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Author:
catzaplenty (UT)
Need some advice please...
I bought my house 8 years ago this month. The water heater was fairly new and has a drip pan under it. I have never seen water in that pan or had any problems until now. Last night I heard dripping and found that the drip pan has 1/2" - 3/4 " of water in it and it has a pretty steady little stream coming out of the opening onto the floor (now has a tub catching the water). Water has not come out into the hall or rooms that I am aware of, but there is a little water on the floor inside the walls where my A/C filter goes. Not sure how long its been like this, but Sunday when I did laundry I didn't notice the dripping. I have noticed that the water heater makes a little more noise than it used to. The drip pan is not hooked to a drain or the outside, so the only place for it to go is on the floor. Why am I now having water in the pan and how do I stop it? I am on a very, very. very limited budget, so if it can be a DIY project that would be ideal.
Thanks in advance. 
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Author:
bernabeu (SC)
1) the drip pan is NOT code compliant .... must be piped to either a drain or outside
2) unless you can actualy see a leaking fitting, you will NOT be able to repair heater
3) after 8 years w/o any service the unit is most likely 'shot'
4) 'may' be covered by a mfg. warranttee .... not likely
5) you will not like to hear: if you can't afford a simple repair/replacement like a water heater how will you afford a new refridgerator, heating unit, painting, re-roofing, etc.
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Measure twice, cut once.
Retired Plumbers Local Union #1
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Author:
bernabeu (SC)
if it is the TPRV dripping (even indirectly) onto the floor of an occupied space ..... WOW
for the OP: if you don't understand this - call a plumber - we can NOT make repairs or repipe your heater over the 'net'
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Measure twice, cut once.
Retired Plumbers Local Union #1
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Author:
packy
what, pray tell, do you service on an electric water heater?
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Author:
bernabeu (SC)
semi annually: drain / blow out sediment
annualy: +++ inspect and test TPRV +++
5 years: check sacrificial anode (optional, usually not cost effective)
in lieu of above -> replace unit when it leaks
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Measure twice, cut once.
Retired Plumbers Local Union #1
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Author:
packy
even if you work cheap, you gotta be talking 150 dollars for a trip to drain the tank and pop the relief valve. in 4 years thats 600 dollars then in the 5th year add to that the cost of removing the anode rod and cumulatively you gotta be at about 850 dollars for 5 years.
run that out to 10 years and you are at 1700 dollars. heaven forbid the customer gets 15 years out of their heater, that comes to 2550 dollars (provided you don't go up in your rates over that 15 years)
sorry, but i'll take my chances..
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Author:
hj
YOu replace the elments when they fail, and that is about ALL the service the heater needs. I have only replaced ONE anode rod, and that was a couple of months ago. Usually I ignore them or replace them with a brass plug.
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Author:
catzaplenty (UT)
Aside from your rude comments about my financial situation of which you don't know the circumstances.....I would like to "Thank You" for pointing me in the right direction. I had to get a ladder, but it does appear it is a connection on the very top of the tank towards the back that is leaking and running down the back side, that I cannot see. So hopefully it will be an easy and inexpensive fix. God bless!
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