the same issue with mine but mine was coming in from the outside when it rained. Chalked everything and problem solved.

[wa8yxm]

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]

"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]

THere's no easy way out of this one, you need to pull the WH to check everything in the vicinity.

[DiskDoctr]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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

[gutfelt]

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...

-chip

well 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

[newman_fulltime]

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

[enblethen]

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