Water Leaking from Hot Water Tank

Sometimes the leak originates from the temperature pressure relief valve (tpv) located at the top of the heater. It is a horizontal lever like valve located at the water outlet joint. If it is leaking, try tightening it down snug. Be careful not to overtighten. Verify operation of this valve by lifting the lever and checking for water discharging out the vent pipe that is connected to the tpv and goes down the side of the tank.

If the water leaking from the seams of the tank and/or there s a lot corrosion then replacement is the only option.

HEATER WATER PIPES LEAK-
With an adjustable wrench on hex fittings or a pipe wrench, try tightening the pipe fitting at the leak point. Don't use too much pressure; just snug the fitting.

If tightening doesn't work, turn off the electrical power,gas to the heater and turn off the water. Then, replace the pipe fitting.

If the heater is leaking around an element, the problem is probably a faulty element gasket. Turn off the water and the power/gas and try tightening the thermostat bracket over the element. If tightening doesn't work, you will have to replace the gasket.But turn off the water and power before you loosen the bracket/element to reach the gasket.

Related Posts:

Add to: Comments (46) hot water heater My hot water heater is leaking at the top where the hot water comes in or leave out. it appears to be right at the end where the pipe meets the tank #46 - bobby hil - 09/01/2010 - 18:32 Corroded flexible hot water line I have a gas water heater and the flexible hot water line that leaves the water heater is corroded and has small cracks. How do I safely replace it? #45 - Leonard - 08/28/2010 - 10:25 water heater leaking noticed our water heater leaking at the bottom but no wetness felt on bottom of heater dried area off and then water returns pooled under heater. What should we do? #44 - cathy flores - 08/08/2010 - 10:43 Water heater leaking from Bottom Element My water heater was leaking from the bottom element so because mine was only 5 yrs old and i got a 6 yr warranty, I got a new electric heater from my hardware store for free. so I took out the bottom element, cleaned the seal, reinstalled the Element and all is good. Now I just have to sell the new water heater i got from warranty and sell this house too! :) #43 - Jerimiah - 07/15/2010 - 09:30 Periodic leak from water heater I have found that the water heater (Kenmore 40 gallon Power Miser 8 Tall) leaks water periodically. Upon check I have found signs of surface rust around both the upper and lower element housings and some corrosion above the upper housing. Could this just be the gaskets? Or am I facing a leaking seam that leaks periodically due to temperature as the unit is on a timer? #42 - harry - 06/28/2010 - 16:13 water heater leaking at top my water heater just started leaking at the top of one pipe can I just put sealant on or do I have to replace it (I hope not) thank you #41 - faiz - 06/21/2010 - 15:53 I have a pinhole size leak on a copper pipe that leeds from the hot water tank fauset over to the wall and into the wall. This pipe has 2 shut off valves, a timer and some other gauge, and also another fauset. If I shut off the 2 valves to stop the leak what will that do to my tanks (I have 2) and should I also shut off the gas, and water valve.. #40 - Mag - 06/12/2010 - 20:55 Hot water heater is seeping water around the cold water pipe on top of heater. Water heater is 8 years old, is this an easy fix or major problem? #39 - Phyllis - 06/08/2010 - 18:33 WATERHEATER RUNNING IT,S RUNNING BUT I DON,T SEE NO WATER ON THE FLOOR YET. #38 - JAMES - 06/05/2010 - 02:13 Leaking electric heater Hi there we have an electric heater which is old and leaking rusty water from the bottom,we also noticed that our electric bills are very high since we had this problom. Would an old faulty boiler cost more to run. #37 - Sharon Kenton - 06/01/2010 - 11:13 My water heater is leaking from the bottom. I cannot afford a new one. Can mine be fixed? #36 - Munchkin - 05/14/2010 - 08:58 gaskets around hot and cold valves melting Late last fall, early winter, had new water heater installed, a Richmond. Discovered tonight that the plastic rings, gaskets I guess, around the hot and