There is a spigot on my water heater that is leaking water, is this something to cause immediate concern?
funkylobe asked:
it has always had a very slow drip out of what appears to be a drain spout. but over the past few weeks it has slowly increased to a steady dribble of water. the water heater is approx 12 years old.
Bertram
it has always had a very slow drip out of what appears to be a drain spout. but over the past few weeks it has slowly increased to a steady dribble of water. the water heater is approx 12 years old.
Bertram
April 2nd, 2009 at 11:51 am
Kati
you might have a failing water heater on your hands. Call the plumber quick!!
I’m serious. water heaters drip before they flood. You have a leak.
April 5th, 2009 at 8:09 am
Johnny
You need to drain the heater and replace the spout. These things only get worse with time. At 12 years old its probably time to replace the heater as well.
April 6th, 2009 at 6:11 pm
Earlean
That is your pressure relief valve. You could replace it, but in a heater that old, you really should replace the entire unit. 10 years is the maximum you should expect to get out of a hot water heater…
Either way, call a plumber. That relief valve won’t get better…
April 8th, 2009 at 10:06 am
Bibi
Yes this can become a serious concern. The heater may rupture while you are at work or gone for a period of time. You need to call a plumber as soon as possible to take care of this. If you don’t you may go home one day and have water all over the place.
April 11th, 2009 at 7:44 am
Haywood
Probably the relief valve, Open the lift handle to wash whatever is stuck on the seat off then push it shut tightly, it’s spring loaded but sometimes the springs get weak.
Not much to worry about really.
April 11th, 2009 at 10:00 am
Lanelle
IF it has a handle on it make sure it is off- if it is as off as it will go- sounds like you need a new spigot or new hot water heater- if it has been sitting on the floor the bottom is probably rusty- esp w a water leak- D
April 12th, 2009 at 2:15 pm
Ehtel
Replace it. the leak will continue to get worse & at 12 yrs old your heater is not as energy efficient as a new one would be. the only concern with the leak is that of any other leak–it’s gonna get things wet. Also, it will increase your energy use–but, minimally.
I suggest when shopping for a new heater you consider your individual needs, such as amount of hot water you & your family use, the space it will be in, rapid heating requirements, auto off option for low use periods–basically a timer.
April 13th, 2009 at 7:40 am
Jaymie
Mine did that and I learned that it will only get worse and never better. Replace the water heater before it floods your house and you have to replace floors and carpet too.
April 16th, 2009 at 4:43 pm
Christiana
Buy a cap and gasket for the spigot,put it on and then closely monitor the hwh.If you then find more water replace it.12 yrs is about the end of it’s life span,try and inspect it often,replace it at 15 yrs whether it leaks or not.
April 19th, 2009 at 3:10 am
Debbie
Listen to the others and replace the heater.
April 21st, 2009 at 4:56 am
Armando
If it’s coming out the drain connection on the bottom of your heater, it may be the valve is going bad. You can have it replaced (or try to replace it yourself), but since you don’t need this very often, you could go to the hardware store and buy a garden hose cap and put that on there to seal it. MAke sure you get a metal one, not plastic.
April 21st, 2009 at 6:09 pm
Simone
hello, there is a concern Of the valve that is leaking if it is slowly leaking, you can drain it and replace the valve, but if your water heater is 12 years old and once you change one thing another will go and another its going pick at your pocket left and right. So, you may want to think of getting a new one. I know that Lowe’s home improvement sells energy efficient water heaters and that on your tax return you can claim the water heater because it being efficient
April 24th, 2009 at 2:51 pm
Giuseppina
any leak should be considered serious. call some one quickly.
April 25th, 2009 at 1:56 am
Glen
Its probably loaded up with minerals. 12 years is a pretty good life span for a hot water heater but to just stop the leak go to the harware store and get a brass screw on faucet cap with a garden hose gasket in it. That will stop the leak and is like a fail safe measure even on one that isnt leaking. My aunts hot water heater was leaking at the faucet and I put one on it and it was the end of the problem. I put one on mine too and it wasnt leaking but like I say its an extra measure of protection.
April 26th, 2009 at 3:31 pm
Larue
12 yrs old it has some time in, if it is not leaking from under the unit no immediate concern i would put a cap on it , my heater lasted twenty years but dont know what kind of water you have good luck