Waterheater Help

[ni4ni]

The water heater in our house appears to have been installed in 2002. It is electric.

My wife noticed a little water in the floor near our water heater. When I removed the top thermostat access panel there was water in it and the insulation was wet on the bottom one.

Is it time for a new water heater?

 

[DesiPower]

Just get it fixed, don't just replace stuff at the first sign of trouble.

 

[waffleironhead]

Sounds like the upper heat element is broken. ~$15-20 part and ~$10 tool to pull the element.

http://www.plumbingsupply.com/elements.html

No idea what a plumber would charge to replace.

 

[skyking]

turn off the power and pull the insulation scrap out of the way so you can see the element. dry it out with a towel and blow dryer, if necessary ,and observe exactly where it is leaking. After I get it all dry I use scraps of paper towel to wick up water and define where the leak is at if needed.
If the leak is where the element screws in, you may be in luck.
It may also be leaking at the top fittings, and running down into the housing and showing up at the upper 'stat.

 

[iGas]

Yes it is time for a new water heater because there is a leak therefore you have wet insulation.

Hotwater heater tend to have pinhole leaks at the top of tank.

A new tank at Home Despot is around $300 and throw in an additional $60~$100 worth of parts, torch, sand cloth, flux & solder and you will have a nice new functional hotwater tank that actually give you hot water and save electrical power (at the moment you power bill must be through the roof).

 

[iGas]

Sounds like the upper heat element is broken. ~$15-20 part and ~$10 tool to pull the element.

http://www.plumbingsupply.com/elements.html

No idea what a plumber would charge to replace.

A broken element tend to send whitish packing up into your faucets (clogging up the aerator). And, it seems to not hold enough hot water for a shower, or takes a long time to bring the water up to temperature. You could undo the wires and run a continuity test to see if it is the element but I'm pretty sure the tank has failed because there is water in the insulation.

Around here it cost anywhere from $650~$750 for a plumber to come and replace, and it all so include old tank disposal (up to $900~$1000 if you have a trailer hotwater tank.)

PS. Plumbers buys their tanks at local wholesales stores and their prices tend to be at least $50~$100 or more over that of HD. They buy it at the wholesales stores for the service and no question ask warranty. You are on your own if you buy your tank at HD because no plumber in their right mind would warranty it.

 

[Scarpozzi]

What's tricky...hot water heaters are lined with glass. If for some reason, the glass liner has a hole or crack...it would be time to replace it. The trick though is that it's unlikely it's damaged like that unless you've been using it for a tackling dummy. Electric hw heaters don't have a lot of the problems gas ones do. For what it's worth, I think they should last 15-20 years. It's uncommon to have to replace one at 8 years..but it could happen.

If you follow waffleironhead's advice and check the upper heating element... The heating elements screw in and have a rubber gasket that's probably broken down and needs to be replaced. Once you unscrew the element and remove it, you can take it to your local big-box hardware store and find a replacement fairly easily.

See if you can partially drain the hot water heater using the spigot at the bottom below the level of the first element and go from there. There may be a manual with the hot water heater in a plastic sleeve stuck to the side of it. Sometimes they will give you a service manual. If you don't see one, there are probably tons of references on Google...or call a plumber. I just wouldn't waste money on a plumber...it should be an easy fix unless it's something other than the rubber gasket that's leaking.

 

[iGas]

What's tricky...hot water heaters are lined with glass. If for some reason, the glass liner has a hole or crack...it would be time to replace it. The trick though is that it's unlikely it's damaged like that unless you've been using it for a tackling dummy. Electric hw heaters don't have a lot of the problems gas ones do. For what it's worth, I think they should last 15-20 years. It's uncommon to have to replace one at 8 years..but it could happen.

If you follow waffleironhead's advice and check the upper heating element... The heating elements screw in and have a rubber gasket that's probably broken down and needs to be replaced. Once you unscrew the element and remove it, you can take it to your local big-box hardware store and find a replacement fairly easily.

