How to Diagnose and Repair a Leaking Water Heater | Ask This Old House
Ask This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey finds a solution for a water heater that recently started leaking.
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Time: 3-4 hours
Cost: $100
Skill Level: Moderate
Tools List for Repairing a Leaky Water Heater:
Bucket
Flathead screwdriver
Pipe cutter
Shopping List:
Expansion tank certified for potable water
Quick connect T fitting
Quick connect ball valve
Quick connect elbow
Quick connect female adapter
Copper pipe
Steps:
1. If there’s a leak at your temperature and pressure relief valve, first test to ensure it’s operating correctly. If it isn’t working properly, replace it.
2. If the T&P valve is operational, check to see if you have a pressure reducing valve, usually near the main water shutoff. If a pressure reducing valve or other form of check valve is present, you’ll need to add a potable expansion tank.
3. Shut the water off at the water main.
4. Using a bucket, drain the hot water heater just enough to get below the pipes and the top of the tank.
5. Use copper pipe and push fittings to connect the expansion tank.
6. Cut the cold water line above the tank using a pipe cutter, then push both ends of the pipe into both sides of the push T fitting.
7. Turn the water back on.
Resources:
Richard added a potable water rated expansion tank to the water heater, which is available through plumbing supply companies.
To install the tank without soldering, Richard used quick connect copper fittings, manufactured by SharkBite (http://www.sharkbite.com ).
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Homeowners have a virtual truckload of questions for us on smaller projects, and we’re ready to answer. Ask This Old House solves the steady stream of home improvement problems faced by our viewers—and we make house calls! Ask This Old House features some familiar faces from This Old House, including Kevin O’Connor, general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, and landscape contractor Roger Cook.
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How to Diagnose and Repair a Leaking Water Heater | Ask This Old House
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Congrats you pushed some sharks together, your a pro!
Who ever thought allowing water that has entered a home to be able to be pushed back out to the main supply that everyone shares?
Easy for contamination or diseases to spread. Check valves are essential.
Richard could start his own Cutaway Museum.
So my t&p valve was doing the exact same thing. I had a plumber come out a few days ago and replaced the valve and put in an expansion tank. And I’m still seeing water in the drip pan every night!
So what pressure is the expansion tank set at?
Moral of the story? Get up and go to work
This isn't a problem they're describing……..( Dang it, Bobby!) I've got a REAL problem. I've got a pressure relief valve screwed into my water heater cold water inlet valve where the expansion tank would go and IT is leaking. We've been in the house 3 1/2 years and it just started leaking. It's dribbling out a steady stream and increasing slightly every day. Now a steady stream. Why would a static installation like that start leaking suddenly? ….and what do I do about it? Replace it you say, yeah I get it, but when replacing it how do you set the pressure-relief setting on the new valve? I have a Zurn Wilkins BVECXL relief valve and all it has is a insert with a slot for a screw driver…..but how do you know how to set the relief pressure? Thanks in advance if anyone can help.
SharkBite fittings. a little bit of job security
Shark bites!!?? Come on Richard I've seen you solder like a champ … Must have been a Friday afternoon service call
If the water goes back thru the meter does it roll back your water usage?