cold pipes on the top of the water heater were melting. It stops as soon as the heater is off. Ventilation is fine; other than having it set too high, what could be causing this? is it normal? #35 - Martha - 04/28/2010 - 23:09 can a drain valve on a hot water tank be replaced? I replaced the plastic drain valve which I couldn't get to stop dripping. I put in a short steel nipple and metal valve which works fine. #34 - bob - 04/18/2010 - 22:34 drip at bottom of tank where leg is welded on drips from inside of weld where leg is only when hot water is used long time #33 - scott - 03/28/2010 - 12:35 my hot water heater is leaking on the top water coming out on the cold water side #32 - ralph - 03/25/2010 - 22:01 My hot water heater is leaking. But it is on the outside line where it pipe goes through the wall to the side of the house. What is the problem #31 - Pat - 02/13/2010 - 10:34 Owner I have a gas hot water heater and a small leak on top.The leak is not coming from around the threads of the inlet or outlet pipes.It is a small leak only on top none on the floor. #30 - Eldon Till - 01/31/2010 - 20:51 I have a leak from the bottom of hot water tank. Water flowing fast from the sides of the small door at bottom. What could be the problem? Things are tight, can tank be repaired? gstewart83@hotmail.com Thanks #29 - Leaking water tank - 01/31/2010 - 15:20 Home owner I have a leak from the bottom of hot water tank. Water flowing fast from the sides of the small door at bottom. What could be the problem. Things are tight, can tank be repaired? #28 - Leak from botton - 01/31/2010 - 15:11 leak at top of hot water tank leaking at hot water pipe at top of tank, tried tightening, anything else to do? #27 - cyndi - 01/05/2010 - 01:28 owner hot water tank seems to be leaking from bottom? this is only no more than 3-4 years old? what could this be? opened the door flaps & the insulation is saturated with water? do i need a new tank? or could this be the pressure release valve at top? #26 - bonnie-lou ferris - 12/29/2009 - 09:26 substance on top of hot water heater There is a dried substance coming out of the top of my electric hot water heater around the copper pipes and seems to be leaking out from under the area where the top cover is. #25 - Susan - 09/29/2009 - 14:48 30 gallon tankless hot water heater Looks like I have to have my 30 gallon hot water Rheem electric hot water heater relaced, because it is dripping (and I use that loosly, as every single towel in my condo is in use at the moment),down the side and through the wall, across a small hall, and into a spare bedroom. I want to know what everyone is saying about a 30 gallon tankless. I might as well go green because the prices of the 30 gallon is sometimes even cheaper on these smaller heaters. I have had 5 people here and never ran out of water, but I do live alone Please let me know ASAP as the plumber will be here 1st thing in the morning. Help!!Thanks!!! #24 - Peg - 08/30/2009 - 23:46 WATER LEAKING FROM THE HOT WATER PIPE ON TOP Same as comment #2 (Slow leak coming out near the top heating element, out from cover and down the exterior of the tank to tray on floor. Please advise!) #23 - JH - 08/26/2009 - 20:40 Slow leak coming out near the top heating element, out from cover and down the exterior of the tank to tray on floor. Please advise! dtremblay@juno.com #22 - Dan - 07/31/2009 - 13:58 home owner water leaking at top of tank where pipes go in.coming from indide of tank around pipes #21 - baronvonjufer@yahoo.com - 07/10/2009 - 10:27 LEAK AT TOP OF TANK My water heater is leaking on the top area. It is coroded around the pipes. I've tried a sealant but there's still a slow leak. What else can I do? HELP! HAPPYLEW@AOL.COM #20 - HARRY - 06/02/2009 - 11:30 water leak at top My water heater is leaking on the top area. It is coroded around the pipes. I've tried a sealant but there's still a slow leak. What else can I do? #19 - Anderson - 05/25/2009 - 14:04 I have the same problem of leaking hot water pipes at the top of the hot water heater. Also, I think maybe the hookups were reversed, cold for hot and vice versa. #18 - Arthur Reis - 05/14/2009 - 09:12 # 9 leaking at top where pipes go in HELP #17 - Terry - 03/06/2009 - 18:54 We are selling our home. The