See if you can partially drain the hot water heater using the spigot at the bottom below the level of the first element and go from there. There may be a manual with the hot water heater in a plastic sleeve stuck to the side of it. Sometimes they will give you a service manual. If you don't see one, there are probably tons of references on Google...or call a plumber. I just wouldn't waste money on a plumber...it should be an easy fix unless it's something other than the rubber gasket that's leaking.

It all depends on the luck of the draw and your water condition (hardwater or softwater), but most hotwater tanks tend to go any where between 6 years to 25 years of service. I have seen old 40+ years old copper gas hotwater tank that function absolutely perfect, and some newer gas hotwater tanks that have its anode regularly replace that lasts 25 years.

However I haven't come across an electric hot water tank that last longer than 16 years even with yearly anode service.

PS. Many condos around my area have a policy that demand hotwwater tank replacement every 6 years by license plumber. Because, it is cheaper to replace the hotwater tank than wait for it to fail to do an insurance claim.

 

[pcgeek11]

What's tricky...hot water heaters are lined with glass. If for some reason, the glass liner has a hole or crack...it would be time to replace it. The trick though is that it's unlikely it's damaged like that unless you've been using it for a tackling dummy. Electric hw heaters don't have a lot of the problems gas ones do. For what it's worth, I think they should last 15-20 years. It's uncommon to have to replace one at 8 years..but it could happen.

If you follow waffleironhead's advice and check the upper heating element... The heating elements screw in and have a rubber gasket that's probably broken down and needs to be replaced. Once you unscrew the element and remove it, you can take it to your local big-box hardware store and find a replacement fairly easily.

See if you can partially drain the hot water heater using the spigot at the bottom below the level of the first element and go from there. There may be a manual with the hot water heater in a plastic sleeve stuck to the side of it. Sometimes they will give you a service manual. If you don't see one, there are probably tons of references on Google...or call a plumber. I just wouldn't waste money on a plumber...it should be an easy fix unless it's something other than the rubber gasket that's leaking.

NOT all hot water heaters are lined with glass. The more expensive ones are.

However the cheap ones may or may not have a sacrificial Anode for corrosion. If you have one without a sacrificial anode 8 years is over the expected life if you have hard water. Even with an anode 8 years is about it. You cannot fix it without replacing the entire unit.

I've never seen one with a rubber gasket for a heating element either. They normally use pipe dope.

 

[iGas]

NOT all hot water heaters are lined with glass. The more expensive ones are.

However the cheap ones may or may not have a sacrificial Anode for corrosion. If you have one without a sacrificial anode 8 years is over the expected life if you have hard water. Even with an anode 8 years is about it. You cannot fix it without replacing the entire unit.

I've never seen one with a rubber gasket for a heating element either. They normally use pipe dope.

Funny that every single tank that I came across cheap & expensive all have anode/s & element gasket (except for the old copper hotwater tanks).

Cheap tanks tend to have 1 anode, while expensive one tend to have 2 or more anodes. However, life expectancy doesn't make much different between 1 anode or multiple anodse if you don't replace it regularly. And, all new hotwater tank today are glass lined except for stainless steel (indirect hotwater heaters).

 

[Scarpozzi]

NOT all hot water heaters are lined with glass. The more expensive ones are.

However the cheap ones may or may not have a sacrificial Anode for corrosion. If you have one without a sacrificial anode 8 years is over the expected life if you have hard water. Even with an anode 8 years is about it. You cannot fix it without replacing the entire unit.

I've never seen one with a rubber gasket for a heating element either. They normally use pipe dope.

Not all have gaskets...and some are even plastic. They typically don't make contact with the hot-side or the threads like the dope does as metal/metal contact is required for the anode to work properly. in any case, eyeballing the element will determine whether or not the leak is coming from the threads. If the leak isn's coming from there...it very well could be a pinhole.

If the hot water heater was made in the last 10 years, it has over a 95% chance of being glass lined. I should know...I go to church with the CEO of a major hot water heater manufacturer.

 

[pcgeek11]

Funny that every single tank that I came across cheap & expensive all have anode/s & element gasket (except for the old copper hotwater tanks).

