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Author:
Rick Laser (CA)
Turns out we have a slab leak on the hot water side. It's a small leak, as the little red arrow on the water meter turns very slowly, stops completely, and then starts again.
When I turn off the water to the hot water tank, the leak stops as the red arrow doesn't turn. What I want to find out is as long as there is no water pressure to the 50 gallon tank (the valve at the top of the heater is totally off), the contents of the tank will not continue to drain by gravity into the leak which is under our kitchen floor, will it?
Thanks.
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Author:
bernabeu (SC)
'probably' not
I would turn off the electric or gas.
Drain the tank with a hose to exterior - operate safety relief to break vaccum.
Best of luck
==============================================
"Measure Twice & Cut Once" - Retired U.A. Local 1 & 638
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Author:
Rick Laser (CA)
Since we have two autistic kids and the leak is small, our plan is to wait until our kids are back in school (September 4) to do the repipe. We plan to open the valve to the water heater for a total of about an hour a day for morning showers and evening dishes. It will be closed all the rest of the time.
We know there will be some leaking during that hour, but a heck of a lot less than during the 24 hours a day since I discovered the leak on Friday. Who knows when it really started.
The main thing is after turning the water heater valve off after showers I don't want the 50 gallons in the tank to slowly drain into the leak. I think if the valve is off so there is no water pressure to the tank, the tank won't drain. Just checking with you experts on that.
Worst case we could have the plumber install a on/off valve to the output of the tank at the top. I hope that isn't necessary.
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Author:
hj (AZ)
There is no way the water is going to drain out of the tank, period. For one thing, the hot connection is at the top of the tank so even siphonage did occur, which it won't, if would only affect the upper inch of water in the tank at most.
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Author:
Rick Laser (CA)
Makes perfect sense. Thanks.
I greatly appreciate the advice I get from all of you this time and all the other times I've posted questions. Very helpful.
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Author:
m & m (MD)
Your tank has a dip tube with an "anti-siphon" hole bored in it (about 6" from the top) to prevent the very thing you are concerned about from happening.
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Author:
Rick Laser (CA)
Thanks again M&M.
Edited 1 times.
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Author:
hj (AZ)
It would have to be a cold water leak for it to siphon out of the dip tube, any way.
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