buyers home inspector indicated the hot water heater is leaking. There has been no evidence of a leak since then. Is it possible that what happened was just condensation due to running all faucets, dishwasher and jacuzzi tub at once during inspection? #16 - D Forbes - 02/27/2009 - 15:27 homeowner MY 2 YEAR OLD GAS HOT WATER TANK RECENTLY HAD SOME BROWISH/YELLOWISH DRIED UP SUBSTANCE ON THE TOP OF WY HEATER AS WELL AS ON THE SIDE AT THE SEAM ALONG WHERE THE COVER MEETS IT. WHAT ACTION DO I NEED TO TAKE. IT IS A GE MODEL PG40S09AVJ00 #15 - Russell Campanelli - 02/16/2009 - 00:08 Brand new Rheem/GE water tank leaking! We just put in a new water heater tonight and it is leaking at the bottom when the pilot is on. When it is off there is no leaking. Is this the seam on the interior of the tank. Back to the store with this one, methinks. #14 - Ellen - 01/29/2009 - 00:10 Home Owner I have a Kenmore Power Miser 5 that is leaking water the a long white plastic tube attached at the top near a relief (?) valve. Never happened before--any ideas? Happy New Year #13 - Tony Calandra - 12/31/2008 - 18:15 hot water tank thetank is leaking water at the bottom, cannot find leak. #12 - tonya - 12/16/2008 - 19:00 leaking valve(?) on pipe coming out of side of hot water tank I have a strange (to me) end(?) (with a red plastic cap that is loose) that is on a 'dead end' of a T piece that comes out of the side of the hot water tank and from which the other end goes into a motorised valve and then into the pump. It has been leaking worse and worse tonight. It makes no difference whether I remove / replace or tighten the plastic cap. There is no 'turnable valve' under the cap that I can see. Ive drained the hot water from the taps and cut off the rising main. At last the drips have stopped but for how long? What is this piece of plumbing and what can I do to get it sorted? be grateful for any advice #11 - charlie - 11/04/2008 - 19:09 flu dripping Water is leaking from the flu at the top of the water heater and then dripping down the side of the tank #10 - Dean Salvucci - 08/20/2008 - 20:58 leaking at top where pipes go in My water heater is leaking at the top in each area where three pipes go in. It looks coroded around each of the pipes. Can I use a sealant, or is replacement my only option? #9 - leo - 08/15/2008 - 17:53 top of heater My hot water heater is leaking from the top seams. Running down the sides. Looks like it is over flowing from the top. Help!!! #8 - rae - 06/30/2008 - 13:16 water hater leaking my water heater is leaking I believe from the the bottom inside somewhere Iv checked all other possible places that could leak. theres a lot of water on the ground but no visual sign of leakage. does that mean its rusted on the bottom? #7 - jason - 03/09/2008 - 04:53 tightening fitting on a new tank I just replaced my gas hot water heater and i am unable to get the fitting tight enough to not leak water, with out breaking the plastic fitting. Any advice? #6 - Angela - 01/17/2008 - 14:41 I have a leak into the electrical housing on top of the water heater that shorted it out and thats the only sign of leakage. what could be the problem? #5 - jonah salazar - 01/02/2008 - 10:24 I have a leak on top of hot water heater electric where the 2 copper pipes go into the hot water tank what can I do? #4 - Brenda - 10/28/2007 - 11:54 leaky pipes on top of water tank My water heater has a leak at both pipes on top of the heater. What can be done and does the heater need to be replace or just something tightened, etc. thanks #3 - Susan - 10/02/2007 - 19:42 Rheem Model 81v52d hot water tank leak my hot water tank developed a leak around the top fittings (the pipes going into the top of the tank. I was wondering if this could be a gasket problem rather than a need to replace. #2 - sheri - 09/09/2007 - 16:12 leaking drain valve can a drain valve on a hot water tank be replaced? #1 - linda - 09/09/2007 - 16:03 Name E-mail (Will not appear online) Title Comment To prevent automated Bots form spamming, please enter the text you see in the image below in the appropriate input box. Your comment will only be submitted if the strings match. Please ensure that your browser supports and accepts cookies, or your comment cannot be verified correctly. »