Cheap tanks tend to have 1 anode, while expensive one tend to have 2 or more anodes. However, life expectancy doesn't make much different between 1 anode or multiple anodse if you don't replace it regularly. And, all new hotwater tank today are glass lined except for stainless steel (indirect hotwater heaters).

I haven't replaced one in about 8 years so I may be behind the power curve. The last one I removed had neither glass liner, rubber gaskets, or an anode.

 

[BUTCH1]

A broken element tend to send whitish packing up into your faucets (clogging up the aerator). And, it seems to not hold enough hot water for a shower, or takes a long time to bring the water up to temperature. You could undo the wires and run a continuity test to see if it is the element but I'm pretty sure the tank has failed because there is water in the insulation.

Around here it cost anywhere from $650~$750 for a plumber to come and replace, and it all so include old tank disposal (up to $900~$1000 if you have a trailer hotwater tank.)

PS. Plumbers buys their tanks at local wholesales stores and their prices tend to be at least $50~$100 or more over that of HD. They buy it at the wholesales stores for the service and no question ask warranty. You are on your own if you buy your tank at HD because no plumber in their right mind would warranty it.

Are HW heatears from HD and Lowes inferior to the ones a plumber buys from his jobber?. I replaced my 37 year old HW unit with one from HD, bought a $20 soldering kit, some pipe, couplers, and new supply valves for less than $300 and it's worked fine for 8 years now, it's a GE "smartwater" unit..

 

[ichy]

PS. Many condos around my area have a policy that demand hotwwater tank replacement every 6 years by license plumber.

Lol, I replaced my hot water heater last month, it was 26 years old

 

[Vette73]

OP If it is not leaking around the element or other service port then it is most likly the tank has rusted out and time for a new one.

Sears and HD are the 2 easy/good place to go for one. Do NOT get it from lowes. I think they carry whirlpool and they have issues. I shop more at lowes than anybody but their WHs are/were junk.

I got mine from sears. HD was being assholes so sears got my money. If you plan on staying there 5+ year then get a energy star one. If not then a good mid level one will be fine.

And a big thing people mess up on with electric ones is do NOT turn the power back on till the tank is full of water. Many turn the power on then add water and burn out the element.

 

[iGas]

Are HW heatears from HD and Lowes inferior to the ones a plumber buys from his jobber?. I replaced my 37 year old HW unit with one from HD, bought a $20 soldering kit, some pipe, couplers, and new supply valves for less than $300 and it's worked fine for 8 years now, it's a GE "smartwater" unit..

IMHO they are all similar quality regardless of where you get them.

The more expensive ones may have a brass drain (at the bottom of tank), instead of a plastic one. It make sense to remove the plastic drain at the get go and install a good 1/4 turn brass boiler drain if you drain out (clean) some water every 6~12 as recommended by the manufacture.

The tank may last another 8 years or more but it could go at anytime. However, don't replace it unless the surrounding floor underneath it is expensive to replace.

 

[iGas]

Lol, I replaced my hot water heater last month, it was 26 years old

You are lucky then.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Remember Murphy is a plumber also.

When the tank gives out completely, it will be when you want the hot water the most and it will be the most inconvient time to get a replacement tank.

 

[skyking]

I replaced one for a friend a couple of months ago. It had ruptured and dumped an inch of water, luckily in the garage and they could sweep it out the door. She told me a few things about sink and shower valves that got me thinking. I brought over a pressure gauge and found out what I suspected; they had about 90 PSI static pressure!
The water heater was easy, being in the garage, but the Pressure Reducing Valve (PRV) was not so nice.
The proper location was in a crawlspace that had been used by 9 cats as the covered potty zone for many years. I did the job and never mentioned it. Luckily I had garbage bags to wear and use to cover my car seats.
They say pets enrich your lives. I had enough cat enrichment that day, I could die now.

 

[ichy]

You are lucky then.

I know. That's why I replaced it before the weather got real cold, I know that with the way life works my water heater would choose the coldest day of the year to fail.